I just got an email from Ovid stating..

"Ovid is working on significant enhancements to our AutoAlerts feature. In early December we will introduce a new graphic look for the AutoAlerts and Saved Searches screens. At that time, users will notice changes such as streamlined presentation and new icons for current functions such as editing Saved Searches and AutoAlerts. No new functionality will be introduced at this time; however, these screen design changes will lay the groundwork for new features and functionality that will be introduced in 2005."

I am interested in knowing more about this new look and what their new features will be in 2005. At least I theoretically don't have long to wait for results.

What I would really like to see is HTML email. As far as I can tell (and I could be wrong) Ovid does not offer HTML emailing of results. Why is this important to me? PubMed already offers HTML (or text only) emailing of results. The nice thing about this is when you email the citations to patrons they are able to see the citation, the abstract, and they are able to click on the full text link on the record and be immediately connected to the full text of the article. (Assuming you own that article full text, but that is another issue.) Our users can get results at the click of a mouse.

unfortunately with Ovid's text only email, you do only get the citation and abstract information. The web links to the full text are not sent through. It is more difficult and time consuming to access the full text of the article from a list of citations that don't contain the full text link. Your users would have to look at the email then open up a separate window to search for the online article. Getting the full text of an article from a Ovid citation is a multi step process when it should no longer have to be.

I hope this is a change that Ovid is making and I look forward to seeing what changes they have made and how it will help us and our users.