Training and continuing education for on-line searching

Training of searchers of the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) computer system has evolved from an intensive eight-month programme on batch retrieval through a highly compressed three-week course on interactive searching to the current five-level programme. The five-level curriculum consists, in order, of a computer-assisted instruction program (*MEDLEARN*), the Initial Training course, a three to six month in-service practicum, the Advanced Training course, and continuing education. Each stage in the programme is intended for the more sophisticated user and deals with increasingly complex and refined searching techniques. Various types of media are incorporated into the instruction which seeks to tie together theoretical and rote material through an extensive amount of practical experience at the terminal. This modularized curriculum provides the flexibility required to teach the use of a dynamic system to a diverse student population. At the present time, approximately 400 students per year are availing themselves of NLM on-line training.