Library Services and General Information

1. When is the Reading Room open?
2. Can I borrow material from the Reading Room? For how long?
3. Can I visit the Reading Room and get help if I am not affiliated with Cornell?
4. Can I access eLibrary resources from home, off-campus or at HMC?
5. How do I get a WCMC-Q ID and password?
6. How long does it take to get material via Document Delivery?
7. How does the WCMC-Q Distributed eLibrary select new books and resources?
8. Is there a calendar of upcoming eLibrary workshops at HMC and on campus?
9. What is 'My Account'?
10. How can I save my DeLib Catalog searches?
11. How can I ask a question after hours?

Reference and Research Assistance

12. What resource can I use to look up the proper pronunciation of a medical term?
13. How do I find a list of articles on a particular topic or by a certain author?
14. My list of article citations contains abbreviations for the journal titles. How can I find the full name of the journals?
15. Where can I find a list of indexes and databases on family practice or another subject?
16. How do I find the impact factor of a journal?
17. Can I ask a librarian to do a search for me on a medical topic?

Answers

Library Services and General Information

1. When is the Reading Room open?
   During the term, we are generally open from 7:30 am to 11:00 pm on weekdays (except on Thursdays, when we close at 7:00 pm) and 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on weekends. Please check our Service Hours page for current information.
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2. Can I borrow material from the Reading Room? For how long?
   Most material in the Reading Room can be borrowed in accordance with the Lending Policy. Loan periods vary depending on the type of material. In general, regular books may be borrowed for 2 weeks; reserve materials for either 3 hour or 3 day loan; and reference books (e.g. encyclopedias, dictionaries, etc.) can not be borrowed.
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3. Can I visit the Reading Room and get help if I am not affiliated with Cornell?
   Absolutely! You will need to check in with security at the Education City gates and provide ID for a visitor's pass. If you want to call us first to find out our hours or exact location and directions, please call us at 492-8100.
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4. Can I access eLibrary resources from home, off-campus or at HMC?
   Yes, all of the eLibrary's resources are available remotely as long as you know your WCMC-Q ID and Password.
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5. How do I get a WCMC-Q ID and password?
   All students, faculty, staff are provided with a WCMC-Q ID and password for access to email, computers and eLibrary resources (when you're away from campus). If you're not sure what your ID is, contact the IT HelpDesk at 492-8711.
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6. How long does it take to get material via Document delivery?
   Articles that are available at Cornell in New York or Ithaca take approximately 2-3 business days, books that are available from Cornell in New York or Ithaca take approximately 2 weeks, and time for materials from other libraries varies.
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7. How does the WCMC-Q Distributed eLibrary select new books and resources?
   Subject librarians select new books and resources based on several factors/inputs. For example, we receive suggestions for new books from WCMC-Q faculty members and students. We review interlibrary loan patterns and read book reviews, publishing catalogs and get email alerts from a medical review service. There are written collections policies that WCMC-Q faculty can review. If you want to suggest a book, please let us know via the Ask a Librarian service.
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8. Is there a calendar of upcoming eLibrary workshops at HMC and on campus?
   Yes, we offer a variety of workshops at the College and Hamad Hospital.
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9. What is 'My Account'?
   

   By logging on to MyAccount, with your WCMCQ user id and password, you will open a window that details your name and the number of items you have checked out.  Each title is linked to the WCMC-Q catalog and displays when the item is due. You can renew one or more items through this page.
   **Please note that if an item is past its due date it cannot be renewed online. Please bring the item to the Reading Room.

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10. How can I save my DeLib Catalog searches?
    

    The best way to save your searches is to log on to 'My Account'. You will note in the 'My Account' window a button marked "Search Catalog". Click on "Search Catalog" and run a search. At the search results page, there will be a button "Save as a preferred Search". Clicking on this button will save that search to your 'MyAccount". Click on the button marked "Patron Record" to return to your MyAccount page. Next click on "Preferred Searches" and you will see your saved searches. Next to each saved search there is a button allowing you to search that item.

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11. How can I ask a question after hours?
    

    Click in the Meebo text box on the right hand side of the eLibrary's webpage. If it is after hours a message may be left.  Be sure to identify yourself and include contact information if you wish a librarian to get back to you.

Reference and Research Assistance

12. What resource can I use to look up the proper pronunciation of a medical term?
    Stedman's Dictionary is a high quality medical dictionary available through the eLibrary. For your convenience, it is on the Quick Links section of our home page.
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13. How do I find a list of articles on a particular topic or by a certain author?
    Try searching an article database such as PubMed. Databases can be searched many ways, including author, keyword, and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). PubMed is a main resource for biomedical journal literature, but there are many databases specific to many disciplines, including BIOSIS, Web of Science, PsycINFO, etc. Recommended databases are available by subject, and a full list of all article databases is also available.
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14. My list of article citations contains abbreviations for the journal titles. How can I find the full name of the journals?
    If the citations come from MEDLINE you can use the Journals Database in PubMed and enter the abbreviation to get the full title or vice versa. Otherwise, you can try jake   for journals that aren't indexed in MEDLINE.
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15. How do I find the impact factor of a journal?
    Impact factors are published in a resource called "ISI Journal Citation Reports (JCR)   . JCR is a unique tool for journal evaluation using citation data drawn from over 8,400 journals in science, technology, and social sciences from more than 3,000 publishers worldwide.
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16. Where can I find a list of indexes and databases on family practice or another subject?
    In addition to the subject guides we've created in consultation with faculty that suggest resources in different fields, you can also check the page of Databases  . From there you will notice the option to list databases by the type (e.g. eBook collections) or subject (e.g. chemistry, psychology, etc.).
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17. Can I ask a librarian to do a search for me on a medical topic?
    We will happily assist students in acquiring searching skills needed throughout your curriculum and help you put together a search strategy along with recommending resources. Faculty, staff and HMC personnel can request mediated searches from us via the Ask a Librarian service.
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