Library and Information Services

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Regional Cancer Centre maintains a modern research and reference library with a strong focus on oncology and related subjects. The library primarily acts as a comprehensive Oncology Resource Centre and it intends to disseminate right information to the right user at the right time. With the state-of-the-art information infrastructure, RCC library commits to keep oncology professionals up-to-date, even in the midst of information deluge of the present context.

PROFILE

The Library has been a prominent institutional unit ever since the Centre was established in the year 1981. Eventually, it evolved into a knowledge-hub as well as a repository of information sources in oncology and allied areas. Over the decades, it becomes a much sought-after destination among biomedical academic community in Kerala, especially for the fraternity at the Medical College campus in the capital city. The library consumes a 4500 square feet air-conditioned space for rendering information services and also for circulation, reference, periodicals, printing & photocopying services. Besides a core General Collections books, the library maintains specialised stock in Pathology and Epidemiology and also a handful of Malayalam titles too. Over the years, the library has been managing a sizable collection of theses and dissertations that the Centre generates as part of many academic programmes. All such collections add a reference value to the Centre′s academia for their teaching, learning, and research pursuits.

LOCATION & WORKING HOURSLevel-7, Block B

 

Main Campus, Regional Cancer Centre

Thiruvananthapuram - 695 011.

Monday through Friday: 9.00 am - 04.30 pm

Saturdays : 9.00 am - 04.00 pm

Closed :

On Sundays and other declared holidays of the Centre.

RULES & REGULATIONS
Inside the library

Users of the library are entitled to abide by the guidelines, including the following:

• To make an entry in the gate register.
• To keep the personal belongings in property counter.
• To switch off mobile phone to silent mode and avoid using it within the library.
• To maintain silence.
• To bring consultation membership cards (in the case of external users) and / institutional ID cards (in the case of professionals posted in the Centre)
• To comply with copyright laws in photocopying and while capturing images.
• To seek permission for taking images from books and other sources.
• To leave the reading materials on the table after use.
• NOT to carry materials like bags, file folders, borrowed items, personal copies of books, other printed materials, eatables and drinks.
• NOT to disfigure or mutilate reading materials.
• NOT to hesitate to contact library circulation desk for any assistance.

Membership & Lending
 

Library members get access to all the services, including lending and also the accessibility to subscribed E-resources. Membership is restricted to permanent staff, research scholars and students of the selected academic programs of the Centre. Observer trainees, interns and attendants on Centre′s short-term training programmes, who lack membership privileges, are also permitted the library access for meeting their reference needs.

Library members are categorised according to their roles and responsibilities in the academic and technical structure of the Centre. The borrowing privileges are also varied in those categories, as indicated below.

Books marked under ‘Closed Reference’ and ‘Theses’ are not available for lending. Only overnight use is granted for reference books, journal issues and CD/DVDs. The days to keep books and bound volumes are up to 30 and 7 respectively. Items issued for overnight use must be returned on the following working day itself.

Circulation of physical information resources is facilitated through an automated system using RFID and Integrated Library Management Systems. Barcoded membership cards, a pre-requisite to avail lending services, are non-transferrable. In case of lost library card, the matter should be informed immediately to library circulation desk in writing. A Non Liability Certificate must be obtained if one wishes to leave the centre/on completing the course, or in other instances.

Consultation memberships are issued to external users for availing reference facility of the library. To avail this facility, such users are requested to produce a letter of introduction from the institution/organisation concerned. Such users have access to books, journals, back issues of journals and other facilities on a restrictive scale.

The fee for availing consultation membership is: -

Rs.50/ for one day

Rs.200/- for one month

Rs.750/- for one year

Still, consultation membership lacks borrowing privileges and incurs additional usage fee for internet access.

Reservation

Items on loan can be reserved. The intender shall be informed as and when the requested item is returned.

Recall

All borrowed items are subject to recall at any point of time during the loan tenure. Intimation in this respect may be served from the library as and when required.

Renewals

The loaned items may be renewed via the phone, by email, or in person, if there is no reservation or recall. Renewals can be made for all issued documents, with the exception of those intended for overnight use. Each document can only be renewed twice by a member all through the loan duration.

