Objectives/Purpose
The National electronic Library for Health (NeLH) provides a large number of information resources for all healthcare professionals in England. There are over a million employees in the NHS, but a limited number of librarians and trainers. Our challenge is to raise awareness of these resources, and educate and empower people to use them effectively.
Methods
Setting: National Health Service in England, healthcare professionals and managers
Intervention: In November 2003, the NeLH is holding its 2nd Awareness Week, with local and national initiatives to spread the message about digital library resources. A feature of the week is a series of 10 minute Phone-In Study Sessions (combining telePHONE and INternet). Healthcare professionals are invited to join a teleconference and be led by an experienced librarian through a tour of selected digital resources: they just need a telephone, an internet connection, and 10 spare minutes. Sessions are running throughout the day and night, so that staff can take part at a time convenient to them. The sessions have the advantage of being confidential – those too embarrassed by their lack of knowledge to join a conventional training session can remain anonymous.
Expected Outcomes: increased awareness of the range of digital library resources available, and increased usage of those resources
Conclusions: 10 minutes is enough to get the message across. User education does not have to be carried out in a traditional face-to-face way – it can be provided to large groups of people, in short sessions, at a distance, at a convenient time, anonymously – and still be effective.
|