The Kostoris Medical Library serves National Health Service (NHS) staff working at Christie Hospital, one of United Kingdom’s major specialist oncology centres, and specialist, scientific staff working in the affiliated Paterson Institute for Cancer Research (Cancer Research UK). This close association of research and clinical practice creates a demanding and dynamic environment where access to current research, information and knowledge is vital to library service development.
Since 1999 the library has seen an exponential growth in the provision of electronic resources, as electronic journal access has been developed, and online access has become available to bibliographic databases. Generally these were provided at a local level and were dependent on local initiatives and funding.
Over recent years national electronic projects such as NeLH1 (a national programme to develop a digital library service for NHS staff, patients and the public) and regional library portal projects, such as ADITUS2, have complemented the development of local e-resources for healthcare staff across NHS Trusts.
In addition the NHS National Core Content project, developed in April 2003, provides access to bibliographic clinical databases along with access to full text electronic journals. This has initiated the move towards equitable access to e-resources for all NHS staff.
The ultimate aim of these initiatives is to supplement local library services, develop resources to support evidence-based healthcare and provide access to current knowledge and practice, on demand (24/7), through the workplace and remotely.
The development of the NHS network and IT infrastructure at Trust level has been fundamental to delivering these resources. Consequently the development of the library web pages has been central in delivering electronic resources to our users’ desktop.
As expectations of users have risen our library service has seen subtle changes to meet this need. The changes have presented challenges to Librarians and end users alike. Key services have been tailored to satisfy change in demand and library staff have developed new skills and expertise. The move towards electronic provision may rely less on physical presence but its success is highly dependent on communicating and building relationships with users.
1. http://www.nelh.nhs.uk
2. http://www.aditus.nhs.uk
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