Overdue charges

Loaned books should be returned on time. Charges will be applied for materials on overdue and it amounts to Rs.5/- per day. If the item is not returned even after one year, borrower shall be liable to pay the cost of the item.

 

Mutilation and loss

Library users are liable to keep the reading materials in good physical condition for the benefit of prospective users. Readers who underline, mark, cut or otherwise mutilate a document will be assigned the full costs involved for replacing the damaged item. Since the loss of reading materials invite penal charges, the borrower shall be responsible for the safe custody of issued items.

RESOURCES AND FACILITIESRCC library catalyzes the Centre's mission on teaching, learning and research by maintaining a resourceful information centre with facilities at the back end.

Collection
 

The library aims at providing access to its printed resources such as books and journals as well as electronic journals, electronic books and online databases. Still, high priority was laid for subscription to journals in electronic formats and it is made available for institutional and off-campus access modalities. An extensive collection of E-books, E-journals and its archival access, with a thrust on oncological sciences add value to the collection.

Since the comprehensive and up-to date information is also vital in healthcare, the library is at its best to procure the latest books in core subject areas.

Information Technology Infrastructure
 

IT infrastructure integrates library activities and increases efficiency to a greater extent. The library has 10 computer workstations, linked to wired and wireless campus LAN. It enables high speed internet for accessing resources and also for availing web-based services of the library.

Photocopying, Printing and Other Facilities

Copying of materials without infringing copyright is permitted. Two digital copiers of latest configuration networked to computer workstations ensure high quality scanning, colour copying and printing necessities.

ONLINE CATALOGUE

The catalogue of library resources can be searched and web-based library services can be accessed online at:

Liberty

RCC PUBLICATIONS

RCC has an excellent track record in scientific publishing over four decades. Over the years, the Centre has accumulated a body of knowledge to impart therapeutic benefits to the society. In various publishing platforms, the Centre has been generating scholarly content in the form of journal articles, chapters in books, conference papers and so on.

RCC library undertake the work involved in identifying, procuring and organising of all the scholarly papers emanated from the Centre. The bibliographical account of all such papers since the year 1981 can be accessed through the following links.

Journal Articles: Click here

Chapters in books, papers in proceedings: Click here

Books: Click here

SERVICESLiterature Search Services

The library staff extends assistance to patrons conducting literature searches. Either hard copy or electronic versions of the search results are provided to them. The online subscription to major databases, full text access to journals and other digital materials provide a back end facility in the conduct of effective literature search activities.

Inter-Library Loan (ILL)
 

RCC library maintains liaison with DELNET, National Cancer Grid and other libraries of repute for procuring papers from non-subscribed journals, upon request by library members. All such requests to the library can be made in person, over phone or via email.

NCG ‑ Anti-Plagiarism Checking Service

It is essential to subject the intellectual creations generated from the Centre for plagiarism checks so as to ensure credits and appropriate citations. Anti-plagiarism checking facility can be availed by the academia of RCC whenever they write a research proposals, thesis, dissertations, book chapters, research articles, etc., before subjecting for publishing.

This service is supported by National Cancer Grid (NCG) headquarters at Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai. It uses ‘iThenticate’ anti-plagiarism software, designed especially for the researchers, authors, publishers, students and others involved in publications. This does similarity checks, and compares it with or checks with its own database of books, journals, internet sources and all. As RCC becomes a member of NCG, this facility is extended on free basis.

The manuscripts (MSS) / documents for anti-plagiarism check may be mailed to rcclibrary@gmail.com / vishnurcctvm@gmail.com Normally, it takes 2-3days to deliver the reports. The submitted MSS will be deleted from the computers both at RCC and NCG and will not be shared with anyone.

INTRANET - based Services

As intranet becomes the most effective tool in the dissemination of knowledge, the capabilities of intranet are effectively utilized for the delivery updates and services.

