DEVELOPING A SUBJECT SPECIFIC GOPHER AT THE NATIONAL-LIBRARY-OF-MEDICINE

Development of subject-specific Gophers is one method to make valuable health information more accessible to those who need it. The National Library of Medicine has developed a Gopher that provides access to information produced by many areas of the library. Recommendations from subject experts in two areas-AIDS, and toxicology and environmental health-led to the development of two subject-specific Gophers. These two Gopher services provide organized access to resources outside of the library as well as to information produced internally. A number of important issues need to be addressed when selecting and organizing outside resources for inclusion in such a service.