Instruction and Education

To request a session, email the library: herref@hmc.psu.edu. A librarian will be in touch with you regarding your request. We will contact you within 24 hours (excluding weekends) to schedule your one-on-one or group training session.  This is a free service provided by the Harrell Health Sciences Library available to Penn State Hershey affiliated users.  If you have a library-related training or troubleshooting need that you don't see on this list, please contact Nancy Adams, Associate Director and Coordinator of Education & Instruction, 717-531-8989 or nadams@hmc.psu.edu. We offer workshops for individuals or groups.

EndNote
Create a database of the documents you read and then use it to easily create perfectly formatted citations and reference lists while writing. Create a new EndNote library, enter a new reference, change the output style, import citations from different databases (OVID, PubMed, etc.), add a PDF to a reference, search an EndNote Library, and Cite While You Write.

  • EndNote On the Web
    Use EndNote on the Web, which is currently FREE via University Libraries subscription. Includes all learning objectives from EndNote workshop (described above) Learn how the web version interoperates with EndNote Desktop.
  • Mendeley: Free Citation Tool
    Mendeley is a freely available citation management tool available from any web browser. Create an account, manually enter a new reference, import references from other databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and others), change the output style, store PDFs, search for a reference, and use with Word to create bibliographies and write your papers. Learn about the collaborative features of Mendeley.
  • Zotero: Free Citation Tool
    Manage your citations for free at http://www.zotero.org. Available via Firefox browser. We'll cover all the objectives described in the Mendeley workshop, plus learn about how Zotero works for collaborators.

Literature Search Tools

  • CINAHL for Nurses and Allied Health Professionals
    We will discuss the basic concepts of database searching (concept grouping, Boolean Logic), apply limits and subheadings, search using CINAHL headings, identify an exhaustive search, and formulate a search to be run in nursing databases. PSNA credit is available; please indicate your interest in this credit when requesting a session.
  • Evidence Based Medicine
    An introduction to tools for locating evidence: the Cochrane Library, National Guideline Clearing House, PubMed Clinical Queries, and Dynamed. Learn more about EBM using JAMA evidence.
  • Evidence Based Nursing Practice
    Define and discuss the purpose of evidence based nursing practice. Search for EBN information using library database and resources (PubMed Clinical Queries, DynaMed, Proquest Nursing & Allied Health Joanna Briggs Institute, National Guideline Clearing House). PSNA credit is available; please indicate your interest in this credit when requesting a session.
  • Journal Impact Factors Database
    Discover Journal Impact Factors, which indicate the prestige of scholarly journals.
  • Library Basics: Harrell HSL on your Desktop
    Navigate the resources of the George T. Harrell Health Sciences Library efficiently. Use the Journals A-Z list, the ILLiad interlibrary loan system, request books through the "I Want It" feature on the CAT, and find relevant databases for literature searching. You'll learn how to quickly find books and journal articles of interest and how to request a copy of anything not owned by the library.
  • Locating Health Statistics
    Locating Health Statistics can be a real challenge. This course will cover where to find the most current health statistics.
  • Natural Medicines Database: How To Search
    "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database is recognized as the scientific gold standard for evidence-based information on the topic, a resource used by practitioners and researchers in alternative, complementary and integrative medicine." The concepts of natural medicine and tips for searching the database will be covered during this session.
  • OVID Medline
    Perform an author, title, journal, and MeSH search. Combine searches using Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), and apply limits. Learn basic truncation. Use the dot commands, advanced truncation and wild cards. Create Auto alerts and save searches.
  • PubMed Basics
    We will run a Single Citation Matcher search. Perform searches using the MeSH database. Combine searches using Boolean operators, apply limits, and use basic truncation. The majority of the time will be spent in the MeSH databases. We will also demonstrate how to save, email, and print citations.
  • PubMed for Nurses
    We will run a Single Citation Matcher search. Perform searches using the MeSH database. Combine searches using Boolean operators, apply limits, and use basic truncation. The majority of the time will be spent in the MeSH databases. We will also demonstrate how to save, email, and print citations. PSNA credit is available; please indicate your interest in this credit when requesting a session.
  • Staying Current with Automatic Search Alerts
    We'll help you set up alerts from your favorite journals or create recurring searches using your favorite bibliographic database (like PubMed, OVID, Web of Knowledge, and more). You'll receive automatic emails with the latest articles published in that journal or related to the search topic you choose.
  • Using My NCBI with PubMed
    Learn how to create a My NCBI account to save searches that you use frequently and create alerts to stay informed when new articles are published on a topic of interest.
  • Web of Science: Finding Highly Cited Works
    Learn how to use Web of Science, the web version of Science Citation Index. Perform "cited reference searching" which finds articles that have cited a previously published work. Find out what articles are highly cited, or use to find out who is citing your own work. Web of Science is an excellent though underutilized way to find important publications in a disciplinary area.

Productivity Tools

  • OneNote Basics
    Organize your work with this notebook tool that helps you manage digital notes and information in an electronic, searchable format. OneNote integrates with other Office tools and can be used to organize projects with collaborators. Create a OneNote Notebook and organize information in pages and sections; set up customized settings to allow data capture from multiple sources; create a collaborative Notebook; search Notebooks, including text in image files and words in audio or video files; share content with other MS Outlook users.
  • Prezi for Presentations
    Goodbye PowerPoint! Create nonlinear presentations using this FREE web-based easy-to-use tool. You'll have professional results in no time. Learn how to create a presentation with text and images.
  • Wikis for Groups and Projects
    Learn how to use Penn State's Confluence wiki software to create a work & information space for your groups and projects. Create a new space, set privacy settings, create pages and subpages, and add information. This software is available free to anyone with a PSU Access ID.

Special Topics

  • Copyright Basics
    An overview of copyright issues: Fair Use, the Teach Act, Open Access publishing, NIH-funded research… Learn how to retain your rights as author as well as maximize the use of copyrighted works as an educator.
  • NIH Public Access Mandate: Submitting to PubMed Central
    Concepts such as Open Access, Public Access, PubMed Central, Intellectual Property, and Copyright will be discussed. Learn how to use the NIH Manuscript Submission System. A helpful website on this topic is: http://med.psu.edu/web/library/resources/pathfinders/pmc