Join the library

Membership

Library membership is available to:

  • Staff employed by Oxford Health NHS FT, seconded staff, students on placement, students attending OHFT provided courses
  • OU Dept of Psychiatry staff and students
  • GPs & practice staff in Oxfordshire
  • Public Health Staff in Oxfordshire
  • Public Health Staff in Aylesbury
  • Clinical Effective Team, South, West and Central CSU

Joining the library

To join, complete the appropriate Library Membership (and KnowledgeShare if applicable) form either online:

or

download and complete the registration form (links at the bottom of this page), then send by email to library.enquiries@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk or hand it to a member of library staff along with ID*.

Library registration forms are also available in all the Trust libraries. You can also scan and email or post the form to any of the libraries. Please read the Users Charter before you sign your registration form.

External membership

External Membership is available to other NHS staff, non-NHS health and social care staff, other students and to patients, carers, and members of the public. Download and complete the form at the bottom of the page and send to library.enquiries@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

*All NHS staff are required to show suitable NHS ID before their membership can be activated. Proof of status is required for non-NHS applicants.

Once you have registered with the library, you may use any of the Trust libraries. Keep your SWIMS library membership number and also use it to access other SWIMS NHS libraries for basic services – loans, reference and enquiries.

What library services am I entitled to access?

Check the eligibility for services page to see which services you are entitled to access.  A charge may be made for membership and additional fees will be levied for some services. There are no charges for reference only use of the library.  For more information please see our service charges.

If you are unsure, please contact the library for clarification. For more information, expand the boxes below.

Core members (A)

Staff employed by, or working under contract for, the organisations listed are entitled to access the full range of services offered by the library.

This includes agency staff working for the above organisations and any courses for which there is an existing Service Level Agreement ( and in accordance with the terms of the relevant SLA).

Most services are provided free of charge (unless otherwise agreed in a SLA) and except as outlined in the table of charges.

Partner members (B)

Members in this category include employees of other NHS organisations within HETV or organisations working in partnership with the NHS (eg hospice staff), clinical attachments and retired NHS staff.

Members in this category have free reference access to the libraries.

Members with a valid SWIMS library membership number may also borrow books free of charge.

Other services are available at an additional charge.

Private partner members (C)

Includes staff of private charitable or commercial hospitals, independent treatment centres and private practitioners.

Members in this category may use the library for reference purposes free of charge.

Other services are available at an additional charge and payment of an annual membership fee.

Students on clinical placement or pre-registration students (D)

Members in this category will usually be based at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, South, Central and West Commissioning Support Unit, Public Health -Oxford CC or Public Health-Bucks CC but may be based at other NHS organisations within HETV.

Student members may use the library, borrow books and copy journals (according to copyright regulations) free of charge for the duration of their placement. They will be referred to their university library for other services.

Note that literature searching services are not normally available to students for whom literature searches form part of their assessed study.

Patients, Carers, the Public and other External Members (E)

Patients, their carers, members of the public, students not on placement, and any other not included above fall into this category.

Depending on their needs, some patients may need to be accompanied to the library by carers or clinical staff.

They may use the library for reference purposes without charge.

An annual membership fee will apply for members wishing to access other services including book loans.

Other services are available at an additional charge.

Library induction

All new library members are offered a short induction at their chosen library, which introduces them to the range of resources and services offered by the library, including:

  • Registering with the library
  • Finding the library catalogue
  • Borrowing books
  • Registering for an OpenAthens username and password
  • Accessing online journals and databases and other services
  • Enquiries, inter-library loans and training sessions
  • Out of hours access to the library

This induction will be useful for new members and those who would like an update on new library resources.

Forms

 

Page last reviewed: 28 August, 2024