Experience with microcomputer management of a personal medical literature collection.

Microcomputers may be conveniently and effectively used to manage personal medical literature collections. A bibliographic data base consisting of the author, title, and source for each reference is entered and stored on magnetic tapes or disks. Document categorization and keyword assignment prior to entry is optional, thus allowing clerical personnel to maintain both the literature collection and the bibliographic data base. Subject searches using an array of search terms formulated by the medical user permit retrieval of relevant bibliographic citations. Current alphabetical and keyword-in-context listings of the documents in the the collection may also be produced. The programming approach uses string processing and is within the capability of programmers with limited experience.