Spotlight on: our Library team
This week the NHS celebrates Knowledge and Library Services Awareness Week (13-17 June) and we’re focussing on the work of our colleagues in the Library team.
Based in the East Atrium, Level 1, the Library team is made up of two Librarians and two Assistant Librarians – Richard Looney is one of them.
“Our Library is open to all colleagues: we have over 10,000 books on a wide range of topics as well as e-books, medical journals, magazines and an archive of articles that goes back to the early 20th Century,” said Richard.
“We also have an expanding collection of fiction and non-fiction titles. The Library is not just a place where colleagues can find books, it’s a social hub, a wellbeing space where people can relax and get away from things.”
Our Library was formally established in 1965 and since then it has lent over 427,000 books – that’s more than 10,000 every year, on average.
In 2021 it received 55,000 visits and 2,000 colleagues are currently registered with it.
The Library is also the official archive of our hospital’s story as it collects hundreds of books and photographs, with the earliest one being from the late 1700s. Many of these documents have been on display during our Open Day and Fete, last Saturday.
“Medical students from both UEA and the University of Suffolk use the library a lot,” added Richard.
“We also get many requests for literature searching: clinical colleagues often ask us to find the latest evidence on a certain topic so that they can use them when treating patients.
“We also get contacted by many libraries around the UK asking us to send articles from our archives, we’re lucky to have such a vast catalogue.”
The team is currently about to offer its first Level 3 Library and Knowledge 18-month apprenticeship, with the view of expanding the team permanently.
“One of the best things about this job is that you get to meet and speak to a lot of different people, from cleaners and porters to nurses and consultants – they all come to us with different questions.
“Our most popular fiction section is definitely crime and the most borrowed books in the last year have been Adam Kay’s bestseller “This is Going to Hurt”, books that help preparing for job interviews and those about anatomy and physiology.
“We also run a book swap scheme where colleagues can donate fiction books and swap them for exciting new reads without the need for a library card.”