Library & Knowledge Service FAQ

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Q

Where is the library?

A

The library is located on the ground floor of the Education Centre at the Royal Liverpool Hospital site. At Aintree, the Library is located on the first floor of the Clinical Sciences building. 

Q

What are your opening hours?

A

The libraries are normally staffed Monday to Friday 8.30am until 6pm. However, at the Royal Liverpool site you can access the Library outside of these hours using your ID badge to swipe your way in from the main Trust corridor. Contact security if you need to have your badge activated.

Q

Who can access the library?

A

  • All employees of the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
  • Cheshire and Mersey Psychiatry F2’s on rotation.
  • All students on clinical placement.
  • Visiting NHS Staff - can access for reference during staffed hours.
  • Patients and Public can use the photocopier - for a small charge when Library is staffed.

Q

Can patients or the public use the Library?

A

  • During Staff hours patients and the public can visit the Library to photocopy - 5p per side A4
  • Patient information leaflets can be printed off free of charge

Q

How do I become a member of the library?

A

To join the Library a membership form must be completed either by visiting each Library or via the 'Book catalogue' section of the Library & Information Service Webpage. Click on 'Register' at the top right of the page. Please ensure you select RLUH or LUHFT-BGH or LUHFT-Aintree and add the correct department. You will be supplied with a Library barcode to place on the reverse of your ID badge. This then enables you to use all of the Library Services and Facilities. 


Once registered, you will be free to use all of our services remotely without the need to visit the Royal Hospital Library in person.  

If you require assistance please contact Library Staff:

0151 706 2248

library.service@rlbuht.nhs.uk

Q

Who can join the Library?

A

The Library and Knowledge Service provides services to all staff of: The Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cheshire and Mersey Psychiatry SHOs on rotation and all students on clinical placement. The Library provides access to 12,000 books and nearly 7000 online journals.

Q

How many books can I borrow?

A

All registered users may borrow up to eight books for up to three weeks. After three weeks the books must be returned or renewed if the items have not been reserved (maximum of four renewals). Books can be loaned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week using the Self-Service Kiosk within the Royal Liverpool Library. The borrower is responsible for books borrowed and any losses must be reported to the Library Manager who will arrange for an invoice for the replacement cost to be issued. Books must not be transferred from one borrower to another.

For staff working at Aintree: Locate the book you require by using our online Library Catalogue. Let us know which book you require by telephoning ext 2248, or email library.service@liverpoolft.nhs.uk. We will then put the book on the bus service that runs half hourly between sites. We will let you konw when it's ready to collect from the Aintree site Library (Clinical Sciences Building)

For staff working at Broadgreen: Staff working in Broadgreen might prefer to use our internal postal service when necessary. Locate the book you require by using our online Library Catalogue. Let us know which book you require by telephoning ext 2248, or email library.service@liverpoolft.nhs.uk. We will then post the book(s) to you. They will be securely packaged in a padded envelope. When you return them to the Royal Library please use the same padded envelope. We will endeavour to guarantee delivery within 24-48 hours using the internal postal service.

When you return them to the Royal Library please use the same padded envelope and return to:

Staff Library
Education Centre
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Liverpool
L7 8XP

Q

Can I reserve books?

A

Books already on loan may be reserved online using our online Book Catalogue – remember to login first to reserve items. Your username is the Library borrower barcode on the reverse of your ID Badge. The password is normally Library1 or Library01. Reserved items will normally be held for the reader for one week after which they will be returned to the shelf.

Important: reserved items cannot be renewed and must be returned immediately they are requested. Failure to do so, without good reason may result in suspension of loans for one month. 

Q

How do I register for an Athens account?

A

The LUHFT Library is registered with the ATHENS Authentication Service. By registering for a Trust NHS Open Athens account you are able to access full text online journals, databases and other resources covered by our licence. A personal Open Athens account can be set up very quickly by registering here

Once you have your Open Athens username and password you will be able to access resources both on and off the hospital site. To obtain an account you need to be an NHS employee within the Trust or a student on a clinical placement in the hospital. We also ask that you register with the library. 

