Westmead Hospital Library
The Collection
The Library's catalogue can be accessed on the internet at: http://library.wsahs.nsw.gov.au
Reference
The items in the reference collection can only be used in the Library. They are indicated on the computer catalogue (OPAC) with the prefix REF . This collection includes medical dictionaries, encyclopaedias, directories, pharmacopoeias.
The reference collection also includes numerous indexing and abstracting tools for manually locating journal articles. Indexes and abstracts available in the Library are:
- Index Medicus
- Index to Dental Literature till 1999 *
- International Nursing Index till 1998 *
- CINAHL till 2000*
- Current Contents:
Clinical Medicine
- Life Sciences
- Social & Behavioural Sciences
- Hospital Literature Index till 1998 *
-
* Thereafter available
online via CIAP
Journals
All journals in the Westmead Hospital Library are shelved in alphabetical order by their title. The latest issue of each title is shelved in alphabetical order in the New Journal Display area near the photocopiers. The last 20 years of journals are held on site and the rest are stored in stack. Please ask at the Circulation Desk for the stack collection as the Library staff collect items from the stack on a regular basis at a cost.
Books
The Library uses the National Library of Medicine's Classification system to arrange the books into subject areas. Each book has an alpha-numeric number on its spine label, eg WG 100/2. To find items using these numbers, it is necessary to use the alphabetical prefixes first, then search for the relevant numbers. Taller books are shelved in the Big Book collection which is at the back of the Library.
Audio-Visual
The audio-visual collection includes videocassettes, audiocassettes and
slide cassette programs. These are all housed in the Audio-Visual room on
the left hand side of the Library.
Pamphlets
Pamphlets are booklets, reports and other non hard bound items that are
housed in the filing cabinets near the Reference area. They are arranged
in numerical order.
Statistics
The Library holds many statistical reports from the Australian Bureau of
Statistics and other bodies. These are kept in the Reference area.
Annual Reports
A large collection of annual reports of hospitals, research institutions, government bodies is kept in alphabetical order by name of institution near the Audio-Visual room.
Theses
A collection of theses written by people associated with the Hospital is kept near the Audio-Visual room.
Closed Reserve
The Closed Reserve Collection includes items that are in high demand and are therefore limited to a two hour loan for use in the Library only.
Standards
The Library holds many Australian Standards related to the health care field.
