Library

CHDC REFERENCE LIBRARY

Child Health and Development Centre (CHDC) maintains a Library aimed at strengthening the centre's goal as a research and training unit for the University. The collection was initiated as far back as before 1989 then under the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. When the CHDC became autonomous in 1989, the growth of the library was speeded up and has been expanding over the years.

The library has widened its collection not only to include material on women and children related issues but also on the various research methodologies. It has redefined its collection to include areas of reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections, nutrition and child health. The library has an audio-visual materials section with a collection, which includes video tapes and audio tapes. Currently the library has a collection of 6,378 records all entered in the computerized catalogue. The library has subscribed to monographs and journals and to some local newspapers (i.e The NewVision, East African and the Uganda Confidential).

The library is also involved in a couple of outreach activities. It also established linkages with many collaborators and the Librarian has attended professional meetings where he has presented papers in several local and international fora.

Library acquisition methods

1. Direct purchases from bookshops;
2. Donations from individuals and organizations;
3. Research reports through the CHDC
4. Reproduction through photocopying
5. Barter exchange.

Journals Available

1. Social Science and Medicine
2. Health Policy and Planning
3. East African Medical Journal
4. International Journal of Epidemiology.
5. Medical Anthropology Quarterly
6. Medical Review: Journal of Medicine
7. OUT LOOK
8. Health Policy and Planning: A Journal on Health in Development

Library users

1. University students
2. University staff
3. Researchers
4. Policy makers and planners
5. General public

Services offered by the Library

1. Responding to inquiries and searches (on Literature, research works, projects, experts, Institutions, events etc.) using our computerized catalogue (ASKSAM software).
2. "Current Awareness services"

3. Press (Newspapers) cutting and clipping services

4. Printed information services (subject bibliographic printouts, lists of titles, accession lists.)

5. Non-printed information needs (e.g. a magnetic tape, diskettes, audiovisual devices).

6. Information counseling (referral of users, reference services on information sources, instructions concerning the use of information sources.)

7. Electronic mail and Internet services.

8. "Selective Dissemination of Information" to especially the staff and the traditional researchers at the CHDC.

9. Bulletin of tables of contents by photocopy of journals obtained during a period and arranged in alphabetical order and putting them on notice boards.

10. Processing and repackaging of information from different sources through our newsletter and other funded projects. For example the UDHS (1994/95) has been packaged into a nutritional policy booklet.

11. Access to Electronic Journals through the PERI project.

12) Consultancy/Training
a) Medical literature search
b) Resource centres set up
c) Library organization and usage
d) Library database software application
e) Web development and design
f) Computerization of the Health Management Information System (HMIS). completed ones include for Apac, Busia, Mukono, and Tororo, Districts.
g) Information repackaging i.e. into booklets, brochures.

Dissemination of Information:

1. MOther and Child HEalth Development Issues (MOCHEDI) Newsletter which is about activities through the CHDC is produced every quarter. It is distributed free of charge to individuals and organizations both within and outside the country. To be added to the mailing list write to: kalyowa@chdc-muk.com

2 Mailing lists
A mailing list is maintained which is updated regularly for distribution of mainly the research reports through the CHDC.

3. Notice Boards
Three notice boards are maintained to reach out to CHDC staff and to other University staff, students and researchers who use CHDC library or drop in at CHDC.

Library Collaborations:

1. Common wealth Regional Health Community Secretariat for East Central and Southern Africa (CRHCS/ECSA)

The CHDC is Uganda's dissemination centre for the CRHCS/ECSA information dissemination and communication programme. This information dissemination programme, undertaken in collaboration with Support for Analysis and Research in African (SARA) and coordinated through the library disseminates information on both reproductive health and nutrition.

2. ANPPCAN
Linkage has been developed with the African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN). The librarian is the secretary of the executive committee and is the chairman of the editorial board in charge of producing the Child Link magazine.