Q

Is there 24 hour access?

A

You can access the Library at the Royal Liverpool site via your Trust I.D. Badge. If you have a Trust ID Badge, please contact the smart card office (ground floor ext. 2919) if your card has not been encoded to access the Education Centre. Unfortunately, 24 hour access at the Aintree site Library is currently unavailable.

Q

Do you have any online journals?

A

The Library service provides access to 7000+ online journals, a list of which is available at our Journals A-Z link here. Always remember to login using your Athens username & password before searching the Journals collection. Some titles are freely accessible and some require an Athens password. You can register for an Athens username and password here

 

 

Q

Can I request journal articles or textbooks that are not stocked?

A

If there is an article or textbook you require that is not available from the library we can usually obtain it for you through our inter library loans service. Articles and books can be requested by using the document request webform. You will need your Library borrower barcode to make a request. If you need help in using the webform, please ask a member of the library staff for assistance. Journal articles and books may take up to 7 days to arrive. We will notify you when the items have arrived so you can come to collect them from the library.  If the article is available as a PDF then (subject to copyright) we will forward this to your email. 


For staff working at Broadgreen and Aintree
Photocopied journal articles and textbooks obtained from elsewhere will be posted directly to you in your Department. We will endeavour to guarantee delivery to you within 24 hours using the internal postal service once we have obtained the item from the lending Library.

Q

Do you offer training courses in literature searching?

A

The Library is pleased to offer training courses in how to search for health information and the latest evidence more effectively using a whole range of resources. We offer group training sessions at departmental level (e.g. study days or team meetings) or alternatively one-to-one sessions within the library.

Training is available for individuals or groups by contacting Angela Hall based in the Staff Library, Education Centre, RLUH site on ext 3747 or e-mail angela.hall@liverpoolft.nhs.uk

Q

What resources do you provide access to online?

A

We have subscriptions to ‘clinical decision support tools’ such as UpToDate and Best Practice


We provide access to the NHS’s main gateway to
resources NHS Evidence. Resources available on this site not only include clinical databases such as Medline, evidence resources such as the Cochrane Library, full-text e-journals and e-books, but also health services management information including policy, planning and finance. It is a useful resource for all staff undergoing research, preparing for exams, for personal development or keeping up to date with health information. Training guides are also available from the Library and on our website under the Documents section. For a full list of Resources available see our links section.

We have access to Oxford University Press Handbooks and Textbooks when you login with your Athens account.

Q

Are any of your resources available to access via mobile App?

A

UpToDate, and BMJ Best Practice mobile Apps are now freely available to all staff -for iOS®, Android™ or Windows 8 devices.

There is also an App for your Library service account and access to the catalogue

Ask Library Staff, or pick up a leaflet in the library, regarding how to download and access the mobile Apps.

Q

Can I recommend items for the Library e.g. Books, Journals, Equipment, Software Packages?

A

Yes, please do, by emailing the Library Service Manager:

angela.hall@liverpoolft.nhs.uk 

Q

Do you offer a literature searching service?

A

We can perform a literature search for you. Please submit your request using our online webform

Q

Do you have a photocopier / scanner/ printing facilities in the library?

A

An all-in-one colour photocopying/scanning/printing machine is located within the Library at the Royal Liverpool site, within Kent Lodge, our Education Centre at Broadgreen and at the Aintree Hospital Library. When photocopying items please ensure that you adhere to NHS copyright guidelines on display.

There is no charge for photocopying/printing items that are work related. All computers in the libraries are networked to the Trust-wide ‘canonfollowme’ printers. You will need to login to the PC’s using your own Trust username & password. This will allow you to release a print job to any Trust wide ‘canonfollowme’ printer. Print jobs are released using your Trust ID badge.