Consultation on the future of Isebrook Hospital Library

As a service we are conscious that many Trust staff do not have direct access to a library and there is a need to develop more services that are delivered in the workplace and outside of the library sites to improve the equity of access to our services.

As part of this development we have been reviewing the levels of use at Isebrook Library, which have been relatively low since the end of the pandemic.

We are proposing to close the library at the Isebrook hospital site in order to enable more outreach services that can be delivered at all trust sites.

Closing the library would free up library staff time and enable members of the team to go out to trust sites across the county, potentially delivering training, dealing with enquiries and better enabling us to ensure the evidence you need is available at your location of choice.

However, we are aware that for some staff, Isebrook library is a useful resource, so we are asking our users to comment on this proposal and what the impact of the closure might be.

If you have a view on the closure of the library at Isebrook Hospital, we would really like to hear from you.

Please take a few minutes to complete our brief online survey and tell us what you think https://forms.office.com/e/3Ragcyiaii

The consultation survey will be open from Friday the 28th of April until the 25th of May.

Christmas opening at the libraries

All of the libraries will be open up to Friday the 23rd of December.

Berrywood Hospital Library will be staffed from Wednesday the 28th until Friday the 30th of December as usual, and then will reopen on Tuesday the 3rd of January.

Isebrook Hospital Library will be closed after Friday the 23rd of December for the Christmas period and will reopen on Tuesday the 3rd of January. Please contact one of the other libraries if you require any help during this period.

The Richmond Library at Northampton General Hospital will be staffed from Wednesday the 28th until Friday the 30th of December as usual, and then will reopen on Tuesday the 4th of January.

24 hour access will be available to registered users as normal throughout the Christmas period at the Richmond library.

We would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. We look forward to seeing you in 2023.

Christmas opening at the libraries

All of the libraries will be open up to Friday the 24th of December. 

Berrywood Hospital Library will be staffed from Wednesday the 29th until Friday the 31st of December as usual, and then will reopen on Tuesday the 4th of January.

Isebrook Hospital Library will be closed after Friday the 24th of December for the Christmas period and will reopen on Tuesday the 4th of January. Please contact one of the other libraries if you require any help during this period.

The Richmond Library at Northampton General Hospital will be staffed from Wednesday the 29th until Friday the 31st of December as usual, and then will reopen on Tuesday the 4th of January.

24 hour access will be available to registered users as normal throughout the Christmas period at the Richmond library.

We would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. We look forward to seeing you in what we hope will be a better 2022.

Libraries closed Monday 30th August for the summer bank holiday

The libraries will be closed on Monday the 30th of  August for the bank holiday.

We reopen as normal on Tuesday the 31st.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Libraries closed for the Spring Bank Holiday, Monday 30th May

The libraries will be closed on Monday the 30th of May for the bank holiday. 

We reopen as normal on Tuesday the 31st.

We are working on restoring out of hours access and hope to have some news soon.

Apologies for any inconvenience. 

Libraries closed Bank Holiday Monday 3rd of May

The libraries will be closed on Monday the 3rd of May for the bank holiday.

We reopen as normal on Tuesday the 4th.

We are working on restoring out of hours access and hope to have some news soon.

Apologies for any inconvenience. 

The libraries are open!

Isebrook issue desk

We are very pleased to be able to say the libraries at Berrywood Hospital, Isebrook Hospital and Northampton General Hospital are now open again to visitors.

Our opening hours are:

• Berrywood Library 9.30 am – 5.00 pm, Monday – Friday
• Isebrook Library 9.30 - 12.30 and 1:00 - 5.00pm Monday - Friday
• Richmond Library 9.30 am – 5.00 pm, Monday – Friday

The later start is to allow library staff time to clean the study spaces and computer workstations. For the moment there will be no out of hours opening.

In line with trust policy you will need to wear a mask or face covering throughout your visit so you will have to leave the library to eat or drink.

We know that many of you have been wanting to use the study space the libraries provide and we thank you for your patience while we have done risk assessments and put in place the measures needed to keep you and the library staff safe. 

Self-issue

If you prefer to keep your time in the library to a minimum we are still providing our ‘Click and Collect’ service whereby you can request books (by phone, email or via our catalogue) and then arrange a time to collect them. All of our other services (journal articles, literature searches, training etc) can also be done remotely.

