At 05:41 AM 2/11/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Why can't the list include' all' local health libraries. This should
>include nhs libraries, local health information services, national / local
>voluntary sector organisations
>(they have some very good information services). As long as each library
>is able to clearly indicates who their service is aimed at and what access
>is available their shouldn't be a problem.
I would like to agree with Sheila Marsh.
I have sympathy with both points of view (the problem of publicising
library details - where individual libraries may not be able to respond to
the enquiries this may generate, and the rights of patients to have access
to publicly funded sources of information).
We are a small very specialised library, and hold material unlikely to be
readily available elsewhere - particularly if it relates to rare or unusual
neurological conditions. As such, we often receive enquiries from patients
or their carers. We find it difficult to resource even one or two of these
enquires a week (from the point of view of a lack of staff time and medical
knowledge), and so have developed a web site specifically aimed at patients.
This can be found at:
http://www.ion.ucl.ac.uk/library/patient/patient-support.html
We provide links to other appropriate sources of information covering about
250 conditions. Each page is designed to contain links to fact sheets,
PubMed searches and details of support groups (some are still under
construction). We also use this web site to help us redirect enquiries if
appropriate. We do not ban access to the library, but do explain that
whilst the library can be used for reference, they will need to be fairly
self sufficient, (come armed with a list of references for example) as
library staff may not to be able to provide in-depth help and assistance.
It's not a perfect solution, but it has proved worthwhile so far.
(Information about the patient support page is available from Sam Martin.)
_________________________________________________________
Louise Shepherd
Librarian
Rockefeller Medical Library
Institute of Neurology & The National Hospital
Queen Square
London WC1N 3BG
Phone:
Internal ext. 4143
Direct Line 0171 829 8709
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Library URL: www.ion.ucl.ac.uk/library/
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