1. P.K. Nyame Library Ghana College of Surgeons and Physicians
Information Resources and Library Promotion

2. Aim of the College Library
The primary aims of the College Library:
to support learning, teaching and research activities of GCPS.
to keep Fellows, Members and Residents of the college informed of the library’s services and available resources.
to develop direct communication between the library and the Faculties.

3. Who is the College Librarian?
The College Librarian is an information professional who specialize in health resources management and provides medical information for Surgeons, Physicians, Residents, allied health professionals, consumers, and corporations.

4. Tasks of the College Librarian
Accesses and delivers information using materials ranging from print sources to electronic databases.
Manage the reference desk, give orientations to students on how to use library resources, and assists in searching bibliographic databases.
Help Fellows, Residents, and other health professionals by providing medical literature searches using evidence-based medicine techniques.
Sometimes serves patients directly by providing access to health care information at consumer health libraries, hospitals, or academic medical center libraries.
Evidence-based medicine
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is an approach to medical practice intended to optimize decision-making by emphasizing the use of evidence from well designed and conducted research.

5. Tasks of the College Librarian (cont.)
Help desk service
Faculty support (Articles for Literature Review)
Participating in collection development (Acquisition of Resources)
User training
Exhibitions
Assist to develop Library`s webpage
Promoting library services and resources

6. Information Resources
Access to over 100 Databases and repositories
e-Journals (over titles)
Incision Platform, Hinari, PubMed etc.
Digital Collection of University of Ghana’s Balme Library
GCPS Theses Collection, Textbooks, Journals, Periodicals (Dailies & Magazines) etc.
DVDs and CDs
Computers with internet connection and free Wi-Fi connectivity.

7. Balme Library open Access
Username/
Select Staff.

8. Hinari Login (Access in Ghana Only)
Username: GHA044
Password: 90115

9. Help Desk Duties of the College Librarian include:
Participating in Help desk service by providing assistance with any questions about Library services and collections to all library patrons.
Assisting in information searching, answering questions:
by phone and via

10. Faculty support The College Librarian is responsible for:
Establishing relationships with the Faculties, identifying which information services may be required by the faculty and delivering these services.
Developing effective two-way communication and collaboration between the library and the Fellow, Members and residents.

11. Work with Faculties The role of the College Librarian includes:
Taking book orders
Selecting journals and databases
Setting up Trials and organizing presentations of new databases(If any).
Assisting to embed Information Skills in curriculum/class/assignment (if Possible)

12. The College librarian is involved in:
Providing specialized assistance for the faculty staff
to identify journals for manuscript submission(Literature Review)
Providing individual and group consultations for Residents in any research area.
Where to publish; How to sign up for alerts
Citation analysis advice: Web of Science, How to find Impact Factor, health related online index etc.

13. Collection Development activities
Participating in collection development for print and e- resources of the College Journal.
Coordinating book and journal purchase upon request.
Keeping up-to-date journal and databases collections

14. Communication Key factor in developing relationships with Faculties.
The College Librarian has to make him/herself known and available to the faculty.
The ways of communication with Fellows and Residents:
Visiting Fellows and
academics visiting the College librarian
via phone, via individual , via distribution lists and subject listservs

15. Promotion It is important to make everyone aware of the library
Promotion keeps the Fellows and Residents up-to-date with the latest developments of the library.
There are many ways to promote the library:
Library`s webpage on the College’s website
Orientation tours and training sessions for new Residents.
Exhibitions as a medium of promotion: Promote books, journals and electronic in the Library.
a permanent exhibition in the Library during AGSM, Medical Knowledge Fiesta to present the most interesting books and journals in our collection

16. More involvement in Research
The College Librarian is involved in research in providing adequate information to Residents.
Librarians direct residents where authentic information can be retrieved both online and physically.
Workshops and CPDs the College Librarian provides support.

17. Future Plans
to create a patron survey – an effective tool for promoting library services.
to evaluate how the Faculties and Residents use our e- resources and how satisfied they are with the College Librarian’s support, incl;
Website (e-resources through the college website)
Databases (access, usage)
Library instruction, Help guides.

18. Being visible!
The importance of visibility and promoting the activities of the Subject Librarians are important
Ensure that all Faculties and Residents are aware that there is a college librarian who may offer services for their specific questions concerning the library and resources.
If the Faculty members and Residents are not going to come to us, we have to go to them!

19. Library Etiquette: Dos
Be a Fellow, Member or Resident before you can use the library.
Use all the Library Resources.
Switch your mobile on silent mode.
Respect Library Rules and Regulations of the library.

20. Library Etiquette: Don’ts
Do not make noise in the Library (or its surroundings).
Do not use cell phones inside the Library
Do not carry/move any item out (chairs, tables, books, etc.) without permission from Library
Do not install or uninstall any software program(s) on the Library computers.
Don't bring in food

21. Thanks!