October 2004
| hint: Health Information News and Thinking |
|
Volume
2 Issue 2 October 2004 |
|
Welcome to the third issue of hint: Health Information News and Thinking, the newsletter of the Health Sciences Libraries Group (HSLG) of the Library Association of Ireland. For those of you who wish to have a paper /print copy it is also available in PDF format at http://www.libraryassociation.ie/sections/healthlibs/page5.htm It has been a busy summer in the health services! We have a new Minister of Health; Mary Harney T.D., a new CEO of the Health Service Executive, and the development of new structures in the health services. The Department of Health and Children recently announced the regional, local and national structures of the new Health Service Executive. These developments are addressed in this issue and we also have a feature article by Sue Faulkner, Librarian at the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary, Monasterevin discussing how Idaal set up a consortium of shared electronic resources. As usual, we rely on the wider health library community to make contributions to the newsletter, so do feel free to write reviews or commentary on topics you think might be of interest to your colleages. You will be pleased to hear that full details are now available for the annual conference, to be held in Tullamore in November. Last year's conference was very productive, and well attended. We look forward to seeing you all again. The Editors Idaal: a consortium of intellectual disability libraries Idaal is a consortium of intellectual disability libraries established to provide easy and comprehensive access to up to date information in the fields of intellectual disabilities, mental health and related subjects. The Librarians involved in the consortium are: Brigid Kennedy St. John of God Services, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin The participating organisations have a total workforce of over 6000 providing residential, day care and assessment services to approximately 8000 children, adolescents and adults. The consortium was established as a result of the Health Science Libraries Group Study Workshop on Electronic Journals in 2001. We realised prior to the workshop that the possibility of our obtaining funding individually for the sort of database and e-journals packages that would best benefit our users was unlikely. One of the biggest problems encountered is that the field of intellectual disabilities spans across many disciplines (education, nursing, social science, medicine etc.) and therefore no one single database or e-journals package really satisfies the needs of our users. With this in mind we felt that a consortium approach was the only way to go. Our initial meeting in February 2002 was very informal. We gave ourselves a name, initially, the Learning Disabilities Libraries Group, which later changed to Idaal – Intellectual Disabilities and Allied Libraries in an attempt to incorporate the mental health services offered by some members of the consortium. We discussed some of the database and e-journal options available to us and also other libraries that might like to come on board with the project. By June that year our plans were starting to take shape. We had discussions
with representatives from EBSCO and Swets. We also agreed that the easiest
way for our users to access the databases and e-journals was to create
our own website. By the end of the summer the basic layout for the website was complete. We are indebted to John Carton for the huge amount of work he has done and still does on the site. The original format remains pretty much the same although there have been numerous minor changes. It was agreed early on that the website and access to the databases should be as simple as possible as many of our users had little or no experience of online searching. This was particularly important to those of us who serve a large geographical area. It was also essential to build into the site enough flexibility to accommodate the different services offered by each of the organisations. The web site offers access to the databases and e-journals we bought into: MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL (with Full Text). It also provides links to several free on line databases and an extensive list of links to related organisations. At the end of 2002 we each sought approval for funding from our various organisations, the cost of the databases and e-journals package being divided equally between us. Idaal (www.Idaal.com) was launched in March 2003. Since then we have been training our users in online searching and have begun using the Athens Authentication system. We are still hoping to find funding for more full text journals and continue to press for better on line coverage of Intellectual Disability Journals. The difficulties of working in a consortium are obvious and a willingness to compromise and be flexible is essential. It is important to accept from the outset that everyone will not get everything they want. However the advantages for the Idaal organisations have been huge. Apart from access to a range of on-line services, which would have been impossible for us individually, we have also created and developed links with each other that go far beyond databases and journals. The consortium provides each of us with a readymade support network and source of ideas, an invaluable asset in a small library service, not to mention the several excellent nights out! Sue Faulkner, Librarian HSLG in Belfast, 6-8 September 2004 Belfast's Waterfront Hall was the venue this year for the CILIP HLG Conference: Variety is the Spice of Life. Some of the HSLG committee and general members attended what turned out to be a very interesting and full conference programme. Muriel Haire of the Irish Nurses Organisation gave a presentation on the 'Nurse2Nurse' Library and Information Service (http://www.nurse2nurse.ie/ ) and Bernard Barrett, chairperson of the HSLG gave a presentation about the Health Sciences Libraries Group. The HSLG and the National Documentation Centre on Drug Use ( www.hrb.ie/ndc) also had exhibition space for the length of the conference. With everything from Health Library & Public Library initiatives, Marketing for Libraries and electronic services for Nurses, delegates were hard pressed to decide which sessions to attend. Abstracts of presentations will shortly be available from the CILIP website http://www.cilip.org.uk/groups/hlg/conf2004/programme.html HLG kindly offered the HSLG a 'breakout session' on the 7th September. Delegates from north and south of the border were invited to listen to two speakers and to discuss current issues in health libraries. Bernard Barrett, Chairperson of the Health Sciences Libraries Group provided an overview of the work of the HSLG to date: ie strategic planning, the development of working groups to deal with such issues as 'Continuing Professional Development' and the development of an HSLG website Bernard also provided an overview of the current health-care reforms
taking place in Ireland and the potential development of a 'E-Health Portal'
which is to include an electronic-library component. Health care reform
will have implications for many health information professionals in Ireland. CPD Working Group Continuing Professional Development Update: The CPD Group of the Health Science Libraries Group has been busy organising courses for the remainder of 2004. Training in the Cochrane Library was held in Limerick in September and another course will be held in November in Dublin, the date and venue are to be announced. The popular subject of “Managing Electronic Resources” was recently held in Dr. Steevens’ Hospital. At the recent Belfast conference links were made with the CILIP CPD Health Libraries Group and it is envisaged that joint events will be organised for 2005. A training needs and skills analysis survey will be circulated to all
library staff working in the field of health science later in the year
to assist long term CPD planning. Participation in this survey is crucial
to the success of the CPD programme so please take the time to contribute.
