Launch of the new NLH Commissioning Specialist Library: 15 September 2008

The pilot Commissioning Specialist Library went live on 15 September 2008. The library is free, and aims to be a one-stop shop providing timely and efficient access to high quality information resources for all those involved in commissioning for health and wellbeing. It endeavours to include the best available evidence, examples of good practice, policy and data to support world class commissioning.

The Commissioning Specialist Library is one of over 30 Specialist Libraries from the National Library for Health (NLH) and is managed by the King's Fund Information and Library Service.

It will be officially launched at the King's Fund Annual Conference in November 2008.
Feedback or comments are welcomed, and contact details can be found on the Commissioning Specialist Library homepage.

Find out more at http://www.library.nhs.uk/commissioning/

Launch of new National Library for Public Health

The National Library for Public Health (NLPH) is an online specialist library of the National Library for Health. It replaces the Public Health electronic Library (PHeL). The NLPH was made available in mid-November 2007 with an initial focus on three key areas: Obesity, Alcohol, and Tobacco. The library was relaunched in April 2008.

The project is being directed by the North East Public Health Observatory on behalf of the Association of Public Health Observatories, as part of the Information and Intelligence Strategy published by the Department of Health.

The library can be accessed at: www.library.nhs.uk/publichealth

What is it?
The purpose of the NLPH is to be the central point of reference for research evidence and guidance on best practice relating to the health of the population. It covers all aspects of population health including:

• health inequalities
• health improvement
• quality and safety
• health protection

Who is it for?
The NLPH aims to provide resources relevant to:

• public health specialists
• commissioners
• academics
• professionals whose role includes certain public health goals but who are not themselves specialists
• members of the public with an interest in public health matters

We also hope that it will be of value to those working in non-health organisations whose role includes responsibility for services that have a direct or indirect impact on health including Police, Transport and Education.

What will I find in the library?
Resources identified for inclusion in the library are:

• national strategies
• policies
• guidelines
• systematic reviews and other research papers
• statistical information
• patient information
  current news and events

The National Library for Public Health is also holding its first National Knowledge Week (NKW) and Annual Evidence Update on childhood obesity from 28th April 2008.

Find out more at http://www.library.nhs.uk/publichealth/

Launch of the Kidney Diseases Specialist Library

The Kidney Diseases Specialist Library has now been launched to coincide with World Kidney Day on 8 March 2007.
The focus of the Specialist Library is on kidney diseases and renal tract infections affecting adults and children in the UK.
There is also basic information on renal tract cancer.

The Kidney Diseases Specialist Library is primarily developed for health professionals working in the UK health service, providing a wide variety of links to renal information. The website also features a large amount of information that is of interest to kidney patients, and carers of people with kidney disease.

Visit the library at www.library.nhs.uk/kidney

Specialist Library for Ethnicity and Health

The Specialist Library for Ethnicity and Health (SLEH) is the latest addition to the National Library for Health, providing cross-cutting information in this important area. It was officially launched on Monday 23rd October by the Secretary of State, Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt.

The mission of SLEH is to be the central UK point of reference for research evidence and guidance on best practice relating to the health of an ethnically diverse population. The Library will incorporate the best electronically available evidence for improved practice relevant to this aim. Our collection will cover all aspects of health care delivery, from individual patient care to broader public health concerns, and include guidance on the design of health care services for diverse ethnic groups.

We aim to promote good practice in guidelines, management, service delivery and professional clinical models for improved health in multicultural and diverse communities in the United Kingdom. This will assist the NHS and its affiliated bodies to tackle their obligations under the Race Relations Amendment Act and help reduce inequality.

The SLEH is available at http://www.blogger.com/www.library.nhs.uk/ethnicity