Remember that e-alerts—no matter how effective they are or how many you receive—cannot link you to every article you need. Web searches will be necessary at times.
Avoiding spam, viruses, other problems
Before you subscribe to an e-alert, ask these questions to prevent unwanted e-mails:
Is the e-alert secure? As with any online service, giving your e-mail address when subscribing to an e-alert could open your client to spam or—worse—a virus transmitted via an unwanted message.
To reduce the risk, update your subscription form as needed to confirm your identity, and change your password yearly to guard your privacy. Most publishers/services enforce privacy policies that ensure safe transmission.
Is the journal site easy to navigate? The site should offer advanced search capabilities that allow you to customize searches. Instructions or answers to frequently asked questions about alert frequency, managing and refining alerts, and other issues should be clear and accessible.
Will my search terms work? Use specific terms to filter information. Whereas a broad search term such as “bipolar disorder” would yield a long list of irrelevant articles, a more specific term such as “bipolar maintenance therapy” would substantially narrow the search. Adjust and refine your search terms and update your interest list as needed to ensure an optimal flow of information.
Is the journal’s Webmaster accessible? Contact the Webmaster if an e-alert is not meeting your needs or if you have suggestions for improvement. A link to the Webmaster should be listed on the “contact us” page.
Related resources
Cuddy C. HighWire Press and its journey to become the world’s largest full-text STM online journal collection. Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries 2005;2:1-13.
Drs. Lapid and Kung report no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article, or with manufacturers of competing products.
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