Please visit the Library Association’s website for upcoming CPD
events. Health Information Strategy After many delays, the Department of Health and Children have published 'Health Information: A National Strategy.' The document includes references to the new 'eHealth library' that will be part of the Health Information Portal. Download the full text of the report form the following link http://www.doh.ie/pdfdocs/nhis.pdf Health Information Portal: what is happening? HeBE (Health Boards Executive) hope to soon launch the Health Information Portal, called "Health Ireland" http://www.healthireland.ie/ The Portal is intended to become a comprehensive gateway to health information, for both health professionals and members of the public. Within the portal, there are plans to establish an e-library component. This is intended to be a comprehensive electronic information tool that provides access to a core set of electronic resources, such as online subscriptions to publications, journals and books etc. Some more information about this can be found within the HeBE Health Services Portal Scoping Exercise Report, November 2003, which is freely available from their website http://www.hebe.ie/ProgrammesProjects/HealthServicesPortal/DefiningthePortal/TheOutputs/FiletoUpload,1084,en.pdf The most detail can be found under Appendix E pp.23-25. HSLG chairperson Bernard Barrett and HSLG committee member Brian Galvin met with John Kenny and Siobhan McCarthy of HeBE in July of this year. John Kenny is the Director of Information Systems at the Midland Health Board and the Project Manager for the E-Library component of the portal. Siobhan McCarthy is Stream Leader for E-Learning and the E-Library within the Health Portal. Both at this meeting, and currently, Bernard and Brian gave an overview of the work of the group, our varied expertise in designing and managing electronic resources, and our delight that such a resource was being planned for nationally. We also expressed a strong interest in being involved with the consultation process necessary for its implementation. As the national group representing all Health Science Librarians, we are ideally placed to facilitate and contribute to a consultation exercise. What makes the project so potentially interesting for all members of the HSLG is the possibility of making this a national project, on par with the NeLH or Honni in Northern Ireland and open to all health libraries. Updates will be posted to the HSLG mailing list, as available. Health Reform Professor Aidan Halligan was announced as the new Chief Executive Officer for the Health Service Executive in September. He is currently Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England. The Department of Health and Children also recently announced the regional, local and national structures of the new Health Service Executive. These regional centres are not health boards, but rather units which will assist in the co-ordination of services delivered through the local health offices. With offices in Cork, Galway, Kells and Tullamore these centres will be regional centres for the Primary, Community and Continuing Care directorate of the Health Service Executive. They are not expected to take regional responsibility for all the services currently managed and delivered by the health boards. (Download Map of the new Health Regions) The headquarters of the new Health Service Executive will be in Naas, County Kildare and the headquarters of the new Health Information & Quality Authority HIQA will be in Cork City. Swets gets a shot in the arm On 24 September Swets & Zeitlinger shareholders agreed to a cash injection of €45 million by selling shares to existing shareholders. This was a sum required to maintain the company’s credit after Dutch press reports revealed that accounting problems had turned previously reported profits into a net loss—and alarmed library customers and publishers mindful of potential parallels with the collapse of the divine’s RoweCom/Faxon subscription service. Swets Information Services, the company’s largest division, is the world’s leading subscription agent. Read more: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA455761?display=breakingNews and http://www.iwr.co.uk/IWR/1158333 October is...National Medical Librarians Month! (In the US) MLA has designed the following poster to promote the work of health librarians. MLA members will already have received a printed copy of the poster. http://www.mlanet.org/pix/nmlm_04/power_poster.jpg Shhh . . . it's a librarians' uprising "Thanks to the IT revolution, those quiet types in charge of the books are emerging from their dusty nooks. The legal librarian: a timid, deferential creature, unafraid of academia but ill at ease in the commercial world? Or a vital cog in the modern-day legal machine, out there helping to win the business as much as the lawyers? According to a survey by Sweet & Maxwell, it is time to ditch the unflattering stereotype and give praise where praise is due. The legal librarian has come of age." Read the remainder of this article and how legal librarians have positioned
themselves into senior management and decision making positions in some
England's largest law firms. A model for health librarians perhaps? Full
text available from The Times, 5 October 2004 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/
