Our Learning Resources team were pleased to welcome staff from two Somerset NHS Foundation Trust libraries to the Taunton campus LRC this month. Librarians from both Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital visited to view the expansive library collections, services and facilities available to students, including those who study on the Nursing full-time degree programmes and Apprenticeships. The visitors also had a tour of the Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre, led by the UCS Nurse Educators, to see the simulation wards in practice and explore the state-of-the-art facilities available to our nursing students, many of whom have work placements at Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital. The tour was followed by a visit to the UCS Common Room to showcase the wide range of study facilities for HE students.
This was a reciprocal event following the BTC/UCS librarians’ visit to Musgrove Park Hospital library, Musgrove Academy, in July earlier this year. Both teams have well-established collaborative working practices to support nursing students with provision to library resources and partnership library inductions. Library staff at both institutions frequently communicate and liaise with each other regarding new library initiatives and future developments that help enhance nursing students’ library experiences. This visit also coincided with the recent Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Education awarded to the College for its pioneering healthcare provision and careers opportunities in the region.
Jolanta Peters, Research & Library Services Manager at BTC/UCS commented,
“It has been a huge privilege to host the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust librarians’ visit at the College to continuously forge our collaborative and reciprocal working relationships to support and benefit our students. We were thrilled to share our experiences and explore a range of new collaborate working initiatives that could enhance our services. Students are at the heart of everything we do at the College and their success stories motivate and inspire us to make their learning experiences in the LRCs even more enjoyable”.
Cate Newell, Library & Knowledge Services Manager at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said,
“We really enjoyed our visit to the Taunton BTC campus, meeting the LRC team again (following their visit at Musgrove Park Hospital earlier this year) and having a tour of the LRC, simulation ward and HE study facilities. It was wonderful to experience what BTC students on placement in the Trust experience from their home institution. As library professionals, it was a fantastic opportunity to connect with peers to share learning and best practice and identify some areas we can collaborate on together in the future. We look forward to working more closely together to benefit students and learners in Somerset”.