Doody’s Core Titles in the Health Sciences (DCT) is published by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Below are answers to Frequently Asked Questions about DCT and this site.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How can I purchase Doody's Core Titles?
2. What is the mailing address for check payments?
3. What is the difference between DCT 2025 and DCT 2024?
4. I purchased DCT 2024 last year. If I purchase DCT 2025, will I still be able to access DCT 2024?
5. What is the difference between DCT Basic and DCT Premium?
6. I subscribe to Doody's Review Service (DRS). Is DCT integrated into DRS?
7. How can I get access to DCT?
8. Instead of a password, can I gain access through IP authentication?
9. Who is allowed access to DCT under my license?
10. Will my medical book wholesaler give me access to the titles selected for DCT?
11. Can I order DCT through my subscription agent?
12. What is Doody Enterprises’ cancellation policy with respect to DCT?
13. How often is DCT published?
14. Are the core titles in DCT simply the titles that get 4 and 5 stars in Doody's Review Service^™?
15. How were the scores attached to each core title derived?
16. What do the scores signify?
17. What is an Essential Purchase Title?
18. How can I volunteer to serve as a Librarian Selector?

1. How can I purchase DCT?
   
   We provide easy online invoicing to accommodate credit card and paper check payments directly at the DCT web site. In addition, you can designate your order as a standing order. Click here to order DCT!
   
   You may also order directly through most subscription agents and from any of the DCT participating distributors.
   
   
2. What is the mailing address for check payments?
   
   Please make check payments payable to Doody Enterprises, Inc. and mail to:
   
   Doody Enterprises, Inc.
   1100 Lake Street
   Suite 202
   Oak Park, IL 60301
   
   
   
3. What is the difference between DCT 2025 and DCT 2024?
   
   We publish a new Doody’s Core Titles list each year. DCT 2025 is not just an update of the previous list, but the result of a brand new selection and scoring process by over 200 content specialists and librarian selectors in 126 specialties.
   
   
4. I purchased DCT 2024 last year. If I purchase DCT 2025, will I still be able to access DCT 2024?
   
   Yes. Purchasers of an edition can access that edition at this website for three years from the date of publication. Purchasers of multiple editions have access to a feature that allows them to easily compare one edition to another online and instantly see the changes.
   
   To access previous editions, after logging-in, click the "Previous Editions Purchased" menu link in the "Account Information" menu section.
   
   
5. What is the difference between DCT Basic and DCT Premium?
   
   DCT Basic presents comprehensive bibliographic information on the full title list, with individual title scores and Essential Purchase recommendations in 126 specialties. DCT Premium includes all of the DCT Basic features plus the full reviews and star ratings of any titles reviewed in Doody’s Book Review Service – more than 1,000 reviews.
   
   
6. I subscribe to Doody's Review Service (DRS). Is DCT integrated into DRS?
   
   Doody's Core Titles is fully integrated into the Doody's Review Service (DRS) website. DRS customers do NOT need to order DCT separately.
   
   
7. How can I get access to DCT?
   
   Access to DCT is granted to customers who have paid for the current edition of DCT and is governed by the DCT End User License Agreement. Once you have purchased DCT (either directly from Doody Enterprises or from a participating distributor), you will be able to login to this website with a General Access Login ID and password. You will be notified of your password according to how you order DCT:
   
   Ordered direct from the DCT website – Once you complete the online ordering process, you will receive an e-mail notification with your Login information.
   
   Ordered from a participating distributor – Once your distributor has notified us of your purchase, you will receive e-mail notification of your General Access Login information.
   
   
8. Instead of a password, can I gain access through IP authentication?
   
   Access is controlled exclusively through the loginID and password assigned to each licensee.
   
   
9. Who is allowed access to DCT under my license?
   
   A DCT license generally allows access for all employees of an organization at one physical location. Please refer to the DCT End User License Agreement for complete information and license restrictions.
   
   
10. Will my medical book wholesaler give me access to the titles selected for DCT?
    
    A few of the major medical book wholesalers are currently collaborating with Doody Enterprises to allow access for paid licensees to Doody’s Core Titles through their own online databases and purchasing systems. Click here for a list of participating wholesalers. You can also order DCT from these participating medical book wholesalers.
    
    Please Note: When ordering directly from this site, you have the option to notify participating wholesalers of your purchase so that they can provide you access to DCT information that they have integrated into their catalogue/purchasing systems. Click Here to order DCT.
    
    
11. Can I order DCT through my subscription agent?
    
    Yes. You can order DCT through most subscription agents serving health sciences libraries around the world. DCT can also be purchased from Doody Enterprises or through one of the participating medical book wholesalers.
    
