Year end processing for PubMed

I just wanted to briefly explain what happens at the end of the year when it seems like PubMed doesn't get updated for weeks. In reality, much work is going on.

All of the changes that have been discussed during the year need to be incorporated into MEDLINE database - changes in the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) for 2006 are particularly important.

In November, National Library of Medicine makes the announcement of the schedule for year end processing. This announcement details when the final update file for the year will be distributed for MEDLINE, PubMed-not-MEDLINE, and OLDMEDLINE. Until the next year's baseline files are ready, only the In Data Review and In Process files will be updated. NLM will also announce what days during this time period that no updates will occur.

Lastly, NLM will announce the expected date when the processing will be complete and provides links to documentation describing the important changes to Medical Subject Headings.

As a matter of fact for the year 2005, this update was completed on December 12, 2005.

When the process is complete, the announcement is made in the "Entrez PubMed' section of the blue scan column under 'New/Noteworthy' section'.

This year's announcement appeared in several places including the Bibliographic Services Division.