he January-April 2001 schedule of NLM Online Services Training classes is available. At this time we are announcing only the January through April schedule of classes due to pending negotiation of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine online training contract. The remainder of the classes for 2001 will be announced in a future issue of the NLM Technical Bulletin.

The January-April 2001 training schedule along with the remainder of the year 2000 classes may be found at the National Online Training Web site: http://nnlm.gov/ntcc/index.html.

Classes Offered

Keeping Up with NLM's PubMed®, the NLM Gateway and ClinicalTrials.gov
This 1-day class covers PubMed, the NLM Gateway, and ClinicalTrials.gov. This class is designed for the NLM searcher who has been searching PubMed but would like a refresher or an update on the newest enhancements; or for the searcher who has been searching MEDLINE from another interface and wants to transition to PubMed. An overview with demonstrations to learn about the NLM Gateway and ClinicalTrials.gov is also included.

It is expected that students attending this class should be familiar with MEDLINE®, MeSH® vocabulary and Boolean logic as these core topics are not covered. If you have never searched MEDLINE or used MeSH before, the 2-day Introduction class (described below) is appropriate.

There is no charge for this class.

Introduction to Web-based Searching: Using PubMed, the NLM Gateway and ClinicalTrials.gov
This 2-day class is designed for the searcher who is new to searching MEDLINE. This includes those who have never searched before as well as users with some searching experience but little knowledge of the MEDLINE database or the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) vocabulary.

Instruction on the MeSH vocabulary and Boolean logic is included. Students will learn to use PubMed and will receive an overview of the NLM Gateway and ClinicalTrials.gov.

There is no charge for this class.

TOXNET® on the Web
This 1-day class conveys the basics of searching NLM's TOXNET, a Web-based system of databases in the areas of toxicology, environmental health, and related subjects. Students learn the content and structure of files covering toxicology data, toxicology literature, toxic releases, and chemical searching and nomenclature. Among the databases highlighted are TOXLINE, the Hazardous Substances Data Bank, the Integrated Risk Information System, the Toxic Release Inventory, and ChemIDplus. For the first time beginning in 2001 this class will be offered in numerous sites across the country.

There is no charge for this class.

How to Register
You may view the training class schedule and register online for classes at the National Online Training Center Web site found at http://nnlm.gov/ntcc/index.html.

Every attempt will be made to place training applicants in the class requested. If a class is filled, applicants will be registered for their second choice, and also automatically placed on a waiting list for their first choice. Approximately one month prior to the class, registrants will receive a packet with information on hotels, local site arrangements and the class agenda. Information on training locations is available from this Web site. Please note that all classes are considered "tentative" pending the required minimum enrollment one month before the class.

Each person makes a difference
Our classes are in demand and usually fill rapidly, often creating a waiting list. In order to help us provide training opportunities to as many people as possible, please notify the National Online Training Center office if you have registered for a class and your plans change. The more advance notice you give us, the more likely it is that someone else can take the available space. It is very disappointing to begin a class with empty chairs that could have been occupied. We are asking for your cooperation to help allow as many people as possible to benefit from this free training program.

Training Workbooks Available
The training workbooks for the Introduction and Keeping Up classes are available for downloading from the NLM's Web site. The workbooks are available in two formats: PDF and WordPerfect®. These workbooks are not copyrighted. Feel free to use any part of the workbooks - you may customize the workbook for training programs, demos, or workshops you conduct. You might also want to use the workbooks as self-training guides if you can't get to a class or your scheduled class is several months away. The workbooks are found at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/web_based.html.

Training materials used for the TOXNET class are available for downloading in PDF, PowerPoint® and HTML formats. The guides are broken down into sections so you can choose the areas of interest to you. You may find these TOXNET training resources at [April 17, 2005: This link was removed because it is no longer valid.].

Additional training resources are also available.

PubMed Web-based Tutorial Coming
NLM trainers are in the final stages of creating a Web-based tutorial for PubMed. Watch for announcements here in the NLM Technical Bulletin as well as the NLM home page for the debut of this new training option in the Fall.

Questions/More Information
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the

By Janet Zipser
MEDLARS Management Section

Zipser J. NLM Online Training Program. NLM Tech Bull. 2000 Jul-Aug;(315):e3.