The range of roles in healthcare knowledge and library services are many and varied. From ?traditional? librarian roles to those that break new ground ? including clinical, embedded and outreach librarians and knowledge managers ? they are a vital ongoing support for this important sector.

This work brings together health information practitioners and researchers with a variety of experience across health information work within knowledge and library services in the NHS. It provides a comprehensive, practitioner-focused introduction to all aspects of knowledge and library work in the health sector with a focus on NHS England. The book begins with an overview of the NHS and how knowledge and library work sit within it. It then addresses such critical areas as services supporting evidence-based practice, the developing area of health information literacy, reflective practice, collaborative working, demonstrating impact and employing digital technology. The book ends with an exploration of what the future might hold for healthcare knowledge and library services such as, the rapid advance of artificial intelligence/machine learning and how it might shape those services and knowledge specialist roles.

Knowledge and library specialists offer a valuable gift to healthcare professionals ? the ?gift of time? enabling them to make informed decisions which directly impact upon patient care. This timely book provides a valuable reference for anyone studying or looking to enter this relevant and diverse field.

The book chapters can be read in any order. They cover the wider health care environment, training needs, evidence-based practice, advocacy, knowledge management, partnerships, health literacy, resource discovery (including an overview of open-access publishing), research skills, impact measurement, reflective practice and future opportunities and challenges in digital technology and artificial intelligence.

Table of Contents:

Foreword by Rob Webster

1 An introduction to healthcare knowledge and library services - David Stewart and Gil Young

2 Strategic development for healthcare knowledge and library services - Louise Goswami, Alison Day and Holly Case-Wyatt

3 Exploring the training and development needs of the healthcare knowledge and library services workforce: a case study Dominic Gilroy and Catherine Mclaren

4 Advocacy, and how Knowledge & Library Specialists Tailor Services to meet the Needs of their Stakeholders. Holly Case Wyatt (With special thanks to Vicky Bramwell)

5 Mobilising Evidence and Knowledge Emily Hopkins and Katie Nicholas

6 Internal and External Partnerships Emily Hurt and Dawn Grundy

7 Health literacy, patient information and combating misinformation Joanne Naughton and Geoff Walton

8 Resource Discovery and Open Access Hél?ne Gorring and Fran Wilkie

9 Growing the evidence base in healthcare knowledge and library services Alison Brettle and Ruth Carlyle

10 Measuring progress, value, and impact in NHS knowledge and library services Clare Edwards, Dominic Gilroy and Victoria Treadway

11 Reflective practice in healthcare settings Tracey Pratchett, Siobhan Linsey and Rachel Cooke

12 Looking to the future of healthcare knowledge services Sue Lacey-Bryant