    
12. What is Doody Enterprises’ cancellation policy with respect to DCT?
    
    All sales of DCT are final. Cancellations are not accepted and refunds will not be given.
    
    
13. How often is DCT published?
    
    A new edition of DCT will be published in the spring of every year and will represent a fresh selection and scoring process, while incorporating upgrades and enhancements to the service. In between editions, the information about titles on the list will be updated on a weekly basis with pricing changes as well as announcements about new editions of individual core titles.
    
    
14. Are the core titles in DCT simply the titles that get 4 and 5 stars in Doody’s Review Service^™?
    
    There is no direct connection between titles reviewed in Doody’s Review Service^™ and titles selected for DCT. A book can get 5 stars because it is an exceptionally well done book, but not be on DCT because the Content Specialist and the Librarian Selectors do not consider it a title that represents fundamental knowledge needed for a discipline. Similarly, a title chosen as a Doody’s Core Title may not have been reviewed by Doody Enterprises or may have been given 3 stars or below by the reviewer who evaluated it.
    
    
15. How were the scores attached to each core title derived?
    
    One of the unique attributes of DCT is the score assigned to each title. After all selections were final, the Librarian Selectors scored each title on five fundamental collection development criteria: authoritativeness of author and publisher; scope and coverage of the subject matter; quality of content (including timeliness); usefulness and purpose; and value for money. They evaluated each title on a scale of 0 – 3 in each of the five criteria. These scores were averaged together to produce the score displayed next to each title.
    
    
16. What do the scores signify?
    
    

    For every edition of DCT since 2004, Librarian Selectors have been asked to grade each criterion for each title on a scale of 0 - 3. In 2024, new scoring guidelines were implemented that shifted the meaning behind each score. A score of "0" continued to suggest that a title was not core or did not belong in a given a specialty. However, a score of "1" translated to "limited" and a score of "2" translated to "adequate". A score of "3" translated to "exceptional," which is similar to how it was qualified in previous editions. Librarian Selectors continued to have the option to abstain from scoring specific criteria for certain books if they didn't feel they had adequate knowledge to score them.

    For DCT 2023 and prior, a "1" had been the baseline for inclusion on the final list. With the updated scoring guidelines, that threshold was raised. Doody's staff looked closely at each book's composite score and the Librarian Selector comments to determine specialty-specific thresholds at which titles would be included. In general, books that earned a "2" or higher composite score were retained. Books with composite scores below a "2" were retained depending on their deviation from the average score in the specialty and any relevant Librarian Selector comments. As a result of this customized process, over 460 unique titles were scored out of inclusion on the final DCT 2025 list.

    Title scores provide collection development specialists with another way to compare core titles within a given specialty. It should be noted that a score does not represent a purchase recommendation.

    In 2025, new scoring guidelines were implemented that shifted the meaning behind each score. A score of “0” continued to suggest that a title was not core or did not belong in a given specialty. However, a score of “1” translated to “limited” and a score of “2” translated to “adequate”. A score of “3” translated to “exceptional,” which is similar to how it was qualified in previous editions. Librarian Selectors continued to have the option to abstain from scoring specific criteria for certain books if they didn't feel they had adequate knowledge to score them. Title scores provide collection development specialists with another way to compare core titles within a given specialty. It should be noted that a score does not represent a purchase recommendation.
    
    
    
17. What is an Essential Purchase Title?
    
    Essential Purchase recommendations are made in each specialty made by the librarians who selected and scored in that specialty. Librarian Selectors selected, scored and made Essential Purchase recommendations independently of each other, based on their experience at their respective institutions. Each was asked to recommend titles he or she considered an Essential Purchase in a specialty for a library with an overall annual book budget of $7,500. In order for a title to be designated an “Essential Purchase,” at least two librarians had to select it.
    
    Essential Purchase Titles are designated with this icon:
    
    It should be noted that a title can be an Essential Purchase Title in one specialty and not in another if the title was selected in multiple specialties. The Essential Purchase Title designation is specialty specific.
    
    
18. How can I volunteer to serve as a Librarian Selector for the next edition of Doody’s Core Titles in the Health Sciences?
    
    If you are interested in getting more information about how you can serve as a Librarian Selector on upcoming editions of DCT, please send an e-mail directly to editorial@doody.com.
    

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If you have a question related to the purchase or availability of any of Doody’s Core Titles, please contact your medical book distributor. Doody Enterprises, Inc., has no connection with the commercial sale of any of the titles appearing on this list.