Heather Steele - Chair

Library and Knowledge Lead, Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

I started my first professional post in 2012 at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, after completing an MA while working in NHS Leeds at the Public Health Resource Centre (PHRC). In 2016 I started my current role as Library and Knowledge Lead.

Helen Curtis - Secretary

Library Manager, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

I have been the Library Manager at Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust for 25 years. I am a passionate advocate of libraries believing they have an enormous contribution to make not only to the evidence based medicine within the NHS but also in broader society alleviating health inequalities and social exclusion.

Craig Abbs - Treasurer

Librarian, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

I’ve been with the NHS since March 2019 after a career break.  Before that I was at the Department of Health in Leeds for ten years, managing enquiries, carrying out literature searches and current awareness trawls, systems maintenance and creating an online archive of health circulars amongst other things. Prior to moving to Yorkshire I worked for several years in Public Libraries as a Librarian in north-west London and prior to this a Library Assistant in Norwich. 

I qualified with an MA from Sheffield very near the end of the last century and have been a chartered member of CILIP since 2002.

Helen Swales - CPD Lead

Library Service Manager, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust

I started my career at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, before moving into Health Libraries in 1996. 

After two years at Bradford Royal Infirmary I took on the role of Librarian for Leeds Health Authority, and after various organisational restructures, am now Library Service Manager for Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust. I manage delivery of the library service for all LCHT staff across Leeds and also delivery of library services to primary care in Leeds (including the GP Confederation and the Leeds Office of the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board) and Public Health Staff in Leeds City Council.

I also chair the city-wide Project Team for improving access to health library services in Leeds, with specific responsibility for service development.

Joanne Naughton

Library and Knowledge Services Development Manager - Yorkshire & Humber, NHS England

I currently work for NHS England supporting the development of Knowledge and Library Services in North East and Yorkshire, Humber. Previously, I worked for 18 years at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust as library manager and before that I worked in higher education and further education libraries. I am particularly interested in the role of knowledge and library services in promoting health literacy.

Sarah Hennessy

Library and Knowledge Service Manager, South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust

I am the Library and Knowledge Service Manager at SWYPFT based at Fieldhead hospital in Wakefield. I’ve managed the service since 2018 and before that was the Librarian for 5 years. My role has involved driving the library service forward, introducing new initiatives such as knowledge management, improved communications and marketing, literature searching and critical appraisal training, along with strategic planning and development.

In addition to my role within the Trust I actively engage in other networks and committees to raise awareness of health libraries and contribute to the development of the skills and expertise of the health library workforce. These currently include the CILIP Members Council, Health Libraries Group and the recently established Mental Health Network.

Jodie Reeve

Trainee Librarian, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

I started working for BTHFT in December 2022 and have loved my time as a librarian so far. Alongside the usual tasks of carrying out literature searches and managing enquiries, I have also enjoyed expanding our outreach and marketing and being involved in library research. Currently, I am balancing work with studying part-time at Sheffield for the Library and Information Services Management MA, which is a new and exciting challenge. I am always on the look out for connecting with other librarians, and really appreciate being part of such an active and inquisitive community.

Tim Staniland

Knowledge and Library Manager, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

I have been the Knowledge and Library manager since 2021 but have worked in NHS libraries since 2005. I manage the library team and resources for the 3 main health providers in the area and I love supporting the fabulous staff here at Hull and the wider NHS community and believe passionately in both the NHS as an institution and evidence in decision making. I am currently undertaking chartership so I can officially call myself a fully-fledged librarian, after stints working as a cameraman and then in a timber yard!

Madeline Hannah

Library Assistant, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

I have been the library assistant at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust since June 2022 and I am also studying part-time for an MA in Library and Information Management at MMU.

Rebecca Dowson

Library Operational Lead, South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust