Introduction

The Library provides resources and services to staff located outside of The Canberra Hospital, including offices in Moore St. Civic and Community Health Centers. For off-campus users, the library provides book loans via internal mail; loan renewals via the view my loans option; access to the library out of hours;  access to electronic resources; document delivery requests for items not in our collection; research assistance via the Ask a Librarian service;  and off-site training.

Becoming a registered borrower

To access services provided by the ACT Health Library you must be a registered user. Please complete the registration form and fax this ,with a photocopy of your ACT Health ID,  to (02) 6244 3388 or mail to Loan Services, ACT Health Library (Bldg 4), Canberra Hospital via the internal mail. When we process your registration you will be sent a barcode in the post. This should be attached to the back of your ACT Health ID. Use this barcode to borrow books, gain access to library resources remotely and request items via Document Supply.

Borrowable collections

• Books and DVDs with a catalogue Location CAN HOS LOAN.  
• Books and DVDs with the catalogue Location CAN HOS SPECIAL RESERVE. This collection is for use within the library, on presentation of a patron’s ID, but may be borrowed overnight after 4.30pm. Items must be returned before 9.00am. Late returns will incur a fine.

Collections Not for Loan 

• Reference collection, Historical collection, and print journals.

Library Catalogue 

The ACT Health Library collection includes books, DVDs, print journals, as well as electronic journals and books.  The Library catalogue gives location details for all items in the library's collection.  

Flexible Borrowing

The library provides “flexible borrowing” for those off campus staff with internal mail service. Request books by email  or phone 6244 3394 and we will send the items out to you in the ”flexible borrowing” pouch, which should be kept for returning the item.

Requesting Items on Loan

If the item is on loan then reserve the item by clicking on the “Request” tab, which is the far right tab.

Fill in the form, giving your details then click on submit. Check the details are correct for the item you want, then “Request selected item”, the system will then process your request. Your requested item will be sent to you, upon its return to the library. The loan period is 2 weeks, which can only be renewed once.

View my loans record

Registered borrowers of the library are able to “View My Loans Record”. After submitting your details, borrowers are able to modify their PIN, view and reserve an item – if the item is currently on loan, as well as renew their loans – if an overdue notice has not been issued, or if there are no other reservations on the item, or search the catalogue. Always remember to

Logout when you have finished your transactions to maintain the security of your information.

Access to E-Journals, E-books, Databases

Remote users are able to access the majority of the library's electronic resources from off-site. Use the Remote Login from the home page and enter your library barcode and password.

Document Supply/Inter-Library loans

You can request resources not available in the library using our online Document Request Form.

Not: Fees will be charged for any book requested from another library.

Request for information

Ask a Librarian is an E-Reference service. You can request either a quick search or a comprehensive literature search.

• Quick Search - We aim to have searches completed within 24 hours. Search results will be emailed, unless otherwise requested, and articles can be viewed from the library homepage via e-journals.
• Comprehensive search of the literature - We aim to have searches completed within 3 working days. Please give as much information as possible and indicate a relevant range of years to be searched (e.g. last 7 years).

Training

Please check our training calendar for training sessions in the library’s training room, or to arrange for small group training at your workplace, complete Request Off-Campus Training form or email the Reference librarian This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   to schedule a session.

• Basic Library skills. Learn to navigate the Library homepage, access e-books and e-journals, place requests for items through the library catalogue, and request inter-library loans.
• Search Databases. Learn to structure your search to get the best results from Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, AustHealth or any of the databases we subscribe to. 
• Keep Current with Alerts (Email or RSS). Set up search alerts and Table of Contents Alerts for your favorite journals.
• EBM. Locate the best clinical evidence on your topic using both EBM databases (Cochrane, UpToDate, Joanna Briggs) and other databases (Medline,PubMed, Cinahl).
• EndNote (a personal reference database for organizing journal citations).

Access to the Library out of hours

Please contact David Thompson in Security on 62442143 regarding out of hours access to the ACT Health Library.  He will ensure a security pass is available at the Hospital Information Desk (open till 8pm in the evening). This pass can only be obtained if you have an ACT Health ID and it must be signed for.

Staff Contact details