Library A Week

Sarah Bush Medical Center Library

2009 no. 20

Library Profile

Library Name: Sarah Bush Lincoln Medical Health Center Library Location: 1000 Health Center Drive, Mattoon, IL 61938 Type: Special Mission: Sarah Bush Lincoln will provide exceptional care for all and create healthy communities. The Library's mission is to locate and deliver whatever information is needed by any of our patrons within their time-frame of need. Website: http://sarahbushlibrary.org LTLS Directory Page: http://www.lincolntrail.info/xan.html LTLS Member Since: 1976 An interview with Librarian, Nina Pals.

What is unique about your library?

We are the only hospital library within 50 miles. Because of the 24/7 nature of health care and our geographically dispersed clinics, we have developed our journal collection so that it is over 95% electronic.

What are the primary goals and objectives of your library?

Our main goal is for the Library's "quality and timeliness of information provided"  to exceed 4.8 (on a scale of 1-5) on our internal customer service survey. This tells us that we are providing the right information at the right time and that we have the right resources to do so. We also meet with a different department weekly to identify needs we may be missing and to educate them about library services. Implementing what is feasible from these meetings is a critical part of this. Health care and technology are changing rapidly. We strive to be forward thinking and position our library to provide changing types of information via changing mediums.

What cooperative efforts are you currently doing?

Internally, we work closely with our Excellence: a Way of Life, our quality improvement team, with Employee and Organizational Development and with Nursing Clinical Education to provide resources to support their educational initiatives. Externally, we work with East Central Illinois Consortia, Coles County Librarians group and the Health Science Librarians of Illinois to share best practices, continuing education and consortial (HSLI) purchase of electronic resources. We also interlibrary loan through LTLS quite often.

Tell us a story about your library.

A surgical team ran into issues with an anatomical anomaly in a patient. The non-surgeon physician left the OR and came to the library for information. He wanted to ensure that they had the procedure correct before they closed up the patient. After we found the needed information, he returned to the OR to give them the information. He couldn't re-enter the OR without scrubbing again.

If money were no object, what services would you add?

I would love to add a closed-circuit TV system that would allow us to expand our patient and staff education capabilities. It would also be great to add a person to update and further develop our Intranet and Internet sites.

What is popular in your library?

Our highest use items are our electronic databases, especially the ones for physicians and for patient education. Also very popular right now is a series of motivational books and 5-minute DVDs from Simple Truths.

How does your library use online tools to connect to your users?

We have an extensive Intranet with electronic databases, links to other online resources, and a mechanism for patrons to contact us. We also have an Internet site for our patients and community members with links to reputable health care resources. It includes a special section with links to Spanish-language health information. We don't use instant messaging, text messaging, or social networking tools. These are controlled by our IT department and are currently prohibited.

Request a visit to your library If you would like to set up a special date for us to visit your library contact LTLS Consultant Michelle Ralston Library of the Week is published by Lincoln Trail Libraries System, 1704 W. Interstate Dr., Champaign, IL 61822 217-352-0047  -   ltls@lincolntrail.info Executive Director: Jan Ison, Editorial and Design Team: Michelle Ralston and David Lottes