Codes and Billing Practices Update

Practice Time Credit Eliminated
The $20 MEDLARS practice time credit for new User ID codes was eliminated effective October 1, 1997. Few new users were registering for billed access and NLM wants to encourage use of the free Web-based search systems (PubMed and Internet Grateful Med). The discontinued practice time credit, which expired one year from the date a User ID code was issued, was formerly available to new (non-student) codeholders performing billed searches.

Student Codes Discontinued
Effective October 1, 1997, the Library stopped issuing new individual or institutional student codes. These codes were billed at a student-rate (discounted) for use of ELHILL or TOXNET files, or PDQ. The Library is encouraging both students and teachers to access NLM databases at our Web site. NLM will contact institutions with student codes to see if the students can be switched to using the free Web-based search systems, PubMed and IGM. All existing individual student codes will continue to be charged at student rates for a two year period.

Old Unused Codes Deactivated Effective October 1, 1997, billed MEDLARS User ID codes issued before October 1994 and not used for the past three years, have been deactivated. Deactivated codes will not permit a user to login and search.