The issue we had with accessing ProQuest e-books has now been resolved. If you are still having difficulties please let us know.

After much demand the latest edition of  The Renal Drug Handbook is now available as an e-book.

To access the e-book enter the title in the search box on the Healthcare Library website.

Unfortunately we are experiencing issues with a number of our e-books from the vendor, ProQuest.

If you are presented with the AFBI login when accessing an e-book please email us with the title of the e-book.

The issue has been reported to ProQuest who are currently working on a resolution.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Want to find out more about the new website?  Then why not come and see Library staff who will be out and about over the next few weeks at a location near you.   All sessions will take place over lunchtime and staff will be happy to answer your questions, register you for membership or give you a quick overview of the new website.

DATE	LOCATION	VENUE
18th June	Causeway Hospital	Canteen
19th June	Royal Victoria Hospital	Spoons canteen
20th June	South West Acute Hospital	Canteen
25th June	Antrim Area Hospital	Canteen
25th June	Craigavon Area Hospital	Canteen
26th June	Belfast City Hospital	Canteen
28th June	Ulster Hospital	Canteen
29th June	Musgrave Park Hospital	Canteen
5th July	Daisy Hill Hospital	Canteen
26th July	Omagh Healthcare Park	Canteen
27th July	Holywell Hospital Hospital	Canteen
31st July	Mater Hospital	Atrium
1st August	Downe Hospital	Canteen
7th August	Altnegelvin Area Hospital	Reception area

The new brand for the library service for staff delivering health and social care in Northern Ireland was launched at an event in the Medical Library, RVH on Friday 8 June. The launch of the Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland was attended by representatives from Queen’s University Belfast, the Department of Health along with many healthcare professionals. Speaking at the event, Professor Gardiner said “NIMDTA warmly welcomes the launch of the new branding and website for the Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland which has been developed following attentive listening to HSC staff, including trainees, with the specific aims of improving the awareness, accessibility and  focus of library services for the HSC community”.

The Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland helps deliver world class patient care by providing health and social care professionals with free library and information services, expert advice and training to support patient care, evidence-based practice and Continuous Professional Development. The service comes from a long standing partnership between Queen’s and the Department of Health and is free for health and social care staff across Northern Ireland. The new website can be found at https://healthcarelibrary.qub.ac.uk/

 

 

 

 

 

All libraries will be closed on Monday 7th May for the May Day holiday, reopening as normal on Tuesday 8th May.

Many thanks to all of our users who responded to the 2017 Satisfaction Survey. We value your feedback and comments. It is refreshing to hear what we are getting right and important to hear what we are not doing so well.  As with previous surveys, comments, as detailed below, about the service are overwhelming positive, with some staff members named as being particularly helpful and friendly.

• As a new user, I was very impressed by standard of library services, and the staff were extremely helpful with any queries.
• The library service at Queen’s is fantastic, I have also used the facilities at Jordanstown and those at Queens are far superior with a greater range of items, more professional learning environment and more knowledgeable staff with regards to queries and alternative options when items are not available.
• Frequent user at Fern House library at Antrim hospital site and very pleased with all aspects of the service provided.
• I’ve always found the Library staff extremely helpful and find it a pleasure to visit the library.
• I have had nothing but a positive experience in the QUB library, in particular the medical library staff. Really helpful and willing to give their time.  Great service.
• A fantastic service that is making my studies and research that little bit easier. Thank you

 

We would also like to take the opportunity to respond to the less positive comments, which can be grouped into the following themes:

 

Location and access to the Medical and HSC Library, including car parking

The Medical and HSC Library is located in the Mulhouse Building on the Royal Victoria Hospital site. It is accessible on foot, by car or by using the free shuttle bus running between the Belfast City Hospital site and the Royal Victoria Hospital site. Use of the car parks and the cost of car parking is controlled by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and is outside of the Library’s control.

 

Study Environment, Medical and HSC Library

Significant investment has been made in order to improve the study environment in the Medical and HSC Library. Additional plug points were installed in the Fry Room last summer, and we are currently looking at installing further plug points across the Medical Library.

Unfortunately, there are no soundproof cubicles in the Library; although group study rooms can be booked for skype calls if required. It should be noted that these rooms are not completely soundproof either.

 

Study Environment, HSC Library Craigavon

The staff in HSC Library Craigavon have reported the broken window catch in the additional study room but unfortunately, this cannot be repaired at present.

The blankets have been removed from the additional study room as sleeping is not permitted in the library rooms. However, it is difficult to monitor this out of library opening hours.

 

Print Resources, Medical and HSC Library

The Library endeavours to have required reading material in the most appropriate library.  Material in the areas of medicine, dentistry and nursing should be available in the Medical Library however, we do depend on the course tutors letting us know what the required texts are.  If material is not available, please contact your subject librarian with the details of the books you require.

 

Online Resources and Search Facility, Medical and HSC Library

The Library is currently reviewing the search facility. A new website and search facility is planned as part of our exciting rebrand, and both will be available soon.

There are a range of databases available on the HSC Library website, which enable you to search effectively for scientific papers.  These databases link directly to the full text of the articles if available through the HSC Library. 

Journals available on the QUB library website are a result of paid subscriptions with publishers, which state that online access to the journals is only for authorized users and these authorized users are only QUB staff and students.  In other words, only these users can access the online journals available through the QUB Library website.  It is not possible under the legal obligations of these licences to enable other groups to directly access these online resources.   The resources and journals through the HSC Library website are negotiated and paid for separately from QUB. 

Online tutorials are available on key aspects of using the HSC Library website.  These are available via the profession specific links on the Library homepage eg http://libguides.qub.ac.uk/c.php?g=485942&p=3877029 . Training sessions are also provided.

For further advice on the best search tools for you, how to use these search tools or information about the online resources, please contact your subject librarian who will be happy to help.

 

Opening Hours, Medical and HSC Library

The Medical and HSC Library carried out a survey in April 2017 asking for feedback from users about the opening hours. Changes were made to the hours because of feedback and comments received.

Opening hours in the HSC Libraries, e.g. HSC Library Antrim are subject to change due to daily circumstances and holiday periods. The HSC Library website recommends that users contact the HSC Library branch before visiting.

While the Medical and HSC Library cannot comment on the opening hours of other QUB Library branches, we are keen to receive feedback or comments, and will endeavour to pass these on to other relevant parties.

The Medical Library and Biomedical Library are closed for Easter from Friday 30^th March until Tuesday 3^rd April inclusive.

Both libraries will reopen on Wednesday 4^th April at 8.30 am as normal.

Please contact your nearest HSC Library for details of their opening hours over the Easter vacation.