How do I use the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub?
What is the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub?
Why should I search on the Hub?
How do I get access and begin to search?
Can I search without logging or having an NHS OpenAthens account?
I love the Get PDF button – can I access this outside of the Hub?
What if I move jobs within the NHS?
I need an in-depth, specialist search where can I get help if I don’t have the skills?
My organisation doesn’t have a healthcare library service: where can I get help?
How do I use the NHS Knowledge and Library Hub?
Watch our short user video tutorial
Download our short guide
What is the Knowledge and Library Hub?
The NHS Knowledge and Library Hub connects NHS staff and learners seamlessly to a range of high quality knowledge and evidence resources all in one place.
Nationally funded, the Hub is a single gateway and offers an intuitive search experience for quick searches and options for in-depth searches.
On it you can find, for example:
- over 7,000 journals
- books and e-publications including OUP handbooks
- one-click access to full-text, request a copy or connect with an NHS library
- clinical decision support tools such as BMJ Best Practice
- clinical guidelines and procedures
- access to in depth search tools like Medline, EMBASE and CINAHL
Full access is free to all NHS staff and learners through their NHS OpenAthens account.
If you haven’t already register for NHS OpenAthens
Why should I search on the Hub?
Whether you need published knowledge and evidence for patient care, management decision-making, education or research, or just professional curiosity, the NHS Knowledge Hub will provide you with a great place to start your search.
The Hub is designed to support easy discovery of evidence – you can start from a simple search and then narrow down to recent articles, or books or add more detail to rapidly reach items of interest.
Seamless access to journals is built in with one click access to PDF. If you are connected to an organisation with a library team you can request access to articles not immediately available using a convenient prepopulated form.
Available across the NHS in England the Hub will be a consistent starting point wherever you work. It includes all the nationally-funded digital resources and resources that your local library service has made available.
Even if you work in an organisation which doesn’t have an NHS library service, you’ll get direct access to nationally-funded resources. Google is great but it won’t get you to the full-text of the resources that the NHS has paid for: the Hub will.
How do I get access and begin to search?
Go to www.library.nhs.uk/knowledgehub, click on the link and login with your NHS OpenAthens account.
If you don’t yet have an NHS OpenAthens account, register for a free NHS Open Athens account.
Wherever you are, look out for a search box which looks like this:
Or a desktop icon which looks like this:
Can I search without logging in or having an NHS OpenAthens account?
Yes, though you won’t be able to access the full-text or paid-for content. Logging in is strongly recommended to ensure you see the full range of journals and other resources available to you.
I love the Get PDF button – can I access this outside of the Hub?
Seamless linking to resources is a key feature of the Hub and we are keen to improve linking wherever you are trying to access articles. You can install LibKey Nomad on most browsers and, having selected your library, it will pop up to provide one click access to articles in PubMed, Google Scholar and Wikipedia (amongst others).
What if I move jobs within the NHS?
If you move organisation you can take your existing NHS OpenAthens account with you. Login at the OpenAthens Hub and select “Change organisation”. Wherever you go the Knowledge and Library Hub will look very similar, but give you access to everything your new organisation has purchased for its staff and learners.
I need an in-depth, specialist search where can I get help if I don’t have the skills?
Some staff and learners need complex searches for research, patient care or systematic review. We have provided information to help get you started with advanced searching. For the full range of local support options find your local knowledge and library service who will be happy to help.
My organisation doesn’t have a healthcare library service: where can I get help?
We have set up an NHS Knowledge and Library Hub service desk to help you if needed