Advance Warning - Bloglines is closing

We currently use Bloglines for a number of current awareness services, but sadly the site is going to close on the 1st of October.

We are currently reviewing the Blogs we produce. Some will be transferred over to Google Reader and continue, whilst others will be replaced by our Netvibes service.

New Health Promotion Resources Bulletin Now Available

The Autumn issue of our bulletin is now available on the library website. In it you'll find the latest editions to our stock which include a Deluxe Occluded Artery Model, a Melanoma Awareness DVD, some resources on bullying, emotional well being, our new resource on macular degeneration & smoking, the Smokey Eyes Game Kit and more. You'll also find information on relevant leaflets (including news about the Dairy Council) and posters, as well as up coming health events.

Liberating the NHS White Paper: Information on Our Netvibes Site

We have updated our Netvibes site and added a new section on the NHS white paper. You'll find links to the DoH, King's Fund, NHS Evidence and other sites with information on the white paper, as well as feeds with the latest news and comment.

Our Netvibes site is an easy way to stay up to date with developments in UK healthcare and also has a number of other sections covering Primary Care & Commissioning, Public Health, Management, Mental Health, NHS IT and others, as well as national and local news.

New online information prescription service launched

A new on-line Information Prescriptions Service has been launched to help ensure that patients get the information they need, when they need it. The new service is available at www.NHS.uk/ips, and provides information on more than 100 long-term conditions. The Information Prescription can be printed, emailed to patients as a digital version and stored in the patient’s records.

The Information Prescription provides information on the diagnosis and management of various conditions, together with information on local resources and services available.

Furthermore, new e-learning and self-assessment tools are now available to help staff improve their information-giving skills. For further information and access to these tools, visit www.nhsemployers.org/longtermconditions

Library Services Annual Report Now Available

The 2009-10 annual report for the Library Service is now available. In it you can see a review of both developmental work and projects, as well as business as usual activity. We hope you'll find it of interest to see how the service has changed and what it has delivered over the last financial year.  You can find it in the publications section of our web site.

Berrywood Hospital Move

The move from Princess Marina to our new library at Berrywood Hospital is now nearly complete. All the stock and equipment has been transferred, books and journals are all on the shelves and (nearly) all our computers are up and running.  

The team have all worked very hard at ensuring the move went as smoothly as possible and we will be ready to open on Monday the 24th (although we've already had a number of visitors and our first "proper" customer!). There are still a few things left to finish, but we are almost there.

The new library looks really good and we are all really pleased with the design. The Berrywood Library is a fantastic new resource for our users and staff alike. Come and visit us soon!

Princess Marina Library is Moving to Berrywood Hospital

The library at Princess Marina Hospital will be moving to its new home to become the Berrywood Hospital Library.

There is likely to be some disruption to the service from Monday the 10th of May and then:

• Out of hours access at Princess Marina will not be available from the 10th of May
• The library will close on Thursday the 13th of May for packing and remain shut all of the following week for the actual move
• The new Berrywood Hospital Library will then open on Monday the 24th of May
• The Health Promotion Resources Service will be available, but inevitably there will be some disruption
• A full range of services will still be available from all the other library sites.

Please Note: The Health Promotion Resources Service will be staying at its location in the current Princess Marina Library for the short term. We expect this will also be moving later in the year. Details will be announced when we know more.

Berrywood Hospital Library Build Update

The build at Berrywood Hospital has now reached the final stages, with just a few more weeks to go until we move in.  The library now has paint on the walls, carpet on the floors and furniture in the offices, as well as power and data points. 

The next step will be FG Library coming in to install shelving and fit out the library space. That begins on Tuesday the 4th of May.

Currently, we are still on track to move into the new library on the week of the 17th of May. Princess Marina will begin packing up the week before and the library will be closed from Wednesday the 12th of May.  We hope to reopen at Berrywood Hospital on Thursday the 20th or Friday the 21st.

The Health Promotion Resources Service will be staying at its current base in the existing library site for the time being.  It will be also be moving in the near future, but we are unsure of timescales at present.

View from the glass walkway up to the new library

                      The front of the hospital

Easter Opening

Easter chicks! Happy Easter- Feliz Páscoa
Originally uploaded by Beto Frota

The library will be unstaffed from Friday the 2nd to lunchtime of Tuesday the 6th of April, but will be staffed as normal over the rest of Easter. Out of hours access is still available as usual to registered members.

Berrywood Hospital Library Build Update

The build of the Berrywood Hospital, and the library is moving on apace!  Since our last visit all the scaffolding has come down, doors and windows have gone in and there is even paint on the walls.

We've now had the final drawings for staff offices and a sample of the carpet, so we are able to get on and chose the colours for our furniture.

Everything is running to plan so we will be furiously packing from around the 12th of May with the move from Princess Marina to Berrywood starting on Monday the 17th.  There is still a lot to do, but we are looking forward to moving into this wonderful new space.

Off the Shelf library newsletter now available

The latest issue of our newsletter, Off the Shelf, is now available. This special issue focuses on sources of information for managers and looks at a number of different resources including Emerald's Health Management First service, management related databases, full text electronic journals, the NHS Evidence specialist collections, and even how to access some of this material from mobile devices.

You can find Off the Shelf in the publications section on our web site

NHS Annual Evidence Updates

3 this week!

15th - 19th March
Critical Illness Rehabilitation: Surgery, Anaesthesia, Perioperative & Critical Care Specialist Collection
Hearing Disorders: ENT & Audiology Specialist Collection
Retinal Vein Occlusions: Eyes & Vision Specialist Collection