When you visit you will notice some changes we have had to make to the spaces to ensure social distancing and to keep everyone as safe as we can. We have screens up at all of our counters and brand new self-issue machines at the Berrywood and Richmond libraries.

Berrywood Library

 Access to the first floor where the library is situated is currently on door fob control. If you don’t have a fob for Berrywood Hospital then you will need to sign one out from Berrywood reception (library card/ID required and car/house keys left in exchange).

Isebrook Library

Because of the library’s proximity to Café Vie we will be leaving the outside door to the library closed but as long as the OPEN sign is showing (Mon-Fri, 9.30 – 12.30; 1.00 – 5.00) you can get in to use the library. Please note that the library will be closed for half an hour in the middle of the day to allow the librarian to have lunch.

Study spaces and computers

We have reduced the number of computers and study spaces available to maintain social distancing and ask you to clean down the space you have use before and after use. Clinell wipes are provided but shouldn’t be used on computer screens. 

We are testing a new set up for our PCs and you are advised to bring a USB stick with you if you wish to save any documents

Cleaning/PPE

Clinell wipes and hand sanitiser are provided at sanitising stations throughout the library.  Clinell wipes should not be used on computer screen, the photocopier touch screen or the self-issue machine. Clinical waste bins are provided for the disposal of wipes and used masks.

Books

You will be able to browse the shelves but any books that you touch and then don’t borrow should be placed on the trolley so that we can quarantine them for 3 days. We will also be quarantining any returned books but if you have reserved a book you will have the option to pick it up un-quarantined. NGH and Berrywood libraries have self-issue machines to make it easier for you to take books out.

If you have any questions about the reopening please contact us. We're really looking forward to seeing you...

Christmas cover at the libraries.

Sadly, will are still unable to open the physical library spaces. 

However, library staff will be available at the Berrywood and Richmond libraries throughout the Christmas period (except for the bank holidays) to deal with any enquires, provide literature searches, supply articles, loan books and to help with all things library related.

Isebrook Library will be unstaffed from Friday the 24th of December until Friday the 1st of January. Please contact one of the other sites during this time if you need any help.

We would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. We look forward to seeing you in 2021.

We are working on reopening

The Library Service is working towards reopening the physical library sites. 

The Trust is currently undertaking risk assessments of the library spaces for reopening and once this has been completed, action plans will be produced to put in place all the measures necessary to allow us to safely welcome our users back.

We are still providing all of our services remotely, so if you need a book or journal article, a literature search, training or anything else please contact us and we will endeavour to help.

We hope to see you soon.

Libraries closed to visitors but still providing services

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak all the libraries are now closed to visitors. This includes out of hours access.

However, library staff are still working to provide you with a service and we are available if you need:

• A literature search 
• A journal article 
• A book or other document
• Help with using databases or accessing electronic journals
• Anything else library related...

Please contact one of the libraries and we will do our best to give you what you need.

You can also access our (new) catalogue online at https://nhft.koha-ptfs.co.uk/ which will show you everything we have in stock and provide links to all of  the ebooks we have which you can access online with your OpenAthens password (and if you don't have one of those you can register for one here).

You can find information about all the services we offer on our web site, including links to journals, databases, the Royal Marsden Manual and other ebooks and everything else we provide.

Library closures Monday 27th January

"This new system is super hi-tech" 

All the libraries will be unstaffed on Monday the 27th of January because of staff training.

We are moving to a new library management system and the whole team will be spending the day getting to grips with the new catalogue, finding out how to issue, return and reserve books etc., before we go live towards the end of March (more on that later).

24 hour access will be available to registered users as normal at the Berrywood and Richmond libraries, but Isebrook Library will be closed for the day.

Apologies for any inconvenience. 

Christmas opening at the libraries

All of the libraries will be open up to Tuesday the 24th of December.



Berrywood Hospital Library will be staffed from Friday the 27th until Tuesday the 31st of December as usual, and then will reopen on Thursday the 2nd of January.

