Search 2.0: Tipping You the Red Spot 4: Specialist Libraries March 28, 2008
Posted by western4uk in Access from Home, Access from Work, Access in the Library, NLH Specialist Libraries, National Library for Health, Search 2.0.Tags: Search 2.0, Specialist Libraries
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The Specialist Libraries Resource are collections of information aimed at health professionals containing clinical and non-clinical resources. A team of clinicians and information professionals build the collection of materials so that you can rely on the quality and know that information is kept up-to-date. Most of the links within the Libraries provide access to full text documents.
The Content
The Specialist libraries fall into four general categories and overall there is a specialist library for everyone! Thh Specialist Libraries host National Knowledge Weeks - which highlight the best current evidence for selected healthcare topics from Annual Evidence Updates, provide user-friendly summaries written by relevant experts, and links to guidelines, secondary research and primary research. Specialist libraries available are:
Specialist Libraries by Health Condition
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular
- Diabetes
- ENT & Audiology
- Eyes & Vision
- Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases
- Genetic Conditions
- Infection
- Kidney Diseases
- Learning Disabilities
- Mental Health
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
- Neurological Conditions
- Oral Health
- Respiratory
- Skin Disorders
- Stroke
- Trauma & Orthopaedics
Specialist Libraries by Type of Health Service
- Complementary & Alternative Medicine
- Emergency Care
- Health Management
- Palliative & Supportive Care
- Screening
- Surgery, Theatres & Anaesthesia
Specialist Health Libraries for Particular Patient Groups
Specialist Libraries with a Knowledge Focus
Searching for content in the Specialist Libraries
You can search across the range of specialist libraries by clicking on the Specialist Library 
link (illustrated to the right) on the NLH homepage.
This will list all the libraries from which you can select the specialist libraries that you want to search and you can run your search in the search box.
The usual range of search operators can be applied to search for precisely the material you are after:
- AND - to make sure the words used appear in the results - this will limit your search results.
- OR - to create an either/or link to expand your search
- NOT - to exclude a word from a search (this will limit your search).
- EXACT PHRASE - by putting your search in “speech marks” you will search for the phrase as you type it. This technique also works with Google and other search engines and is a Fade top tip to find relevant material on the internet.
Advanced Search - Top tip, remember to deselect the resources you don’t want to search this search defaults to searching across the entire NLH.
Saving Search Results
To save results requires you to be logged into Athens (which you can get from the NHS here, providing you work for the NHS). Check the check boxes of the items you want to save and then click the 
button. Alternatively just click on Save Search Result for individual items.
To retrieve items you’ve saved when you’ve logged in with your Athens password jsut click on the Saved Search Results link in the MY SEARCH section of the page.
This is also where you can find Saved Search Histories, Saved Search Criteria and your Search Profiles.
E-Mailing Search Results
You can e-mail individual search results by clicking on the More Details link. This will then bring up an e-mail form (shown below) which you can mail to yourself or a colleague you think will be interested in the item. It has space for you to add your own message.
Browsing Resources in Specialist Libraries
If you click on any of the blue links to browse a specialist library you will be able to browse content by looking at teh browse tool on the left hand side of the screen. Just click on the plus sign to reveal further lower levels of information and click on the level you want to see. Information will be categorised as:
- Guidance and Pathways
- Evidence
- Reference
- Education/CPD
- Patient Information
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