To new users, the World Wide Web can appear to be intimidating. With the wealth of information on the web, it is often hard to find what you need. Judging the usefulness of a site after it is found can be even more difficult. The LSUMC Library Homepage not only provides access to the library's computer systems, but it is also a great starting point for exploring the web. Whether you are looking for health-sciences information or New Orleans entertainment listings, links are available to over 140 sites, all of which are reviewed by library staff.

On the main page there are links to MEDLINE database systems in addition to the informational links about the Library and the Innopac catalog. There is also a connection simply entitled Links, through which you can find additional general and health-related sites grouped by broad subject headings. The majority of the sites listed are health-science related. However, under Search Engines, General, you can "surf the web." You'll find that each search engine has slightly different search techniques; just click on an individual engine's "help" button for a quick summary of the rules.

Under Bibliographic and Full-Text Databases, sites of interest include the Community of Science Web Server, where the Federal Register and patents can be accessed, and the Combined Health Information Database (CHID online), where health promotion and public health education materials are indexed. Topics covered in CHID online range from AIDS education to weight control. Under the Grants area, a search can be done using the form provided on the National Institute of Health's fundsearch webpage. The World Health Organization's site (listed under the Health Science Resource section) contains World Health Reports from 1995 to 1998 and other publications issued by the organization in recent years. Other health-sciences sites are grouped together in the Medical and Biomedical Resources, Nursing Resources, and Pharmaceutical Resources sections. Also consult the Search Engines, Health section for links to sites geared to locating health information on the web.

Other links of particular interest include the Tulane Rudolph Matas Memorial Library and the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access System (FREIDA). Using the Tulane Matas Library link (under Libraries), you can now access their new web-based Tulanet Voyager catalog and check the current journal holdings in their collection. FREIDA is found under the Medical and Biomedical Resources heading. It is also known as the AMA Graduate Medical Education Directory ("Green Book") Online. FREIDA allows you to locate residency, fellowship, and other specialty programs in the U.S.A.

Under the Local Interest area there are many sites pertaining to Louisiana and New Orleans. There are links to popular New Orleans publications such as Offbeat and Gambit. Also included are the Gumbo Pages, NOLA Live, and Louisiana Resources on the Internet, which cover New Orleans culture. If you need information about New Orleans area government, business, or tourism, click on the Greater New Orleans Free Net link. Visit the official State of Louisiana webpage, Info Louisiana, for census data, tourism links, and general information.

As you explore other links, you will discover that it is easy to navigate the Internet. The Library's Homepage is designed to help you use our resources. In future issues we will highlight a single featured website of interest to our patrons. If you would like to recommend a site for us to consider adding to the Homepage, please contact us.

-- Madeleine Kersting link removed
Tanya Sanchez link removed
Elizabeth Schafer link removed