Creation and development of an All-Wales Health Library Catalogue

This article focuses on the collaboration between the University of Wales College of Medicine (UWCM) libraries and the Welsh National Health Service (NHS) libraries to create a joint library catalogue. The goal was to create an all-Wales resource that gave users one access point to search for the location and availability of health-related material in any Welsh medical library. This venture grew out of the existing collaborative scheme, the All-Wales Health Information and Library Extension Services (AWHILES). Currently, all seven UWCM libraries and 17 NHS libraries contribute to the catalogue. Four more libraries are due to join in late 2003 or early 2004. All UWCM and AWHILES libraries would then be contributing members of the joint catalogue. The article discusses the background and motivation to the creation of the database. It explores the positives and negatives of the project plus what was learnt as the venture progressed. It reviews the establishment and operations of the Welsh Health Voyager User Group (WHVUG) created to involve all contributing members in the running and future development of the library catalogue.