Last month I wrote about how to create My NCBI accounts in PubMed. This month I'll show you how to set-up email alerts from PubMed saved searches.

For many years, PubMed allowed researchers to save search strategies permanently at no cost. With the February enhancements in PubMed researchers can now schedule email alerts for each of their saved search strategies. So, rather than having to login to PubMed cubby, researchers can receive an email alert notifying them when new citations have been added to PubMed that pertain to their search strategy.

Here is how to set-up your email alerts:

1. Login to your My NCBI account.
   
   
2. Plan your search strategy. Remember that in order to save a search in PubMed you cannot combine sets using history numbers. So, you can't save a search that reads #2 AND #3. You need to write out your terms since, after 8 hours, PubMed will not recognize what the numbers represent.
   
   
3. After you run your search, click on Save Search.

4. A save search dialogue box pops-up. Choose Yes, if you would like to receive an email update of new search results. Then select how often, the format, and the maximum number of items. You may also choose to receive a regular email even if no new items have been added to your search. Click OK.

5. After you click on OK, you can view all of your saved searches by selecting My NCBI (Cubby) under PubMed Services. Here you can change the email alert schedule of each saved search strategy.

• Read the previous article on setting up My NCBI accounts
• If you need assistance, contact the Reference Desk at 215-503-8150 or email dan.kipnis@jefferson.edu