Citation
(2003), "Standards for health libraries revised", Performance Measurement and Metrics, Vol. 4 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/pmm.2003.27904aab.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2003, MCB UP Limited
Standards for health libraries revised
Standards for health libraries revised
The accreditation scheme for libraries in the health sector, originally produced by the LinC Health Panel, is published in a second revised edition.
Accreditation of Library and Information Services in the Health Sector: A Checklist to Support Assessment, 2nd ed., compiled by Chris Fowler and Val Trinder, published by the Health Libraries and Information Confederation (Helicon) October 2002, is now available for downloading as a PDF document from the Librarians Portal of the National Electronic Library for Health at: http://www.nelh.nhs.uk/librarian/accreditation.asp It will also be posted on the Confederation Librarians' Group site at http://uk.geocities.com/confederation_librarians/ The checklist is comprised of a set of assessment criteria with explanatory notes along with guidelines for assessment teams. It is accompanied by a workbook customised for use by assessment teams and by library managers preparing for assessment.
The accreditation scheme takes a more holistic approach than the first edition, with assessment criteria grouped together so that areas of activity are assessed as a whole. It also places emphasis on the need for library services to be integrated into the life of the organisations that they serve. There is a change in the way accreditation is awarded too. Four stages of development are recognised, and replace the levels of accreditation awarded under the previous edition of the scheme.