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Getting Started With the Library for NHS Staff

Quick overviews on key library services for NHS staff

Evidence searches

Library and Evidence Services offers a free evidence search service to NHS staff with full library membership. The service provides expert searches to inform patient care, clinical teaching, service improvement and research activities.  

You can submit your search request through KnowledgeShare. To enter your request, log in to KnowledgeShare with your OpenAthens account, go to the 'Evidence' tab and select 'Request an Evidence Search'. Then fill in the online form with as much detail as possible.  

Our NHS Support Librarians aim to complete your search by the deadline specified but we recommend a minimum of 5 full days notice. We may need to renegotiate deadlines depending on the complexity of the search or at peak times in the service. 

We cannot undertake searches for assessed work as part of an educational course. If you require help searching for materials for coursework or a dissertation, please contact your librarian or book a one to one and we will be happy to support you to do this yourself. 

If your search relates to a full systematic review, please contact your librarian to discuss the support available.

The following flow chart explains the support available depending on your requirements:

Are you NHS staff or a placement student? If staff, go to 2. If student, contact your home university. 2. Is the search for assessed academic work? If yes, book a training session with your NHS Support Librarian. If no, go to 3. 3. Do you have a KnowledgeShare account? If yes, request an evidence search through KnowledgeShare. If no, contact your NHS Support Librarian to request a search.

 

If you're still unsure what your next steps should be, get in touch with your librarian. We will be happy to talk you through it and help however we can.

Please specify how urgent the search is on the request form, giving a date by which you require the results. Whilst we will endeavour to complete searches within the deadline requested, we cannot guarantee search results will be received within this date and you may be contacted to establish a more realistic timeframe. Providing as much detail as possible in your search request and responding quickly to any queries from the librarian carrying out the search will help to prevent delays.

Whilst care will be taken in the selection of the materials included in evidence search results, Library Services are not responsible for the content or the accuracy of the research information provided. Library Services will not be held responsible or liable for any omissions to pertinent research information not included as part of the results of any evidence search.

Any usage or reproduction of the search must acknowledge the work of the librarian that produced it, and they must be kept informed of any resulting publications. NHS staff who receive a search should complete the feedback form within KnowledgeShare.