(Registration required). Library Catalogue Launched The Regional Library at Eastern Health Shared Services has launched its
library catalogue on the Internet. Library users can now browse the combined
catalogue from home or any Internet enabled computer. The catalogue comprises
the collections of: BioMed Central launches repository service for institutions BioMed Central, the Open Access Publisher, today launched a repository
service for universities and research institutions. Open Repository has
been conceived in direct response to demand in the market. http://www.biomedcentral.com/info/about/pr-releases?pr=20040913 LIBRARIAN - Waterford Regional Hospital (Temporary position) Applications are invited for the post of Librarian (temporary) at Waterford Regional Hospital (WRH). The library at WRH provides access for staff to a comprehensive range of evidence-based, up-to-date information for professional, educational, research and management purposes. The library is centrally located in the 5oo bed acute hospital. It is the South Eastern Health Board’s (SEHB) principal clinical library and has a staff complement of 3.6 FTE. Candidates should hold a primary degree, and a professional qualification in library and information studies. Experience in a health library setting would be an advantage, as would knowledge of the Unicorn library management system. It is essential that the person appointed have good organisational and management skills, and be able to work as part of a team as well as on their own initiative. The librarian appointed will, under the direction of the Regional Librarian, have responsibility for the day-to-day running of the hospital’s library and information service and will play a key part in the ongoing development of the service to all potential users. This post is being filled on a temporary basis to provide maternity leave cover for the present incumbent. Salary: Euro 35,178 by 4 annual increments to Euro 39,730. Long Service Increment: Euro 41,082-Euro 42,430 Informal enquiries to Emma Quinn, Librarian, Waterford Regional Hospital. Tel. (051) 842434 Further particulars may be obtained from the Recruitment Department, Waterford Regional Hospital, Dunmore Road, Waterford. Tel. (051) 848000. Closing date for applications (3 unbound copies of Curriculum Vitae) is Tuesday 26th October 2004 at 5pm. Vivienne O'Herlihy Retires Vivienne O'Herlihy retire in June 2004 after an active career in the Health Sciences Libraries sector. As many of you will know, Vivienne began her career as a library assistant working in An Bord Altranais (with Muriel Haire) and then at Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin with Suzanne Feeny. Vivienne went onto to qualify as a mature student with the then College of Librarianship, Wales, Aberystwyth, studying part time, despite working and bringing up a large family. She has always been an active member of the IHSLG and recently joined with colleagues in setting up IDAAL : a consortium of Irish Disability Libraries. Vivienne will be missed by her colleagues and by all of us in the Health Sciences Libraries Group. We would like to wish you all the best for your retirement.
Internet Librarian International 2004 10-12 October 2004 Conference Title: Access, Architecture & Action:
Strategies for the New Digital World IHSLG Annual Conference: Strategies for Success: Claiming our future 11-12 November 2004 Conference Title: Strategies for Success: Claiming our
future Although we might prefer otherwise, change and growth in all areas of our lives is unavoidable. When confronted with change, we have little choice but to respond. But although change can provoke thoughts of discomfort, the potential rewards are high, if we have the courage to embrace the opportunities presented. At last year’s IHSLG conference, a number of speakers witnessed to how, as active participants in the change process, they had seized the opportunity to change, grow and evolve their roles as Health Information / Knowledge professionals. While it is probably true that there needs to be an element of intuition
and opportunism in perceiving opportunities, we know from our own experience,
that bringing success from change usually only occurs after much hard
work and effective planning.
The group setting is particularly significant for all of us, as the delegate workshops at last year’s conference identified our needs and priorities and this year’s committee have been putting in place the necessary strategies, to deliver on them successfully. Perhaps the most significant outcome of all of these is a group wide strategic plan. All attendees will have the opportunity to participate in the formulation and roll-out of the plan. Your participation in “Strategies for Success” will ensure that you have the skills to survive and thrive from change, from both an individual, work-based and IHSLG perspective. Download Booking Form to arrive by Friday 29th October 2004 at the latest. HINT is the Quarterly Newsletter of the Irish Health Sciences Libraries Group of the Library Association of Ireland. It is compiled & produced by members of The Irish
Health Sciences Libraries Group of the LAI. Any submissions for future articles should be sent/faxed/emailed
to: All material in this newsletter is copyright ©, 2004. This newsletter may be quoted or forwarded if the quoted or forwarded passage is attributed to the newsletter. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, please e-mail the Editors |
|
