Dear Colleagues,

What is interesting is how this debate has broadened from a request for
definitions to a more general discussion about whether we should be
engaged in or just teaching such activities, for whom and how well these
various tasks are performed.

By their contributions many have demonstrated the culture of their
particular sector of the health information family: those in hospitals
are shaped by a different set of prioirites to those from academia for
instance, or those in specialist centres and this is reflected in the
discussion thread.

I find that the refinement of literature searching skills never ends.
We can learn from each other, we can learn from specialist and
generalist practice.  I have had occasion to acknowledge that I have
learnt from a reader.

I would not wish to lose touch entirely with this side of my CPD.




Colin Engel
Library Services Manager
Swansea NHS Trust
Library
Singleton Hospital
Swansea
SA2 8QA
WHTN/DAWN 1883 5600
Tel. 01792 205666 x 5600
FAX 01792 297207

>>> "Hodgson Julian (WG) Librarian" <[log in to unmask]>
10/30/03 09:20am >>>
According to the OED (shorter) Mediate (vt) 5: act as an intermediary
in
facilitating (a result) ...
Which seems to suggest that the difference between mediating and
facilitating is best suited to a mediaeval tripos examination
Julian Hodgson
Wishaw General

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Wentz, Reinhard [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 29 October 2003 10:02
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Definition required 'Mediated search' etc.
>
> Dear All,
>
> in my book A is a 'facilitated search' and B is a 'mediated search'.
>
> Option 'A' should be, if circumstances permit, the preferred option,
if
> only, as Rowena points out, because the client may hopefully (both
senses
> of the word) do it herself in future (or be on the way of doing some
> searches herself with growing confidence).
>
> Mediated searches are static and have little added value, they are a
> leftover from the time when only librarians had access to databases,
were
> charged by the minute and had to execute complex search commands
quickly.
>
> I don't think there can be the 'tradional' type of evidence
supporting the
> definition of either concept; after all, words mean what the majority
of
> well-meaning people assume them to mean: so a vote on lis-medical,
> supported by a vote on medlib-l perhaps, would fix the meaning of
either
> concept...
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Reinhard
>
> Reinhard Wentz Dipl Bibl
> Campus Library Manager
> Imperial College London Library
> Chelsea &  Westminster Campus
> 369, Fulham Road
> London SW10 9TH
> Tel. 44(0)20 8746 8109
> e-mail [log in to unmask]
>
>       -----Original Message-----
>       From: Rowena Perry [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>       Sent: 29 October 2003 09:35
>       To: [log in to unmask]
>       Subject: Definition required
>
>
>
>       What do people understand by the term 'mediated literature
search',
> is it:
>
>       A - where you sit down next to the person and do the search
together
> (so they end up having done the search but hopefully next time able
to do
> it for themselves)
>
>       B - where you take the details of the search they require then
do it
> yourself and send them the results (possibly contacting them again
if
> clarification is required)
>
>       If it is A then what name do you give to B?
>
>       What evidence supports the definition?
>
>       Sorry no premium phone line or whizzy prizes!
>
>       Rowena Perry
>       Library Manager
>       Health Informatics Shared Services
>
>       Check out our new intranet site:
> <http://nww.berkshire.nhs.uk/library>
>
>       Healthcare Library
>       Prospect Park Hospital
>       Honey End Lane
>       Reading RG30 4EJ
>       Tel: 0118 960 5020
>       Fax: 0118 960 5014
>
>       [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
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