Isebrook Hospital Library will be closed after Tuesday the 27th of December for the Christmas period and will reopen on Monday the 6th of January. Please contact one of the other libraries if you require any help during this period.

The Richmond Library at Northampton General Hospital will be staffed from Friday the 27th until Tuesday the 31st of December as usual, and then will reopen on Thursday the 2nd of January.

24 hour access will be available to registered users as normal throughout the Christmas period at the Berrywood and Richmond libraries.

We would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. We look forward to seeing you in 2020.

Library staffing Wednesday the 16th of October

Due to training, the staffing of the libraries on Wednesday the 16th of October will be as follows:

Berrywood Library will be unstaffed from 1.30 pm

Isebrook Library will be closed from 1 pm

Richmond Library will be unstaffed from 1 pm

Access will still be available at the Berrywood and Richmond libraries for registered members as usual.

We apologise for any inconvenience.

Early closing at Isebrook Library Tuesday the 11th of June

Isebrook Library will be closing at 1 pm on Tuesday the 11th of June.



Berrywood and the Richmond libraries will be open as normal.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Library closures Monday 3rd June

Due to a staff event there will be some library closures on Monday the 3rd of June:

• Berrywood Library will be staffed intermittently throughout the day
• Isebrook Library will be closed all day
• Richmond Library at Northampton General Hospital will be closed in the morning but will be staffed later in the afternoon.

Access to registered members via our 24 hour swipe card system at the Berrywood and Richmond libraries will be available as usual.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

May Day bank holiday closure

All the libraries will be unstaffed on Monday the 6th of May for the bank holiday.

24 hour access is available as usual to our registered members by swiping in using your library card at the Berrywood and Richmond libraries.

Isebrook Library will be closed over the bank holiday.

We reopen as normal on Tuesday the 7th at all of our sites.

Would you like to work for us? We are recruiting...

Northamptonshire Healthcare was recently given an Outstanding rating at its last CQC inspection, has been nominated for numerous awards, and won the Health Service Journal's prestigious Trust of the year 2018, all of which makes it a great place to work.

The Richmond Library

We are looking to recruit a part-time library assistant based at the Richmond Library, Northampton General Hospital, as well as providing cover at our satellite library at Isebrook Hospital in Wellingborough. 

The post is 30 hours a week, working 9 - 5 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. 

We're looking for someone with great customer service skills as you will often be the first point of contact with the NHS staff who use our services.

We need someone who is adaptable, confident, and able to deal with the full range of staff and students. You will have a good level of general education and be IT literate. Previous experience of working in a library would be a bonus but is by no means essential. A sense of humour would also be an asset.

Isebrook Library

Our library assistants undertake a range of general duties including staffing our reception desks and dealing with users, carrying out library inductions for individuals and groups, sourcing documents, answering enquiries and supporting users with finding information and general IT queries.

You will also be given overall responsibility for one or more areas of work, and of course, appropriate training will be given.

If you are interested in this role you can find more information, including how to apply, on the on the Trust's web site here.

We look forward to hearing from you...

Christmas opening at the libraries

All of the libraries will be open up to Friday the 24th of December.

Berrywood Hospital Library will be staffed from Thursday the 27th until Monday the 31st of December as usual, and then will reopen on Wednesday the 2nd of January.

Isebrook Hospital Library will be closed after Friday the 31st of December for the Christmas period and will reopen on Wednesday the 2nd of January. Please contact one of the other libraries if you require any help during this period.

The Richmond Library at Northampton General Hospital will be staffed from Thursday the 27th until Monday the 31st of December as usual, and then will reopen on Wednesday the 2nd of January..

24 hour access will be available to registered users as normal throughout the Christmas period at the Berrywood and Richmond libraries.

We would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. We look forward to seeing you in 2019.

Later opening at Isebrook Library, Tuesday 15th of May

Isebrook Library will be opening a little later than normal on Tuesday the 15th of May, at 10:00 am.

The Berrywood and Richmond Libraries are both open as normal.

Apologies for any inconvenience. 

Isebrook Library closed Monday the 30th April

Isebrook Library will be closed on Monday the 30th of April so the carpet that was damaged in the
flood in March can be replaced.

We should be reopening on Tuesday the 1st of May as normal.

Apologies for any inconvenience.