Knowledge Services are investing more resources to make sure a wider range of health and care books can be accessed online by all staff in NHS Lanarkshire. This ever-increasing collection of e-books can be accessed using a computer, smart phone or tablet – just by going to www.shelcat.org (search for any book and see if available in e-book format).

The Knowledge Services e-book collection covers popular themes relevant to nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, anaesthetics, cancer, healthcare quality, health improvement, medical education, management and leadership, exam preparation – and many others (the list is constantly growing!). This e-book collection is topped up by an even larger collection, available via the Knowledge Network.

All that is needed to access these e-books is an NHS Athens account (which can be obtained via the Knowledge  Network), and a Bluefire reader app if using a tablet or smart phone.

To help staff access e-books, iPad minis can be borrowed for free from Knowledge Services (just visit their libraries at Hairmyres, Monklands and Wishaw General Hospitals to get the iPads). With this new equipment, Knowledge Services aim to offer all staff better access to e-book collections and a wider range of tools, databases and resources to support their work.

iPad minis will also allow staff to access the wider collection of e-books from the Knowledge Network, including key publications such as many of the Oxford Textbooks and Handbooks, as well as point-of-care apps and tools (including FindforMe, Dynamed, Nursing Reference Centre, BMJ Best Practice and Rehabilitation Reference Centre – among others).

If interested, staff can contact Knowledge Services on 01236 713 700 or email libraries@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk.