The Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun (FUHSI), established in 2021 by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), is a specialized institution focused on health, nutrition, and medical sciences. FUHSI aims to build national preparedness and resilience in the health sector, reducing the need for medical tourism abroad
The FUHSI Library serves the information needs of both students and staff, aligning with the university’s mission and academic programs. The library offers a wide range of resources specifically tailored to the courses provided by the university. These resources include textbooks covering all programs, reference materials such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, charts, directories, atlases, and almanacs. Additionally, the library provides electronic books, academic journals, electronic journals, and various electronic databases. The library is also equipped with modern facilities such as computer systems, projectors, internet access, and an Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC).
To ensure the library is effectively utilized by staff and students, FUHSI Library offers several services aimed at enhancing their cognitive and affective development.
Library orientation sessions are held annually for new students and staff to introduce them to the library’s resources and services. These sessions cover everything from the registration process to making the most out of the library’s resources.
The information literacy course, compulsory for all new students, provides an introduction to the evolving information landscape. This course covers a range of topics, including internet search skills, open educational resources, artificial intelligence in health education, plagiarism, copyright laws, fair use, research ethics, electronic databases in health sciences, and library rules, among others. The course has a significant impact on students, exposing them to both the library resources both print and electronic.
The Soft Skills Training Series consists of regular workshops for both staff and students. These workshops cover essential skills such as creating PowerPoint presentations, using electronic databases, and basic academic research techniques. These sessions are valuable for both new and existing members of the university community.
The library offers traditional reference services to help users with quick, directional, and research-related queries using a variety of reference resources. Advisory services provide personalized support for staff and students on issues such as developing research topics, getting published, choosing high-impact journals, and using reference management software. Librarians frequently assist with these queries, ensuring users are satisfied and encouraging them to return and recommend the library to others.
The literature search and bibliography compilation service help users find, retrieve, and access articles, journals, e-books, and other online resources, even those behind paywalls. Librarians utilize their expertise to obtain these materials and make them available to users.
Through its online library services, the FUHSI Library leverages technology to provide round-the-clock information access. Users can access and request library resources through the OPAC, and they can communicate with librarians via WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram for assistance with library activities, services, and resources.
The interlibrary loan service assists users in borrowing resources not available within the FUHSI Library but accessible from other institutions. This service promotes collaboration among institutions and ensures that users’ information needs are met.
One of the more engaging services is the Library Movie Hangout. The FUHSI Library regularly screens educational movies to attract students and staff to the library. This initiative has been successful, particularly in encouraging new students to visit and utilize the library’s resources.