CILIP | Core Collection of Medical Books Revised edition

Core Collection of Medical Books

The Health Information Working Party and Tomlinsons Book Services published the 5th edition of the Core Collection of Medical Books (CC) on 19th July 2006.

This new edition is the first to mark the association with Tomlinsons Booksellers who have taken over the publication and distribution. The occasion was marked by a reception in London which was attended by Shiraz and Naaz Manjii, and Richard Buchan, of Tomlinsons, the compilers of the CC, Melanie Brocklehurst of London South Bank University, Sheila Leadbeater of Leeds General Infimary and Richard Jones of the British Medical Association, as well as many of the Health Libraries Group (HLG) members who contributed to the selection process.

Tomlinsons have started to send copies to all of their health library customers. They have offered to send a free copy to any UK health Library. If you would like a copy then please email them on books@tomlinsons.net with your contact details.

The CC was first published in 1992 and, over the last four editions, has established itself as a useful acquisition guide for the small to medium sized library in a hospital or comparable medical institute. It concentrates on materials of interest to UK health libraries and as such complements the US Brandon/Hill list which appears in the Journal of the Medical Library Association.

It is over five years since the publication of the previous edition during which time several changes have taken place.

Firstly, the Medical Information Working Party ceased to exist as an autonomous working party in 2004. Its members decided that the establishment of other agencies meant that there was no longer a need for a forum to represent the different sectors of the information industry. The working party was moved to the HLG of CILIP which provides an organisational base to work within. At the same time, its name was changed to Health Information Working Party in order to more accurately represent the other core lists that membership and publicity panel represented.
The second change has been the partnership with Tomlinsons who have taken over the publication and distribution of this core collection.
The third major change has been the expansion of the existing selection methodology to draw on the skills and knowledge of information professionals from the HLG. This core collection differs from its predecessors in that it concentrates on clinical materials and it no longer cover journals or electronic resources.

And finally, the methodology used to compile the CC has been revised for this new edition. Basic selection criteria include: the book has to be in print; clinical books have to be more recent than 2000 and non-clinical books have to be more current than 1995; and books should cover established and not transient topics. Specific selection criteria included: currency; production standards; evidence for critical base; reputation, and user demand.

Best wishes

Richard Jones
Chair, Health Information Working Party
Richard M Jones

British Medical Association Library
Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9JP
tel: 020 7383 6614
email: rjones@bma.org.uk

Contents and contributors:
Accident & emergency medicine - Sheila Leadbeater, Leeds General Infirmary
AIDS & HIV - Tiffany Moxham, Royal Free and University College Medical School Library
Anaesthesia & intensive care - Sheila Leadbeater, Leeds General Infirmary
Cardiology - Sheila Leadbeater, Leeds General Infirmary
Community care - Melanie Brocklehurst, London South Bank University
Dermatology - Graham Matthews, Rotherham General
Endocrinology & diabetes - Jane Smith, Diabetes UK
Epidemiology & statistics - Julie Jackson, South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Evidence-based medicine - Graham Matthews, Rotherham General
Gastroenterology - Graham Matthews, Rotherham General
General practice - Beverley Berry, RCGP
Health administration - Melanie Brocklehurst, London South Bank University
Health care for the elderly - Dominic Gilroy, Cookridge Hospital Leeds
Health promotion - Melanie Brocklehurst, London South Bank University
Knowledge management - Graham Matthews, Rotherham General
Medical writing & research - Helena Korjonen-Close, Institute of Clinical Research
Neurology & neurosurgery - Jane Villa, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol
Occupational therapy - Dominic Gilroy, Cookridge Hospital Leeds
Oncology & radiotherapy - Dominic Gilroy, Cookridge Hospital Leeds
Ophthalmology - Debbie Heatlie, Institute of Ophthalmology
Orthopaedics - Eve Hollis, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford
Paediatrics - Eve Hollis, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford
Palliative care - Dominic Gilroy, Cookridge Hospital Leeds
Pathology & laboratory medicine - Helena Korjonen-Close, Institute of Clinical Research
Pharmacology & toxicology - Helena Korjonen-Close, Institute of Clinical Research
Plastic surgery - Jane Villa, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol
Psychiatry - Julie Jackson, South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Psychology - Julie Jackson, South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Public health & social medicine - Julie Jackson, South Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Radiology & radiography - Dominic Gilroy, Cookridge Hospital Leeds
Rheumatology - Christine Edwards, Arthritis UK
Sexually transmitted diseases - Tiffany Moxham, Royal Free and University College Medical School Library
Substance abuse - Christine Goodair, DrugScope

Updated: 24 October 2007