Ministers open £2m medical library for QUB

A new state-of-the-art medical library for Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) was officially opened on Thursday by the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Bairbre de Brún and Minister for Employment and Learning Carmel Hanna.

The new Queen’s Medical Library, which has been built at a cost of £2 million, was funded from both Stormont Departments, Queen’s University Belfast and the Royal Group of Hospitals, each of the four providing equal contributions.

The new purpose-built library in Mulhouse, on the Royal Group of Hospitals’ site will not only serve University staff and students, but will also provide a library service to health care professionals across Northern Ireland under an agreement between Queen’s and the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS).

Commenting on the long-standing partnership between the DHSSPS and the Medical Library, Ms de Brún said: “The new building, with its state-of-the-art facilities, represents a very tangible recognition on behalf of the four partners, that healthcare workers require the very best training that can be provided.”

Mrs Hanna added: “My Department’s investment in the library demonstrates its commitment to providing a high quality learning experience for students, and support for research in these areas.

“The new library in the old building combines the value of new developments and traditional strengths. It will allow the full use of the latest electronic information resources while retaining access to the centuries of knowledge represented by the print collections.

“Together, these will enable those involved in healthcare to undertake research and learning which will compete with the best in the world.”

Each Minister unveiled a commemorative plaque before being taken on a tour of the new facilities by the Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University, Professor George Bain and the Director of Information Services, Mr Norman Russell.

Mr Russell said the new library was a perfect example of a partnership between the four main funders which would ensure that a first class regional library and information service was provided to all health care professionals in Northern Ireland.

(AMcE)