Top tips on starting a blog

Would you like to start a blog for your library in the new year? It's a great way to promote your services and connect with fellow libraries and librarians around the world.

Setting up a blog needn't be daunting and Starr Sackstein's post on how she started is a very, encouraging read.

We also love this list by Cochrane on why blogging is good for sharing evidence and for those who like a wider read, check out this list of articles on science blogging at Citeulike.org.

Here are five top tips from us too!

1. Keep your layout simple, so that it is easy to navigate.
2. Always include an About and Contact page. These are two of the most popular pages as everyone wants to know what your blog is about and how to contact you.
3. Blog regularly to keep your readers coming back for more. A blogging schedule is an excellent way to manage this.
4. Blog posts needn't be an essay. In fact, shorter posts are more likely to be read.
5. Readers love links to external resources, so do include them as much as possible.

Happy blogging and don't forget to come say hi to us on Twitter too!

Rapid Reviews - sources, articles and background information

There's a wealth of information out there on rapid reviews, so we thought we'd put a list together of some useful sources, articles and background information that we've found.

Rapid.Reviews.info

Reviews: Rapid! Rapid! Rapid! …and systematic

HLWIKI's page on Rapid Reviews

Evidence summaries: the evolution of a rapid review approach

National Collaboration Centre for Methods and Tools - Rapid reviews: Methods and implications

What is a rapid review? A methodological exploration of rapid reviews in Health Technology Assessments 

Feel free to add any sources / articles that you know of. This list doesn't capture everything but it may help if you want to know more about the topic.

Recently published Evidence Updates

The following Evidence Updates have recently been published, detailing the latest evidence and literature.

Anaesthesia and Critical Care
Children's Health
Clinical Genetics
Diabetes
Emergency Medicine
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology
Hepatobiliary
Ophthalmology
Pain Management
Patient Safety & Risk
Rheumatology
Strategy
Stroke

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter to find out when an evidence update is hot off the press!

Please complete this survey on Clinical Librarian provision in the UK

In 2004 and 2005 Linda Ward conducted a survey of the provision of UK Clinical Librarians, this new survey is intended to update our view of Clinical Librarians in the UK and to see what new and similar roles are now in place. All the information you send to us will be kept confidential unless you agree otherwise.

Here's a link to the survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WQW9RLH and please do share with your colleagues!