How do medical libraries in the UK actually support healthcare?

I am looking for work as a library assistant and have applied for such
a role in a local hospital library. I have worked in public libraries
before and have to admit I don't know much about medical libraries in
particular.  I have an idea that it is basically so that medical
professionals can access different journals, databases and reference
works when researching particular conditions.  This helps keep them up
to date and abreast of recent developments. Is this basically correct,
or are there other factors I'm not aware of?

Dear Greenbeans-ga,

I believe that you are correct in your thoughts, but looking at a
number of sites for NHS libraries, it also seems that the librarians
will assist in research, and give staff IT training on how to conduct
research. Many of the libraries also assist local GPs, practice staff
and NHS dental practitioners.

The libraries possess books, journals, and online databases such as NeLH, 
http://www.nelh.nhs.uk/
They are also centres for staff training and the librarians give a
supporting role in organising the rooms, etc.

Some of these libraries offer a Clinical Librarian and medically
qualified staff, but others indicate that regular staff can assist
with enquiries. Requests are often made to staff for regular up-dates
on a speciality, inter-library book requests and photocopying of
journals and articles.

You may find a look at these sample sites a help. I?m not sure how
they compare in size with the library you are going to apply to.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Library Service
http://www.uhl-library.nhs.uk/home.html
Leaflet on the library?s service
http://www.uhl-library.nhs.uk/uhl_eleaflet/uhl_eleaflet.htm
Library Charter 
?UHL NHS Libraries will:
? Provide an enquiry service between normal weekday hours (Mon ? Fri 9-5)
? Respond to quick reference enquiries immediately, and complex
enquiries within 5 working days
? Contribute to trusts? induction programmes, and provide ad-hoc
library tours for new users
? Provide training and guidance in the use of specialist information sources?
http://www.uhl-library.nhs.uk/uhl_eleaflet/LibraryUserCharter.pdf

Kostoris Medical Library 
?Kostoris Medical Library services and resources includes access to a
variety of bibliographic databases, access to full text electronic
journals, training on literature searching, current awareness and
registration for Athens Accounts.?
http://christie.man.ac.uk/profinfo/departments/library/default.htm
Library services
http://christie.man.ac.uk/profinfo/departments/library/Library-services.htm

Addenbrookes Hospital
?Literature Searching - we provide training to improve your skills,
and/or can carry out literature searches for you.
Current Awareness Services ? keep up to date easily with literature
published in your field.
Document Supply ? do you have easy access to all the journals you
need? We can help.
Critical Appraisal Skills ? become more confident at identifying good
quality research.
Open Access Repository - some research grants require you to place
papers in a repository. We can help.?
http://www.addenbrookes.org.uk/research/medical_library.html

Hope Hospital Library
Guide to the library.
http://www.hop.man.ac.uk/academic/library1/Guides/guides_frame.htm

Exeter Health Library
http://www.services.ex.ac.uk/eml/


I hope this answers your question. If it does not, or the answer is
unclear, then please ask for clarification of this research before
rating the answer. I shall respond to the clarification request as
soon as I receive it.
Thank you
answerfinder

P.S. Good luck with the job application.

Search strategy
nhs "medical library"
://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=nhs+%22medical+library%22&btnG=Search&meta=

---

Clarification of Answer by answerfinder-ga on 22 Jun 2006 10:04 PDT

Other databases which are used in libraries are detailed on this page.
http://www.telh.nhs.uk/useful-websites/library-resources

that's great, thank you!

A few more links which might be of use:

Library Associations - from the OMNI browser
http://omni.ac.uk/browse/mesh/D007996.html

CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals)
http://www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/bysubject/health/publications/workguide/guide.htm
- Health Libraries

AMRC - Association of Medical Research Charities
http://www.amrc.org.uk/
Some of the larger charities will have their own in house medical
library but this is obviously not related to the NHS so may not be
relevant for you - perhaps worth a look though.
Member charities A-D: http://www.amrc.org.uk/index.asp?id=6396
Member charities E-N: http://www.amrc.org.uk/index.asp?id=6397
Member charities P-Y: http://www.amrc.org.uk/index.asp?id=7418

Wellcome Library 
http://library.wellcome.ac.uk/index.html
Resources on the history of medicine.

If you are in the London area you may want to contact CHILL
(Consortium of Independent Health Information Libraries in London):
http://www.chill-london.org.uk/
Their member list may suggest some other suitable employers:
http://www.chill-london.org.uk/members/

Don't forget specialist academic centres such as Institute of
Neurology, Institute of Child Health, Institute of Psychiatry as all
will have medical-related libraries (although you would probably be
supporting research scientists rather than healthcare professionals). 
Admittedly these are a bit Londoncentric but there are plenty of
institutions around the UK.

Not surprisingly the BMA (British Medical Association) has its own
library, based in London -
http://www.bma.org.uk/ap.nsf/Content/HubTLlibraryandmedline

Jo