Library services
Library Services is a statewide specialist information service to support:
- the clinical health practice, quality improvement and research activities, and professional learning of Department of Health (Tasmania) staff
- our administrative functions advancing quality of care and the health of Tasmanians.
ePortal for Online Clinical Help (EPOCH)
EPOCH gives health practitioners, ancillary staff and students working for the Tasmanian public health service online access to high-quality health information resources and the clinical evidence-base to support decision-making, service planning, education and research. Resources include:
- medicines information
- point-of-care tools
- clinical guidelines and standards
- electronic journals and textbooks,
- research databases.
Who can access the library services and EPOCH?
Permanent and temporary staff with these valid email addresses can access Library Services and access the complete suite of EPOCH resources:
- @ths.tas.gov.au
- @dhhs.tas.gov.au
- @doh.tas.gov.au
- @health.tas.gov.au
- @ambulance.tas.gov.au
Visiting clinicians and students completing clinical placements are also eligible for temporary access.
How to access EPOCH?
EPOCH is available at epoch.health.tas.gov.au and opens from all Department workstation desktops.
Staff that are offsite use their Department login credentials to sign in to EPOCH.
Department of Communities staff, visiting clinicians, students on clinical placements, and other users affiliated with the Department must submit an EPOCH Registration Form.
What kind of support does Library Services provide?
Use Library Services if you:
- need to locate journal articles, book chapters or books
- have a patient care question and looking for best evidence
- need tech support installing clinical resources on your mobile device
- are undertaking a quality improvement or research project
- review your health service or program
- are writing a policy or guideline
- want to learn how to search EPOCH and its resources effectively
- are undertaking a literature search or review (for example, rapid, scoping or systematic)
- want to stay up to date with the published literature in your specialty.
What mobile clinical resources are available for staff?
We subscribe to a number of mobile apps that support clinical practice. Learn more about mobile apps for staff.
Help for staff returning to study
The Department’s Library Services:
- supply journal articles, book chapters and books on request
- provide instruction and training using EPOCH databases (CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, Emcare).
University of Tasmania students should contact a University of Tasmania Learning and Research Librarian.
Library Services contacts
Location |
Opening hours |
Contact |
North WestDr Richard Buttfield Library |
Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm Closed on public holidays. After-hours access available to hospital staff 24/7. |
North West Regional Hospital PO Box 258 |
NorthSir John Ramsay Memorial Library |
Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm Closed on public holidays. After-hours access may be available on request. |
Launceston General Hospital Charles St |
SouthWingfield Library |
Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm Closed on public holidays |
Ground Floor, 2 Terry Street |
SouthRHH Library Kiosk |
Monday to Wednesday 8:30am – 4:30 pm. Closed on public holidays |
Ground Floor, F Block |