A portal to Maltese medical e-articles : abstracts and indexes

Abstract

Hundreds of academic articles are published in Malta each year. The Malta Medical Journal (previously published as Maltese Medical Journal) provides the means for local scientists and medical professionals to publish high-quality papers related to their research and findings. This work is focused in identifying the procedures followed when compiling abstracts and indexes for journal articles, the variety of possible options available in assigning subject headings and classifications and the importance of producing comprehensive metadata and presenting it in a standard format. It also focuses on digitizing practices, the means of dissemination and the intellectual property rights problems faced with open access. Through this work the authors were able to provide researchers in the health sector, the means to search through the articles published in the Maltese Medical Journal between 1989 and 2000 by providing abstracts and indexes for these articles. Through this work it is also possible to access the articles in full text.