About the library
- Library guide
- Library access: opening hours, after hours access, contact.
- Holdings: journals, books, audio/visual, newspapers.
- Computer workstations: databases, literature searches.
- Services: loans, reserves, Interlibrary Loans, training, photocopying.
- Publications: Library Update, Fact Sheets.
- Achievements
Library access
Opening hours
- Monday - Thursday, 8:30 - 5:30
- Friday, 8:30 - 5:00
- Saturday - Sunday and public holidays, closed
After hours access
Access is for RCH staff only, upon presentation of your hospital identification badge. Items must not be removed from the library after hours. There is no after hours access for medical students.
- The key book must be signed by the person taking responsibility for the key.
- The key must be returned in person and signed back in.
- The key is not to be handed on to any other staff member.
- To transfer the key from the responsibility of one staff member to another, both staff must sign the book to signify the changeover.
- The key may be collected within half an hour of library closing time.
Collect the key from:
- Information Desk
- 5pm - 8pm Monday to Thursday
- 4:30pm - 8pm Friday
- 8am - 6:55pm weekends and public holidays
- Emergency Department reception desk
- 8pm - 7:30am weekdays
- 7pm - 8am weekends and public holidays
Contact
Use the Ask a Librarian online form, or contact us directly.
Holdings
- Journals
- The library holds around 300 print and 2000 online journal titles; see the full journals list. New issues are displayed for one week. Journals are not for loan, unless required temporarily for a Journal Club, or for making colour copies/scans.
- Books
- Search for books by using the online catalogue or the dedicated catalogue computer at the library. New books are displayed for one week. Reference collection material is not for loan.
- Audio/Visual
- Videos, slides, and audio-cassettes ("Audio-Digest Pediatrics") are available for loan (staff only) or for in-house viewing.
- Newspapers
- "The Age", "The Australian" and "Herald-Sun" are received each weekday; back issues are not kept.
Computer workstations
Access the Internet plus online databases including:
- Ovid MEDLINE (see Fact Sheet no.2 for Searching and saving in Ovid and Fact Sheet no.3 for Managing Ovid search results)
- Embase
- CINAHL
- Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews
- UpToDate (in the library, one computer only)
- MDConsult
- The Cochrane Library (see Fact Sheet no.5 for Cochrane search tips)
- PsycINFO
- AustHealth
- MIMS online (see Fact Sheet no.4 for MIMS search tips)
- Full text journals
Library staff can assist with database searches, and can also conduct searches on your behalf (download a Literature Search Request form). Regular updates (SDIs) on a particular topic can be arranged.
Services
- Loans
- Books can be borrowed by staff and some students by becoming a library member or via Interlibrary Loan. Reference collection material is not for loan. Some journals, audio tapes, slides, and videos may be available for loan; check the Catalogue or with staff for details.
- Reserves
- Holds may be placed on books which are either on loan or on display. Bookings can also be made for videos.
- Interlibrary loans
- The library can obtain journal articles or books which are not held in our collection. Charges will apply. Make a request at the library, via email, or via the online form (registration required). You must provide either your Department's PIN or cost centre code for billing, or specify that cash will be paid on receipt of the material. See Fact Sheet no. 8 for further information on Interlibrary Loans.
- Library training
- Tours of the library and its facilities, as well as help with searching Ovid databases are available on request. Formal training sessions are offered in database searching. See also online training guides for Ovid and the Internet.
- Photocopying
- Use coins or your department's PIN. Check with library staff for details.
Publications
The Library Update is published each week, listing new journals, books, reports and video/audio tapes received during the previous week. It is available free upon request, or via email, or the library web site. Contact the library for more details or subscribe/unsubscribe online.
Also available are Fact Sheets which offer useful tips and advice on database searching and library services.
Achievements
Book loans, Interlibrary Loans, database usage
- Recent: 2007-2008 (4 pages)
- Annual: yearly since 1991 (1 page)
Website Usability Test
- 2005: Read the report (15 pages)
User surveys
- 2008: Read the report (7 pages)
- 2004: Read the report (5 pages)