Cheryl Hamill

Chief librarian, web manager, Library & Web services, Fremantle Hospital & Health Service

As with many people, I fell into this career. I had thought of becoming a school librarian but the first job I was able to get on graduation was in health and here I've stayed. I began in a psychiatric services library and after a couple of years, in one move ended up at Fremantle Hospital Library as the chief librarian. It was easier in those far off days I suspect! It is daunting to begin work in any special library I think, as we don't always have the specialised knowledge and language of our clients. I still vividly recall my first 'rabbit in the headlights' moment when a client asked for information on subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. (One of three types of encephalitis that may occur secondary to the measles virus.) I have perfected the art of looking all-knowing whilst asking enough probing questions to finally work out what the clients are talking about. The spelling in the medical area is very logical and the word meanings can be deduced once you understand the structure. A quick refresher in high school biology helped a lot.

I began as the manager of the library but now also manage web services for South Metropolitan Area Health Service in WA. I have a small, but high quality team of 2.6 librarians, a library clerk, a content web manager (who is a librarian) and a technical web manager. We buy, organise, and retrieve resources and information to support clinical care, education, research and health administration. As with most librarians, we have had to respond to the revolution in electronic publishing.

Health libraries are very satisfying places to work as it is easy to identify with our clients and their information needs. At the bottom of any question may be a patient in need and so there is a double whammy for someone who feels suited to a service profession - we help our clients and also know that we are helping patients. I have had an intensive care specialist thank me for the work done by one of the librarians in obtaining an urgently needed paper within an hour from another library. The information in the article was critical to his ability to choose the appropriate treatment.

Taking on web services seems a natural extension of our core skills. We are trying now to trap the tacit institutional knowledge banks along with internally produced guidelines and other documents. There is no doubt that a love of change is a great asset to any librarian now but in particular to any who have to deal with the pointy end of technical support.

I find colleagues locally and even internationally (thanks to e-mail and e-mail discussion lists) are a great support in keeping up to date with the rapid changes in the profession. Librarians are great conference goers and e-mail and blog users and will always be in the first wave of those who take up new technology to improve access to information. I've met many wonderful health librarians from around the world and feel as though I know even more from reading their books, articles and e-mails. Work provides many other useful ways to build up skills and knowledge and I have been fortunate to be selected to take part in a vital leadership course established by the department of health and run from the Integral Leadership Centre at the University of Western Australia.

Health librarians and technicians are dedicated and skilled professionals who have a worthwhile career and plenty of opportunities to experiment with change and innovation. We are a collegial bunch with a surprising diversity of backgrounds (at least three former veterinarians and many former nurses).

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