The essentials of a library outreach

service

Helen Monagle 04/01/2013

Enables staff to access the library services whether it be at the library enquiry desk or their desk/office/work station, thus providing a flexible service tailored to staff needs.

Supports the work, learning and development needs of NHS staff working for or on placement who are not based near to a branch of the Integrated Library Service.*

Strives to provide library services to all people through the development of programs, policies, practices, and behaviours.*

Ensuring communication with the users i.e. marketing of a new service and raising awareness of what is available.

The purpose of a library outreach service

The service provides support and training to help staff access information and research for work, education, personal development, research and training* through:

◦ Current awareness/horizon scanning- being proactive and finding out what staff are working on and what future developments are to help staff

◦ Document supply i.e. Inter Library Loan Service◦ Assistance and guidance through Information Literacy and Skills

Training◦ Literature Searching Service◦ Evidence Alerts◦ Provide access to key health information resources through

Cochrane, UpToDate, DynaMed, PubMed etc. ◦ Assistance in collection management/development

What services do a library outreach service offer?

The service enables remote access to services and resources, ensures that the users can use the resources and that the service is tailored to their specific needs to ensure the resources delivered are relevant.

It provides support and advice in finding information to underpin evidence-based healthcare and demonstrations of key resources for the users specific needs;* therefore, facilitates evidence-based learning/decision making to enable users to integrate individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.* Thus, improves clinical practice and aids service development.

Why is the library outreach service so important?

Saves clinicians time.

Contributes to teaching and learning through developing Information Skills to ensure that users can use and are aware of the resources available.*

This service helps ensure that delivery of patient care is evidence-based and that policies, procedures and guidelines are developed based on the latest high quality research evidence.*

In being available at the point of care the library outreach service contributes to the Trust’s goal of empowering front line staff to initiate and lead change that improves the quality of care for patients.*

Conclusion

Bradford Teaching Hospitals Health Library and Information Service. (2009) Library Outreach: Let the information come to you [Leaflet] Bradford: NHS Foundation Trust.

LibraryCareers.org. (2012) Outreach Librarian. [Online] [Accessed on 26/12/2012] http://librarycareers.drupalgardens.com/content/outreach-librarian

NHS. (2011) Outreach Librarian Service Evaluation 2011– Final Report. [Online] [Accessed on 24/11/2012] http://www.libraryservices.nhs.uk/document_uploads/Impact/HEFT_Outreach_Librarian_Service_Evaluation_2011.pdf

NHS South of England. (2010) Outreach Librarians’ Group. [Online] [Accessed on 29/12/2012] http://www.workforce.southcentral.nhs.uk/libraries__elearning/library__knowledge_resources/for_library_staff/outreach_librarians_group.aspx

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. (2006) The Cochrane Library. [Online] [Accessed on 28/12/2012] http://www.whnt.nhs.uk/hrod/development/library_services/training_and_induction/The_Cochrane_Library.html

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. (2012) Outreach Library Services. [Online] [Accessed on 26/12/2012] http://www.whnt.nhs.uk/hrod/development/library_services/services/community_outreach_library_service.html

References