Check out Derek, the man behind the LGH Library
Derek Rowlands is the State-Wide Manager of Library Services for the Tasmanian Health Service.
For most hospitals, medical libraries are a lifeline designed to assist healthcare professionals by providing up-to-date information and resources.
They are also a collection of our history.
At the Launceston General Hospital, the Ramsay Memorial Library contains medical journals that go back to the 19th century.
The library, on level 2 of the LGH, was established in 1944 to commemorate Sir John Ramsay. Ramsay was a surgeon-superintendent who performed the first successful resuscitation of the heart by massage in Australia.
Today, at the helm of the Ramsay Memorial Library is Derek Rowlands - the State-Wide Manager of Library Services for the Tasmanian Health Service.
Here, Derek shares a bit more information about his role and the purpose of the LGH library.
I am the manager of Library Services and one of the two staff in the Ramsay Library at the Launceston General. My colleague is Noelene Westerneng.
Librarians in the Tasmanian Department of Health are one of the service’s allied health professions.
Before coming to the LGH I worked mainly in academic and school libraries, but also did a few years for a multinational corporation that manufactured drugs, medical devices and testing kits.
I first became interested in working in a library when, while at school on an activities’ day, I was given the choice of picking up rubbish alongside the Southern Outlet or helping out in the Library. I chose the Library.
What does your role involve?
As well as the day-to-day work of maintaining the Ramsay library collection, we also help curate the resources in the Department’s Electronic Portal for Online Clinical Help (EPOCH).
In fact, most of our budget now goes to providing EPOCH and the resources it contains.
These resources include electronic books and journals, medicines information, databases for finding the latest evidence-based treatments and procedures, and various other online clinical tools
A range of hospital staff use the library but our biggest client groups are probably student nurses, doctors and other trainee clinicians on placement at the Hospital.
Much of my work involves literature searches and researching the latest information on particular conditions, treatments and interventions.
Other regular requests include providing information to assist with quality assurance projects and assisting staff who are writing up journal articles or case studies.
Who uses the library?
Despite the emphasis on clinical information, all staff are welcome and any request for assistance on any topic is considered.
We are also happy to help staff who have decided to update their qualifications and embark on a new career trajectory.
The library is a quiet place to study, we can get materials in from other libraries on most subjects and we are happy to invigilate exams for staff studying online or by distance.
As well as the latest electronic resources, the Ramsay library has journals going back to the nineteenth century and some interesting material on the history of the LGH including old photos and medical equipment.
We like to think that the Ramsay Library is relaxed and welcoming.
You are welcome to eat and drink and if books are late back you won’t get fined – although Noelene will give you a stern look and I’ll raise an eyebrow.
Sometime next year the library will be moving over to the NICS building. We hope all our regulars will continue to visit.