There has been a lot of discussion in the library community about literature searching after a healthy volunteer in an asthma and allergy related investigation died after inhaling hexamethonium [1,2]. It was noted that the investigators failed to search the literature and locate articles published in the 1950s, which are citations not held on PubMed, but could have been retrieved in OLDMEDLINE. What can we as librarians do to assist investigators? We need to work with our own investigators and stress the importance of librarians as collaborators in research. We need to continue to promote and educate that the process of literature searching is not a simple surfing of a few hits found through free text searching but require an iterative process that includes knowledge of database design (including controlled vocabulary), research methodology and subject familiarity. At the that Johns Hopkins, Kate Oliver has indicated in a MEDLIB-L message on September 7, that they are developing safeguards that include requiring investigators to collaborate with a librarian and a pharmacist for non FDA approved drugs. As well they have formed a multi-disciplinary group to develop search standards and will test the draft guidelines over the next several months. The Medical Library Association is also recommending that guidelines or standards for literature searching be developed. A task force is already created that is looking at the development of practice guidelines and I am a member on this committee. CHLA/ABSC also recommends that guidelines or standards be developed around the area of literature searching. We will work with other groups to assist in their development and we will promote these to our membership.

1. Ramsey S. Johns Hopkins takes responsibility for volunteer's death. Lancet. 2001 Jul 21;358(9277):213.
2. McLellan F. 1966 and all that-when is a literature search done? Lancet. 2001 Aug 25;358(9282):646.