Library
Francis Costello Library
The Library is available to all staff and placement students. The Library & Knowledge Service offers a comprehensive and modern service, helping to support practice, study, research, CPD and general information needs. The library is part of a consortium of health libraries across the Midlands – Health Libraries Midlands (HeLM).
In recent years we’ve continued to refresh and improve the service following the changes and disruption brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve also been busy working towards our most recent quality assessment, as part of NHSE’s Quality and Improvement Outcomes Framework. The assessment took place in Spring 2025 and we were commended for our impressive work across the 16 essential criteria, and an additional 17 more detailed criteria.
During 2024-25 we worked on a number of key projects, including:
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Helping raise awareness around health language and communication. This included ward education ‘trolley dashes’, new training and partnership work with Oswestry public library
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Creating a SharePoint repository, which when launched will serve as a central hub for resources including staff publication details, literature search results, current awareness bulletins and more
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Supporting staff networks and staff and student wellbeing
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Increasing our outreach work, introducing pop up libraries and a users’ forum
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Creating new bespoke training sessions for placement students and preceptorship cohorts
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Refreshing and improving the physical library space, with a particular focus on wellbeing and relaxation
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Promoting key events, including World Book Night, Fairtrade Fortnight, Green Libraries Week, KNOWvember, Health Information Week
Feedback has been very positive – on average, the experience of using our services was rated at 99% satisfaction. Users also fed back that they value our approachability, friendliness and efficiency. Feedback shows that staff and students love having a welcoming and practical space, and find our services particularly useful for improving knowledge and saving time and resources. Attendees found our training informative, engaging and interactive.
Planned projects for 2025-26 include developing AI literacy training, launching a revamped book club, delivering a new research skills module, creating simulation lab training and updating our user guides, leaflets and videos.
Lis Edwards
– Head of Knowledge & Learning
For a list of current Staff Publications please click here
