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​​​​​Keeping up to date on information and performing a literature search can feel like a flood. The BC Cancer Library can help reduce your content to a steady​ flow. A regular AutoAlert search will send you a trickle of current publications so that you can manage your professional reading.

What is an AutoAlert?

An AutoAlert is an email notification of newly published journal articles on a specific topic. Librarians will design for you an alert that searches across multiple journals and publications and that will remain updated as the medical literature evolves.

How can AutoAlerts help me?

  • The AutoAlert Service supports your professional and research reading. Stay current and on top of the literature without feeling overwhelmed.

Is it like the Table of Contents? 

  • No. AutoAlerts can include articles from a wide range of journals.​

Are there different kinds of AutoAlerts?

Yes. The library can create customized Topic, Author and Journal AutoAlert searches for you. 

  1. Topic alerts are tailored alerts focused on a particular research, practice, professional development or continuing education topic of your interest. Example AutoAlert topics that we have created include: 
  • Drug interactions: oncology drug interactions including food and herbal interactions. 
  • Infection control: infection control issues in the oncology setting 
  • Lymphedema: prevention and control of lymphedema 
  • Chemo maintenance: long-term use of chemotherapeutic agents (other than prevention or hormonal) 
  • Palliative radiation: radiotherapy 
  1. Author alerts will provide you with updates on resources newly published by specific people. ​
  2. Journal alerts will send you a list of articles as new journal issues are published. We work with you to refine the search using filters and limits, so that you will only be alerted to the most relevant articles (e.g. adults only, tumour site, treatment type, and so forth). Results from these searches can include articles from multiple journals, in one single email.​

Will it include the full text?

  • The AutoAlert is a simple list of new articles. There may be a BC Cancer Library link to a downloadable full text file, but if not, then the library is happy to get the article for you. Email us your requests.

How can I get AutoAlerts? 

  • For information about BC Cancer Library’s AutoAlert Services, what searches are available, or to request a new alert, please email the AutoAlert Librarian.

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 The BC Cancer library system consists of a central library at Vancouver Centre (VC), and branches in Abbotsford (AC), Kelowna (SAHCSI), Prince George (CN), Surrey (FVC), and Victoria (VIC). All centres have patient resource collections in our Cancer Information Centres (CIC), and all centres have a professional collection on site. Professional resources for CN are housed in the adjacent UHNBC Library.
Subjects: Administration