The Library page of RCCINTRANET is customized as an information store point and it provides a handful of alerts, lists and services as indicated below:

 

Some of them are:

• Onco Alert (Weekly update of articles from subscribed journals, with link for full text access).
• New Arrivals (List of books on display)
• Conference alert (List of forthcoming conferences, meetings, workshops etc)
• Reprint list (Reprints recently accessioned)
• OncoNews (News paper clippings on oncology & allied subjects)
• Current Journals (alphabetic / subject-wise list of Journals currently under subscription)
• Books Online (with link for full text access)
• Theses (Discipline wise list)
• Cancer Registry Reports
• Previous year Question Papers (Postgraduate and Super speciality courses)
• Search (Online Library Catalogue search)
• RCC Publications
• Back Volumes of Journals
• List of CD/DVDs

E-JOURNALSAs part of ‘Digital Library’ services, access to the full text of journals has been in place through institutional subscription and also through consortium under the National Cancer Grid Project. It provides a hassle free access to online full text in computer terminals of the Centre, without login.

 

List of Journals

Off-Campus Access to E-JournalsA select group of journals from ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, and some other publishers can be accessed remotely. The access options, and login information can be availed from the library.

 

BOOKS ONLINEOnline access to the following books is available at our library via Login. Please contact the library staff for obtaining login details.

 

 

Please see the updated list of E-books below:

OTHER DIGITAL RESOURCES

 

Video Presentations

 

Video presentations of various topics under different DNB disciplines, released by National Board of Examinations are available in the library for reference.

 

Other CD / DVDs

ONLINE DATABASES

UpToDate Anywhere

UpToDate is an evidence-based, physician-authored clinical decision support resource which clinicians trust to make the right point-of-care decisions. More than 6,500 world-renowned physician authors, editors, and peer reviewers use a rigorous editorial process to synthesize the most recent medical information into trusted, evidence-based recommendations that are proven to improve patient care and quality. Library has a subscription to its UpToDate Anywhere version, which enables both institution wide as well as remote/off campus access.
 

Clinical Key

Through Elsevier's ClinicalKey, clinicians and students can access the latest evidence across specialties in a variety of formats, including full-text reference books and journals, clinical overviews, drug information, medical and procedure videos and images, practice guidelines, customizable patient education handouts, clinical calculators, clinical trials and MEDLINE abstracts.
 

Science Direct

The important feature of Elsevier's 'Science Direct' is the provision of abstract database that covers over 3000 biomedical science & technology journals. It provides access to many journals not covered by Medline, particularly in the areas of basic sciences, molecular biology, genetics and other biological sciences.

DELNET

Delnet (Developing Library Network) is a reputed agency in India for promoting resource sharing among the libraries through the development of a network of libraries. It aims to collect, store, disseminate information and coordinate efforts for suitable collection development among participating libraries. We are a few of the Delnet members in Kerala with a privilege for accessing its resources. Besides union catalogues and union lists, Delnet offers wide spectrum of databases in both online and offline mode.

PUBMED

Medline and its web interface 'Pubmed' are the much sought after link for medical professionals. This is a freely available bibliographic database contains references to journal articles in the life sciences with a concentration on biomedicine. Currently 'Pubmed' has a coverage over 21 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to the 1950s. It also includes links to full text articles and other related resources.

IndMed

This database of biomedical Literature is a one point resource of peer reviewed Indian biomedical literature covering full text of journals.
 

USEFUL LINKS

American Association of Cancer Research
American Cancer Society
American Society of Clinical Oncology
ASCO Abstracts
Cancer Atlas of India
Clinical trials database
EORTC Protocols
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IACR)
International Union Against Cancer (UICC)
MEDLINEplus
Ministry of Health (India)
National Cancer Registry Programme (India)
National Medical Commission, India
NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines
PBCR – India
World Health Organisation

CONTACT US

Do not hesitate to seek the help of our professionals for fruitful utilisation of resources and services.
Phone to Inquiry Desk: (0) 91-471-2522225
Email: Email: rcclibrary@gmail.com
Send your feedback here:

Professional staff:
          Dr. V. Vishnu
          Librarian cum Information Officer & Head
          Email: vishnuv@rcctvm.gov.in
          Phone: (+) 91-471-2522313
          Mob:     (+) 91-9447892856           

          Dr. Saji S. Nair
          Librarian
          Email: sajisnair@rcctvm.gov.in
          Phone: (+) 91-471-2522225
          Mob:     (+) 91-9446014130


          Smt. Haseena K
          Library Assistant
          Email: haseenak@rcctvm.gov.in
          Phone: (+) 91-471-2522225
          Mob:     (+) 91-7306407203