This article, authored by Naomi YAMAGISHI and Shukuko SATO from the Tokyo Women's Medical University Library, provides an introduction to secondary sources in medical libraries. It covers the following key points: 1. **Introduction**: - The importance of secondary sources in medical libraries, given the vast amount of information and new data being generated daily. - The purpose of secondary sources is to guide users in finding specific information from primary sources like journal articles. 2. **Definition of Secondary Sources**: - Secondary sources are created by processing or reorganizing primary sources, such as bibliographic records, dictionaries, and directories. - Examples include index journals, abstracts, and subject indexes. 3. **Types of Secondary Sources**: - **Index Journals**: Like Index Medicus, which compile bibliographic information. - **Abstracts**: Like Excerpta Medica, which include abstracts of articles. - **Subject Indexes**: Like Current Contents, which provide the latest table of contents information. - **Electronic Media**: Including online databases, CD-ROMs, and the World Wide Web, which offer more up-to-date and comprehensive information. 4. **Why Use Secondary Sources**: - The increasing specialization and interdisciplinarity of medical research require access to a wide range of sources. - Researchers need to stay updated with the latest findings, which can be challenging without secondary sources. 5. **Role of Medical Librarians**: - Librarians use secondary sources to assist users in finding specific information. - They also guide users on how to effectively use these sources, including selecting appropriate databases, setting search terms, and understanding the structure of secondary sources. 6. **Practical Considerations**: - Understanding the characteristics of different secondary sources, such as their scope, keywords, and time lag. - Staying informed about changes in secondary sources, including updates in search software and thesauri. - Mastering medical terminology and English for better keyword selection. - Gaining medical knowledge to enhance topic searches. 7. **Representative Secondary Sources in Medicine**: - **Index Medicus / MEDLINE**: A fundamental index for medical literature, available online and on CD-ROM. - **Medical Central Magazine**: The only comprehensive secondary source covering Japanese medical literature, now an indexed journal. 8. **References**: - The article lists several recent and comprehensive references for further study, including books and articles on medical literature search and specific secondary sources. 9. **Conclusion**: - Effective use of secondary sources requires continuous learning and practice. - Despite the challenges, the work of using secondary sources is rewarding as it allows immediate application of learned skills. This article serves as a comprehensive guide for both new and experienced users of medical library resources, emphasizing the importance and practical aspects of secondary sources in medical research.This article, authored by Naomi YAMAGISHI and Shukuko SATO from the Tokyo Women's Medical University Library, provides an introduction to secondary sources in medical libraries. It covers the following key points: 1. **Introduction**: - The importance of secondary sources in medical libraries, given the vast amount of information and new data being generated daily. - The purpose of secondary sources is to guide users in finding specific information from primary sources like journal articles. 2. **Definition of Secondary Sources**: - Secondary sources are created by processing or reorganizing primary sources, such as bibliographic records, dictionaries, and directories. - Examples include index journals, abstracts, and subject indexes. 3. **Types of Secondary Sources**: - **Index Journals**: Like Index Medicus, which compile bibliographic information. - **Abstracts**: Like Excerpta Medica, which include abstracts of articles. - **Subject Indexes**: Like Current Contents, which provide the latest table of contents information. - **Electronic Media**: Including online databases, CD-ROMs, and the World Wide Web, which offer more up-to-date and comprehensive information. 4. **Why Use Secondary Sources**: - The increasing specialization and interdisciplinarity of medical research require access to a wide range of sources. - Researchers need to stay updated with the latest findings, which can be challenging without secondary sources. 5. **Role of Medical Librarians**: - Librarians use secondary sources to assist users in finding specific information. - They also guide users on how to effectively use these sources, including selecting appropriate databases, setting search terms, and understanding the structure of secondary sources. 6. **Practical Considerations**: - Understanding the characteristics of different secondary sources, such as their scope, keywords, and time lag. - Staying informed about changes in secondary sources, including updates in search software and thesauri. - Mastering medical terminology and English for better keyword selection. - Gaining medical knowledge to enhance topic searches. 7. **Representative Secondary Sources in Medicine**: - **Index Medicus / MEDLINE**: A fundamental index for medical literature, available online and on CD-ROM. - **Medical Central Magazine**: The only comprehensive secondary source covering Japanese medical literature, now an indexed journal. 8. **References**: - The article lists several recent and comprehensive references for further study, including books and articles on medical literature search and specific secondary sources. 9. **Conclusion**: - Effective use of secondary sources requires continuous learning and practice. - Despite the challenges, the work of using secondary sources is rewarding as it allows immediate application of learned skills. This article serves as a comprehensive guide for both new and experienced users of medical library resources, emphasizing the importance and practical aspects of secondary sources in medical research.