NEWS The Medical Library and the study places available in the premises are under investigation and now the work of finding new study places for the future within the University Hospital of Umeå for all students at the hospital begins.
"We know that this is, and will be, an important resource for all students on medical programmes, so we are fully focused on finding a solution for the future that will satisfy everyone. In the meantime, the study spaces will remain in the Medical Library, although the library operations themselves are being reviewed", says Magnus Hultin, Associate professor at Department of Diagnostics and Intervention at Umeå University.
Magnus Hultin, Associate professor at Department of Diagnostics and Intervention at Umeå University. Photo: Hans Karlsson.
The Medical Library (MB) is a is a section of the Umeå University Library (UmUB) and is physically located in the premises of Norrlands University Hospital (NUS) and has been managed together with Region Västerbotten since its inception in 2002. The MB contains books, journals and other medical resources mainly in the subject areas of medicine, dentistry, nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. MB is primarily aimed at students and staff at the Faculty of Medicine and Region Västerbotten, but is also open to patients and the general public.
As the NUS is being rebuilt and the landscape of library services is changing with more digitisation, library activities at NUS will be reviewed. Statistics show that MB has had an increasing number of visitors in recent years. However, it is clear that the majority of visitors are NUS students using the study spaces, while both students and research university and regional staff now mainly use the library services via e-services.
Large parts of MB's physical space are currently occupied by study areas and group rooms for NUS students and these will remain in place next year.
"It is important to emphasise that both Region Västerbotten and the university have the ambition to arrange study places for students at NUS also in the future, as everyone is aware that this is a very important resource for all students, not least those doing their clinical training. I am convinced that together we will find good solutions for this", says Magnus Hultin.
Students entering the Medical Library. Photo: Erik Vesterberg.