Photocopies, literature searches/ references

The College of Occupational Therapists (COT) library provides the following services for BAOT/COT members/ non-members. The COT specialist sections are unable to provide assistance with photocopies or literature searching/ references.

Photocopies:

The library only provides photocopies from the COT journal collection. The cost is £2.50 per article (members) or £4.00 per article (nonmembers). Full details are in the library section of the COT website or contact the library (library@cot.co.uk) / 020 7450 2343.

Members can access articles from The British Journal of Occupational Therapy from volume 63, 2000 onwards, from the members' side of the COT website.

Literature searching and references:

The COT library is the national collection of occupational therapy literature in the UK available for use by members of the BAOT/COT. All enquirers will be asked to provide their membership number in order to access COT library services.

BAOT/COT members

Pre and post registration students
Students should contact their academic library or tutor for further help. Academic libraries provide information skills training and this will include literature searching, what resources to use, and how to evaluate resources. Electronic access to databases and e-journals will be provided by universities via their Intranet and (probably) via remote access using a password.

The COT library is unable to provide a literature search service for BAOT/COT student members as research and work undertaken by students, as part of their degree, should be completed by themselves This remains the case even when the study involves the members' workplace, service or practice. The College considers creating a search strategy, searching databases and evaluating the results to be an important part of the educational and learning process. A comprehensive literature search, that provides the raw material for the literature review, is therefore, an integral part of this research.

Practitioners

The COT library can carry out a literature search of various databases on a practitioner's chosen topic and provide a list of bibliographic references and abstracts (if available). Databases searched include: AMED, CINAHL, HMIC, PsycINFO, Social Policy and Practice, Medline, Cochrane Library, ERIC, OT Seeker, OTSearch and OTDBase.

There may be a two-week waiting list for this service. If the waiting time is too long, please ring the library to discuss this as there are several alternatives to a tailored literature search that can be offered. These include: accepting a literature search around your subject that was undertaken for another member, using the resources of your local healthcare library, accessing the hOT Topics on members' side of the COT website.

The Library does ask that members try their own local hospital, health or university library in the first instance.  Local librarians are normally willing to provide information and assistance with searching databases.

To obtain a literature search from the COT library, please complete the literature search form available on the members’ website, or telephone the COT Library for details on 020 7450 2303.

Non BAOT/COT members

Non BAOT/COT members should contact their local hospital, health or university library where librarians may be able to help with literature searching and accessing relevant resources. The COT library does, however, provide a priced literature search service for non-members. Enquirers should contact the COT Library for further information at library@cot.co.uk or on 0207 450 2303.

The wide range of benefits of joining BAOT/COT and details about becoming a member can be found on the COT website.

For further information regarding COT Library services see the members' website.

Specialist Sections requesting literature searches from the COT library

The librarians can carry out a full evidenced-based literature search of key databases and resources, for COT related work, to support the development of COT publications, projects or clinical guidelines. It is essential that such a search be carried out at the beginning of your guidelines project.

You will be provided with full bibliographical references including abstracts to help guide you to the most relevant material.

Evidence-based searches can be time consuming and we may need to contact you at certain stages to refine the search. It is important that a realistic timescale is agreed which takes account of the Library's existing work schedule and your project or publication deadline. Please contact Julia Roberts or Louise Cusack for the Specialist Section literature search request form to complete.