EBSCO is rolling out a new and improved interface for CINAHL, SocINDEX and Health Business Elite, designed to make searching faster and more intuitive for clinical practice, audit and research.
This is a positive change overall — but some personal content will not move across automatically. If you use saved searches, alerts or folders, it is important to review your account now so that you do not lose anything important.
What will transfer
Saved articles stored in My Folder
Saved searches (once you log in to the new interface)
What will not transfer
Search alerts
Journal alerts
Custom folders
What you should do now
To avoid losing valuable material, we recommend that you:
Check any custom folders you have created
Move important items into My Folder where possible
Download or export content from custom folders if needed
Make a note of any alerts or saved searches you may need to recreate
Why this matters
If you rely on saved evidence for patient care, service improvement, teaching or research, losing folders or alerts could mean losing access to material you may need again. Taking a few minutes now will help ensure that your key content is preserved before the change takes effect.
The new EBSCO interface should make searching easier in the longer term — but a small amount of preparation now will help you move across smoothly.
Stock from this library branch will be unavailable during the refurbishment but please check the library catalogue in case the text is available in another library branch or is available as an electronic book.
Returning Books:
Books can still be returned via the Trust internal mail to Antrim Healthcare Library, Fern House, Antrim Hospital Site, BT41 2QB or in person by leaving them in the Returns Box at the library door.
Requesting Journal Articles:
Continue to request journal articles online by clicking on the Place Request link on the library homepage or complete the MS form: https://forms.office.com/e/cZw8EtMnr1
We are excited to inform you that Group Study Rooms 1 and 2 in the Healthcare Library at the Royal Victoria Hospital will be undergoing refurbishment this month, with works commencing on Monday 4th August.
While these works are taking place, Group Study Rooms 1 and 2 will be temporarily closed and not available to book. Our staff are here to assist if you have any questions and will be able to help you find alternative study spaces.
The refurbishment works include the installation of new audio-visual equipment and are expected to be completed by September. We hope that the impact of this refurbishment work is minimal, and apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. We will continue to provide updates via our social media channels and Library News.
If you have any feedback about these changes, we would love to hear from you. Please submit feedback via the our online form: https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/InformationServices/TheLibrary/CustomerService/Doyouhavefeedback/
Thank you for your patience as we make these improvements for our customers.
I have known Dawn since her student days in the Southern Area College of Nursing, when I was the Nursing Librarian. Dawn has held many interesting posts throughout her nursing career, and she is currently Director of Nursing, Midwifery, AHPs, FSS & IPC in SHSCT. My job has evolved throughout my career, but one element has remained consistent: managing the Healthcare Library in Craigavon and providing support for any staff in the SHSCT who need help sourcing the information they need to enable them to carry out their job or for study etc. Recently I took the opportunity to chat with Dawn about the library service as we have been on this journey together for over 30 years!
Dawn, what do you remember about using the library in the SACN during your training?
Borrowing lots of books and having to fill out a book slip for every single one! The journal room was full of magazine files full of journals. It took time to find relevant references for articles using the printed bibliographies, then you had to find the journal box, and hope the issue wasn’t missing, or the article pages torn out. Then finally queuing to get it photocopied with cash or photocopy card in hand. Having access to online databases and e-journals certainly makes that so much quicker and easier now.
You have been a library member throughout your nursing career and you are now one of the Directors in SHSCT – how has the Library supported you?
Obviously when I was studying for various courses access to the library was essential. I have also used the library when preparing for interviews, working on various projects, and for CPD etc. It has been a constant throughout my career with the staff at the heart of the Library providing the services we need. Whether that is identifying a book or article, perhaps sourcing it from another library, or helping with literature searches to support work based projects etc.
Can you highlight one service that has brought you joy?
I think I have made use of every library service available over the years, but one that brings me joy is being able to request an article or book that I cannot access. In the past I had to fill out a form and either bring it to the library or put it in the internal mail and it could have taken a week or more for the article or book to arrive in the post. Now I can request an article online, and it arrives by email, sometimes within a few hours!
Is there something in particular that you found really helpful?
I can honestly say, I don’t think I could have completed my masters without the library. The support of the staff in getting the articles and resources I needed was invaluable. Anyone who has studied while also working knows there are various challenges, including the many demands on a finite amount of time. Having someone to guide you through the process of setting up a literature search and knowing you can ask for help at any time maximized my use of time and enabled my success.
There have been many changes in nursing and healthcare education and practice over the years, what do you think is one of the biggest changes?
The need to access information has remained consistent, whether for patient care, academic study, CPD, or just the desire for knowledge. The challenge now is the information explosion. There are many more articles published and we have access to information from across the world, mostly at our fingertips. Staff need the academic skills to identify the good from the bad, what is the best evidence. They need to have a mindset of continual enquiry and professional curiosity to ensure all care and practice has a secure evidence base. This necessitates having access to the best evidence to inform practice, and the best place to get that, is the Library.
With thanks to Dawn for taking time out of her very busy schedule to talk with me.
The Healthcare Library Chatbot is now up and running on the library website. The chatbot can be used to ask questions about all library branches and general library queries, including questions about our services or opening hours. The chatbot can be found in the bottom right corner of the library homepage. To speak to someone, simply type ‘CHAT’ and you will be connected to library staff.
Staff are available to chat between 10am and 4pm Monday-Friday.
