A global health libraries collaboration A global health libraries collaboration John Loy

Chasing the Sun What is it? What is it? How does it work? How does it work? How did it come about? How did it come about? Where do we go from here? Where do we go from here?

What is Chasing the Sun (CTS)? Out-of-hours support Out-of-hours support Puts healthcare practitioners in contact with a librarian to help with information queries Puts healthcare practitioners in contact with a librarian to help with information queries Co-operative venture between librarians in Australia and the South West of England Co-operative venture between librarians in Australia and the South West of England

How does it work? Makes use of the time difference between countries Makes use of the time difference between countries Chat software enables real-time communication Chat software enables real-time communication Librarian at virtual enquiry desk offers guidance and advice Librarian at virtual enquiry desk offers guidance and advice

Midnight in the UK 8am in Perth 10am in Sydney

Background

Background Bali bombing 2002 Bali bombing 2002 Healthcare assistance from Australia Healthcare assistance from Australia Challenge accessing information when working through the night Challenge accessing information when working through the night But…night in Bali is day in the UK But…night in Bali is day in the UK British Library provided vital article British Library provided vital article

Background Sally Hernando Sally Hernando E-resources 24/7 – local support usually isn’t E-resources 24/7 – local support usually isn’t Why restrict to local support? Why restrict to local support? UK and Australia share similar healthcare culture and information resources…..what if…..? UK and Australia share similar healthcare culture and information resources…..what if…..?

What’s the evidence for virtual reference? Virtual reference (VR) widespread in US academic libraries Virtual reference (VR) widespread in US academic libraries Undergraduates biggest user group Undergraduates biggest user group Increasingly popular in UK universities Increasingly popular in UK universities UK - People’s Network “Enquire” service receives around 40 questions a day UK - People’s Network “Enquire” service receives around 40 questions a day VR in healthcare – uncharted territory…. VR in healthcare – uncharted territory….

What does CTS look like?

Client completes a few details and the beginning of their enquiry, then starts chat session by clicking “Connect”

What are users asking? I am using the QEH library, and am looking for a medication resource – Nurse, Australia I am using the QEH library, and am looking for a medication resource – Nurse, Australia ….struggling finding what I want in the BMJ, any suggestions? – SHO, UK ….struggling finding what I want in the BMJ, any suggestions? – SHO, UK Is there any evidence for the use of intravitreal antibiotics in penetrating eye injury please? – Australian user Is there any evidence for the use of intravitreal antibiotics in penetrating eye injury please? – Australian user

What do they think of it? What a great use of Internet technology – CPN Salisbury, UK What a great use of Internet technology – CPN Salisbury, UK It is nice to know there is help out there even after hours. I am a working Mum, studying and about to have my 2nd baby, so after hours study is all I can manage. Knowing there is help avail-even just to check that you're on the right track is good. Nurse, Adelaide, Australia It is nice to know there is help out there even after hours. I am a working Mum, studying and about to have my 2nd baby, so after hours study is all I can manage. Knowing there is help avail-even just to check that you're on the right track is good. Nurse, Adelaide, Australia

The near future – broadening UK membership NHS librarians around the UK joining NHS librarians around the UK joining Derby, North East, Glasgow Derby, North East, Glasgow Lots of interest in local VR (currently used by many of the Australian members) Lots of interest in local VR (currently used by many of the Australian members)

Australian experiences of local VR 19 Aussie libraries in CTS 19 Aussie libraries in CTS 8 provide daytime VR 8 provide daytime VR Average 1-2 chat sessions per day per library in Adelaide Average 1-2 chat sessions per day per library in Adelaide Encourages patrons to contact the library via another route Encourages patrons to contact the library via another route Keeps librarians and users familiar with the software Keeps librarians and users familiar with the software

What do the Aussies think of it? This chat thing is GREAT - Registrar, teaching hospital This chat thing is GREAT - Registrar, teaching hospital Thnx - gr8 2 chat like ths - Nurse, country health service Thnx - gr8 2 chat like ths - Nurse, country health service I can SEE IT! - Nurse, having an intranet page 'pushed' to her browser at her workstation on the wards I can SEE IT! - Nurse, having an intranet page 'pushed' to her browser at her workstation on the wards

Longer term future….. No longer emphasis on “emergency support” as there was initially No longer emphasis on “emergency support” as there was initially Subsequent unknowns – user demand and workload on library staff Subsequent unknowns – user demand and workload on library staff Keen to get other countries on board Keen to get other countries on board Canada or US ideally placed to complete the circle – a 24hr service Canada or US ideally placed to complete the circle – a 24hr service

8pm in the UK 4am in Perth 6am in Sydney 11am in Vancouver 3pm in Montreal

Longer term future Unknowns – user demand and workload on library staff if service “takes off” Unknowns – user demand and workload on library staff if service “takes off” Broaden service to provide local VR in UK Broaden service to provide local VR in UK Step up marketing Step up marketing Evaluation (to date informal) Evaluation (to date informal) Funding……. Funding…….

Further reading Chasing the Sun: a virtual reference service between SAHSLC (SA) and SWICE (UK) Chasing the Sun: a virtual reference service between SAHSLC (SA) and SWICE (UK) Health Information and Libraries Journal, June 2005, vol 22, no 2, pp Rockliff S, Peterson M, Martin K, Curtis D. Health Information and Libraries Journal, June 2005, vol 22, no 2, pp Rockliff S, Peterson M, Martin K, Curtis D. Chasing the Sun: the story so far Chasing the Sun: the story so far Health Information on the Internet no 54, December 2006, pp 9-10 Loy J Health Information on the Internet no 54, December 2006, pp 9-10 Loy J

Shall we try it? Shall we try it?

John Loy – UK Administrator Mary Peterson – Australian Co-ordinator