Finding Champions our strategy for finding and keeping library advocates

1
Finding Champions our strategy for finding (and
keeping) library advocates

• Alison Turner
• Fran Wilkie
• Nick Rosen
• National electronic Library for Health
• UK
• 9th European Conference of Medical and Health
  Libraries
• Santander, September 2004

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Background

• National electronic Library for Health
• Digital library
• Supports evidence-based decision making
• England only
• www.nelh.nhs.uk
• UK health libraries
• National Health Service
• Academic
• Independent
• etc

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Why we need champions

• Visibility and value
• in the late twentieth and early twenty-first
  century, libraries are no longer a given (Siess,
  2003)
• Awareness
• Information required up to 60 times per week may
  affect up to 8 decisions per day (Covell, 1985)
• 62 of primary care professionals unaware of
  access to databases (Robinson, 2002)
• Skills
• Outsell 2004 75 believe that search engines
  allow them to find the information they need to
  do their jobs

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Challenges and barriers

• Challenges
• Raise awareness
• Deliver training
• Get knowledge into professional lives
• Barriers
• Size and nature of health community
• Health professionals dont have time
• We are remote from our users

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Our solution

• Approach
• Power of word of mouth
• Power of a network of champions
• Objectives 2003 2004
• Network of librarians
• National awareness campaigns
• Networks of networks

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Network of librarians

• Integrated approach to marketing and training
• wider reach for publicity campaigns
• offers economies of scale
• Principles
• We work better collectively than individually
• Lack of awareness remains high
• Promotion is the first stage of training
• Sharing of knowledge and know-how is crucial

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Digital Libraries Network (DLnet)

• What is DLnet?
• Network for health librarians and trainers
• Focus on training promotion
• Virtual community
• Support network
• Development
• Events
• Web site www.nelh.nhs.uk/dlnet
• Collaborative weblog http//dlnet.blogspot.com
• Community of practice

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DLnet members

• build networks of networks to help "spread the
  word" across the health community  
• develop creative ideas for promoting services and
  delivering training
• are encouraged to contribute ideas and
  experiences

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Benefits

• For the network
• Impact of a co-ordinated approach
• Recognition of contributions of library staff
• A valuable support structure
• One size fits all to tailored
• For individuals
• Support training
• Advance information
• Rewards and incentives
• Tailored professional development

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Feedback

• I think DLNet is an excellent idea and a lot of
  useful support has been provided. Nice to not
  feel isolated anymore!
• I find access to the information/materials
  available excellent and would like to see a wider
  range
• The Digital Library Network has made it so much
  easier to get in touch with other Outreach
  Librarians

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National awareness campaigns

• Awareness Week 2002
• Pass it on campaign
• Highly commended CILIP Awards
• Awareness Week 2003
• Partner Scheme
• Phone in Learning Sessions

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Impact

• Over 45,000 visits to NeLH
• 670 sessions of Phone In telephone training
  delivered
• 104 organisations signed up as Partners
• Number of visits per month increased from 159,000
  (September) to 200,000 (November)
• 60 000 pieces of literature distributed by
  librarians and other champions
• 3500 completed user surveys

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Plans for 2004

• Health Libraries Week
• 15 21 November 2004
• Aims
• Profile of library staff and their importance in
  C21st healthcare
• Breadth of services in libraries, combining
  virtual and physical resources
• Targeted promotion Open Access publishing
  primary care

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Networks of networks

• Case studies
• Taking training to the users
• 10 minute training in primary care
• Training for midwives
• Presentations to senior managers
• Library Committees
• Local events

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Benefits

• Joining up local and national marketing
  activities
• Promotion of resources as a seamless service
• Avoiding duplication
• Sharing of good practice
• Clear communication routes

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Lessons learned

• Contribution of communications work to bigger
  picture
• Role of partnership working
• Local innovation and creativity
• Knowledge sharing
• Keeping fresh
• Realistic planning
• Reflective approach
• Time and energy required

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What and where next?

• Making the network stronger
• Professional development

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More information

• A Turner, N Rosen F Wilkie. Raising
  e-awareness in health. Library and Information
  Update, 2 (12), December 2003, 48-49.
• A Turner, N Rosen F Wilkie. Joining forces
  developing a network to raise awareness of
  digital library resources in health care. Vine,
  33 (4), 161-167.

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Useful reading

• Library Advocates Handbook
• http//www.ala.org/ala/advocacybucket/
• libraryadvocateshandbook.pdf
• Judith A Siess. The Visible Librarian asserting
  your value with marketing and advocacy. ALA,
  2003.

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Thank you

• Alison Turner
• Fran Wilkie
• Nick Rosen
• nelh_at_nhsia.nhs.uk