1. Library and Archive Services
Get more out of your membership
Introduction
The aim of the presentation is to tell you about the services the RCN Library and Archives offer to members
Access to library resources is included in your RCN membership subscription fee
It [the Library and Archive Service] is a unique selling point and is one of the key reasons why nurses choose RCN membership over other trade unions
Ideas for possible questions to ask you audience:
Have you ever used the RCN Library and Archive Service before?
Do you have access to any other library resources eg. trust or university library? The RCN’s library offer is a great complement to these services

2. RCN Libraries The Library and Archive service
libraries in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh
a wealth of online resources
expert help and advice from information professionals
resources to help with work, studies and CPD
Edinburgh
Belfast
The RCN is now 101 years old and the library services goes back to the very early days of the organization and was established in 1923
The library service has grown over the years and we’re a true UK wide offer with physical libraries in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast
If you’re not near one of our physical libraries, don’t worry!
Considerable investment has been made in online library resources which we’ll look at these in greater detail in this presentation
These resources are underpinned by a team of highly experienced librarians who are on hand to assist you with you information needs
The library can help you not just with studies but also with work, CPD and revalidation (we have a revalidation library subject guide)
If you’re not near one of our physical libraries then fear not as there are a wealth of online resources to help you with your studies and CPD
Cardiff
London

3. Online library resources
Simplified website
Library search tool
Access to 1,100 journals and around 30,000 e-books
Nursing, midwifery and healthcare databases
Subject guides
Video tutorials
A simplified website has been designed for ease of use; it has been designed to work on smartphone and tablet devices as well as computers and laptops
The library search tool works a bit like google and allows you to search for information and evidence resources including; journal articles, books and e-books
The website gives you access to databases such as British Nursing Index, CINAHL and Medline
We have library subject guides which cover key areas of nursing and offer a useful introduction to the topic. They link to keys resources such as NICE guidelines as well as relevant book, journals and articles.
The Library and Archives team have produced a number of video tutorials which provide bitesize learning on using library resources. Check these out on the library training pages and the RCNOnline YouTube channel

4. E-books Read online or download for later
Access on your PC, Tablet or Smartphone
New titles added all the time
Around 30,000 titles available
The library still has around 54,000 print books but the number of e-books has been boosted considerably with access to around 30,000 titles
(Idea for audience question: do you use e-books?)
E-books can be downloaded to read later (they’re still library books so you don’t keep them) or you can read them online

5. E-journals 1,100 titles available Full text online
Download, print or articles
RCN membership gives you access to around 1,100 e-journals
Here’s an overview of some of the popular titles including the British Journal of Healthcare Assistants
You browse our ‘journals finder’ by clicking on the collection tab of the library website
You can browse individual issues of journals but if you want to find articles on a particular topic, you will need to use library search or one of the nursing databases such as CINAHL

6. Access to resources is easy!
Login using your RCN membership number and surname
Get in touch if you have any questions
Access to most online RCN Library and Archive resources requires you to login
It’s very simple – simply use your RCN membership number and surname to login when prompted

7. Celebrating our history
The RCN Archive is home to thousand of items of nursing history
However, our collections do not reflect the experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) nurses, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) nurses or nurses with disabilities.
As part of our project called collecting diversity; we’re looking to build our collections in these areas.
There’s an online donation form you can fill out via the L&A website if you would like to donate nursing related objects, artifacts, conference papers and photographs
We have an ongoing programme of nursing events across the UK. Check out the Exhibitions and Events part of the website to see what’s on and book your place. Most of these are free to attend.

8. Other services Literature search service Events and exhibitions
Enquiries:
Telephone service
Web Chat
Training
Postal loans
The literature search service is available to full members of the RCN. 
We will search a range of resources relevant to your enquiry and your list of references will be ed to you within ten working days
If you are a student member, there is a selection of resources available to you via the library collections pages. Or you can get in touch with the library for help and guidance
We have an ongoing programme of events across the UK. Check the website to see what’s currently on and also to book your place
Here are the library contact details
Webchat enables you to instant message the Library and Archive Team
The team also offer 1:1 and drop-in sessions at the RCN Library and Heritage Centre or you can get in touch via the above options if you’re not near one of physical libraries
We still offer a postal loan service for books – there is a charge for this service to cover postage costs

9. Get in touch! www.rcn.org.uk/library 0345 337 3368
Thanks for listening and do keep in touch
You can also follow Library and Archive on twitter for the latest news and check out our YouTube video tutorials on the RCNOnline YouTube channel