St. Boniface General Hospital Library joins UML

from Recently at UML… A News Release from the University of Manitoba Libraries, November 1998, News Release No. 53

After many months of preparation and negotiation, the Carolyn Sifton-Helene Fuld Library at St. Boniface General Hospital (SBGH) was consolidated with the University of Manitoba Libraries. The official transfer took place on August 1, 1998, at which time the SBGH Library became a satellite operation of the Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library. According to the formal agreement signed in June, the hospital library’s complete baseline budget, the collection, furnishings, and office equipment were transferred to the University in exchange for full academic library services at the St. Boniface sites. SBGH Library staff became employees of the University Libraries as part of the agreement. 

The restructured SGBH Library is staffed by two professional librarians, two library assistants, and a casual shelver. The collection of 400 current periodicals and 7,000 books will be maintained on site, and the library will continue to offer a full range of reference, orientation and bibliographic instruction, literature searching, and document delivery services. “As a special library at Winnipeg’s second largest hospital, our priority is to respond quickly and effectively to the information needs of clinical staff and researchers,” say library assistants, Sonja Paas and Michele Coutts. “And now University faculty and students working on the Taché campus have equal access to academic library services on site.” Within the structure of the University of Manitoba Libraries, the SBGH Library is well positioned to improve service to all its varied clientele. 

“We succeeded in making the change as transparent as possible for library users,” says Hospital Librarian, Mark Rabnett. “We’re happy with the results. Ada Ducas, Head of NJMHS Library, was a great help in making this important transition. Thanks should also go out to all those who worked so hard over the past year.” The Carolyn Sifton-Helene Fuld library remains an active member of the Manitoba Health Libraries Association. As part of the large University community, the library continues to work towards improving access to information in the health sciences. 

For more information, please contact Mark Rabnett, Head, Carolyn Sifton-Helene Fuld Library at 237-2808, or by e-mail at rabnett@sbrc.umanitoba.ca