The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland circulated an impact survey to all its members which ran from on 6th January until 24th January 2025. The Library wanted to obtain qualitative feedback on the impact the library service is having on the HSC, so we asked you to tell us what support you had availed off and what impact this had. We were delighted to receive 224 responses from across all the HSC Trusts and Organisation and from a broad range of the professions. This produced a rich flavour of feedback of how the library supports and helps HSC professionals.
The areas highlighted in which the library provided support, range from literature searching and training, to providing access to current literature. However, it was more the impact of the support provided had which provided encouraging and valuable insights. The Library is clearly an important source of support to HSC professionals. The impact outlined in the response’s ranges from patient care, keeping up to date, producing guidelines, enabling service improvements or supporting CPD. It is also clear that our members value the library staff and the personal support that they provide in helping to navigate the resources. The Library service is seen as an efficient and cost-effective way of accessing what is needed, reducing the stress of obtaining the literature elsewhere. One comment summed it up by saying “I find access to the healthcare library invaluable and essential”.
Below is a small selection of the range of comments received: –
“Cheered me up how people are happy to help. Reminded me what a useful resource our library is and to make more use of the help available. Thank you . “
“enhance patient care, enhance education programme, ensure evidence base in education delivery “
“Access via the medical library allowed me to efficiently identify the latest evidence so that the patient involved could be informed regarding the safety of their medication “
“I can use my time more efficiently, whilst also ensuring I keep abreast of practice and have up-to-date information when for example, i am treating patients or preparing a business case.”
“Improved my knowledge and skills which helped with providing care to patients and ideas for service / clinical practice improvements “
“The Healthcare Library, the staff and the support offered is excellent and enriches the learning experience of all that use it.”
“It was a huge benefit to me in relation to reducing stress, it allowed me to research effectively. The staff are exceptionally helpful and supportive. “
There was also some useful constructive feedback which the Library will also consider to help deliver the service, such as ease of logging in and access to some resources such as more e-books.
The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland would like to thank all its members who took the time to complete this survey and provide such excellent feedback. If you wish to provide any further feedback this can be done at any time using the feedback form. A full report of the survey will be produced for the Department of Health to help demonstrate the value of the library service to the HSC as outlined by those who use it.
We are pleased to announce that, following recent issues, ClinicalKey is fully accessible again to Healthcare Library members.
Access ClinicalKey via the link in our Databases A-Z, logging in with your Healthcare Library number (in format 1234567@ads.qub.ac.uk) and password if prompted.
If ClinicalKey does not connect automatically to your personal account (i.e. if your name doesn’t appear in the top right), click Login and enter your personal account details.
If you have not used ClinicalKey before, click Register to set up a personal account.
Once you are logged in, you will be able to view the full range of content available via ClinicalKey, including Elsevier journal articles, e-books, videos, and clinical overviews. If you have any questions about using ClinicalKey, please contact your Specialist or Branch Librarian: https://healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk/TrainingandSupport/SpecialistLibrarians/
The Healthcare Library sign-in system has changed and we are aware that logging in has become more complicated especially if you are working on a Trust device.
With differences between Trusts there is no one-size-fits-all solution and we have added our recommendations for your Trust here. This page can also be accessed from a link above the search box on the Healthcare Library homepage.
The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland has faced ongoing challenges in maintaining its resources due to the lack of an increased budget from the Department of Health. With rising subscription costs, the budget has effectively decreased over the years, leading to a situation where maintaining the current level of resources would result in a significant financial deficit. As a result, difficult decisions have been made to stay within the available budget.
These decisions include a 50% reduction in the library’s book budget and the cancellation of 32 e-journals, two e-journal collections, and the HMIC (Health Management Information Consortium) database. The book budget reduction is already in effect, while the changes to e-journal subscriptions (see HSC Cancellation List below) will begin in January 2025. The Library acknowledges the serious impact these reductions will have on healthcare professionals and their work, and it remains committed to working with the Department of Health to find a sustainable funding solution for the future.
HSC Cancellation List
Annals of the rheumatic diseases
Aphasiology : an international interdisciplinary journal
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
BMJ Case Reports
BMJ Quality & safety
Brain
British Journal of Mental Health Nursing
British journal of music therapy
British journal of psychiatry
Canadian journal of anaesthesia
Cancer Nursing
Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal
Current opinion in otolaryngology & head and neck surgery
The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Patrick Elliott as its new Specialist Librarian for Pharmacy and Healthcare Management. In his new role, Patrick will provide specialist subject support, including giving advice on using key library resources, guidance on developing literature searches, and offering tailored one-to-one and group training to pharmacists and healthcare managers. Additionally, he will work on ensuring Healthcare Library collections reflect the needs of these customer groups.
Patrick’s previous experience includes working with students and researchers in academic libraries and he brings a wealth of experience to the role. Patrick will work alongside the rest of the Healthcare Library team in delivering and promoting effective use of information resources relevant to Healthcare Library customers. His work will be instrumental in advancing the Healthcare Library’s mission to deliver free library and information services, expert advice and training to support patient care, evidence-based practice and Continuous Professional Development.
The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland welcomes Patrick and looks forward to the positive impact his knowledge and skills will bring. Pharmacy staff and healthcare managers are encouraged to contact Patrick for support on using the wide range of services available and to discover how the library can support their professional development and research needs.
