Locating and, more importantly, obtaining copies of relevant print resources can sometimes be difficult. The most important thing to remember is that we as your professional body library provide postal loan and document supply services, so you can easily obtain printed resources (eg, books, reports and journal articles) from our collection. However, if you need alternatives, listed below are some internet resources to help you track down printed resources. If you contact us and we do not hold the item you are seeking then we will be happy to suggest some alternative options.
If you happen to live in or near London the libraries listed below offer free access to their collections. Other libraries around the UK will also welcome those with a study or research need. Find links to the major academic libraries on the website of HERO (Higher Education and Research Opportunities in the United Kingdom). Different academic libraries will have different access arrangements, but it is always worthwhile asking whether access to their collections is available to you.
British Library
About: the national library of the United Kingdom receives a copy of every publication produced in the UK and Ireland.
Use it to: visit the Library to access printed and electronic resources in all subjects. If you are unable to visit in person, use the Library’s catalogue (see below) to discover literature published in the UK on any subject, and request this either direct from the British Library or through your local (NHS, academic or professional body) library.
How: to use the collections of the British Library you need to obtain a reader's pass. Membership is free and open to everyone with a research or study interest and can be obtained during a visit to the Library at St.Pancras, London. For more information on how to do this visit the British Library website.
Wellcome Library
About: a collection of books, manuscripts, archives, films and paintings on the history of medicine from the earliest times to the present day.
Use it to: find literature (both print and electronic resources, including some resources that can be accessed remotely) in biomedical science, ethics, science policy, history of medicine and allied subjects.
How: membership of the Library is free to everyone with a research or study interest in health and medicine. For information on registering with the library visit the Wellcome Library website.
King's Fund Library
About: a unique source of information on health and social care policy.
Use it to: find literature on policy and management of health and social care services, including informally published 'grey' literature and Government documents
How: it is freely available to managers and leaders in health and social care, and anyone else working or interested in these areas. There is no need to join, as it is not a membership library.
Most libraries now make their catalogues available online. You do not need necessarily to have access to the libraries to make use of their catalogues. Instead use the catalogues to identify printed resources of relevance to your study or research, and request the documents through your local (academic, NHS or professional body) library.
COPAC
About: a union (consolidated) catalogue, giving free access to the merged online catalogues of members of the Consortium of Research Libraries (CURL), including 24 major university research libraries in the UK and Ireland plus the British Library, the National Library of Scotland, and the National Library of Wales.
Use it to: search the catalogues of these key research institutions to discover literature on any subject. You may not have access to the libraries listed, but having identified resources of use to you, you can then order them through your own local (NHS, academic or professional body) library.
How: access to the catalogue is free.
British Library catalogue
About: the British Library's integrated catalogue providing details of its books, journals, manuscripts, conference proceedings and newspapers.
Use it to: find literature on any subject which you can then order through your own local (NHS, academic or professional body) library.
How: access to the catalogue is free.
Wellcome Library catalogue
About: listing of the Wellcome Library's collection of resources on biomedical science, ethics, science policy, history of medicine and allied subjects.
Use it to: discover whether the Wellcome Library holds the material that you need for your research or study.
How: access to the catalogue is free.
Buying secondhand books is sometimes the most cost-effective way of building your own library. The sites below will enable you to buy, and in fact sell, secondhand books with ease.
Abebooks
About: database of over 13,000 booksellers providing new, secondhand, rare and out-of-print books.
Use it to: locate books that you wish to own but which are now out-of-print, or are too expensive from other sellers. Or list and sell your own secondhand books that you no longer need.
How: searching the database is free, but there is a charge if you wish to sell your books. For more information on selling go to the Abebooks website.
Amazon
About: originally renowned for its book sales, Amazon now sells not just books but many other products too. It also enables independent sellers to sell new and used items in its ‘Marketplace’. Finding relevant items is supported by product reviews and personalised recommendations.
Use it to: locate books on your subject, both new and secondhand, and have them delivered to your door. See the Library’s own sale pages to see what we are currently selling secondhand.
Ebay
About: you can find for sale just about anything on ebay, which describes itself as the ‘World’s Online Marketplace’.
Use it to: find secondhand and out-of-print books on your subject.
How: to use the service, you need to register. Simply click on the big red ‘Register now!’ button