My Practicum at Riverview Hospital Library

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My Practicum at Riverview Hospital Library

• By Brooke Ballantyne

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Goal Market the Library

• demands of continuing professional and
  inter-professional education and lifelong
  learning, of research- or evidence-based
  practice, and problem- or enquiry-based
  education.

M. Wakeham
Health libraries do have some problems with
promoting themselves. They provide a professional
but intangible service to many users.
M. Wakeham
A newsletter is the first step in a series of
information products designed to provide
customers with information, to market services,
and to attract new subscribers.
O. Obst
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Riverview Basics

• Agency of the Provincial Health Services
  Authority, providing specialized, intensive
  treatment for mental illness.
• Riverview Hospital treats dementia, Alzheimers,
  bipolar mania, head trauma-induced psychosis, and
  schizophrenia.
• Teaching hospital that accommodates the learning
  needs of nursing and medical students.
• The library provides support to over 1,800
  employees and volunteers, the students who gain
  practice at Riverview, and any members of the
  public who wish to gain information about mental
  illness.

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Riverview Collection

• Books, videos, journals, and electronic
  information on the topic of mental health
• Ovid Gateway databases
• (password protected for use by hospital staff)
• databases that relate to mental health issues
• (free access)
• a portal for online journals
• a portal for clinical staff resources

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What to Market?

• One area that is truly undermarketed is our
  electronic resources. Many users have no concept
  that they're different from "the web." We
  librarians know they are unique, content- rich,
  authoritative, and not free.

R.K. Sass
It isn't enough simply to tell potential patrons
what is available at their library. That hook is
selling the value of the library in real
bottom-line terms.
R.K. Sass
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Front of the Newsletter

• Accessing practice guidelines
• (three basic methods outlined)
• Help with research
• (through the librarian)
• Article delivery to your computer
• (through the article blog)
• Online resources
• (with an emphasis on full text books)
• Topical news
• (a summary of an applicable article in recent
  health news).

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Back of the Newsletter

• In the Journals section
• Literature review of current applicable journal
  articles
• High value placed on journal literature which
  includes
• outcomes research
• practice guidelines
• definitive findings on drug side effects or
  interactions
• (looking specifically at olanzapine and
  risperidone)

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Mission Statement andTagline

• Mission Statement
• Supporting, teaching, learning, and aiding
  clinical practice through quality mental health
  information.
• Tagline
• Whatever role you have in mental health,
  up-to-date and accurate information is always
  essential. Would one or more of these library
  services help you?

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Future of the Newsletter

• Increase awareness of the library
• Reflect the current and projected services of the
  library
• Coordinate an attractive and consistent image,
  message and identity for the library

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The End