London networks

Librarians are great ones for forming networks and groups, and for holding meetings. We seem to be highly motivated to share experience with others (i.e. show off), discuss key professional issues (gossip) and learn from our peers (feign interest in dull tales and/or pretend not to be jealous of their resources). This week I went to a meeting of CHILL – the Consortium of Independent Health Information Libraries in London. CHILL is like the non-aligned movement for health libraries, formed of health libraries that are not in the NHS and not in higher education. Most members are in London but there are a few outside London too. It is quite a diverse group of organisations so I usually learn something interesting at the meetings.
This time we were treated to a talk from someone in the London Museums of Health and Medicine Group. Libraries and museums (and archives) clearly have some overlap and it’s interesting that some organisations represented in CHILL are also represented in LMOHM. The existence of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council is further evidence o the close relationships between these three sectors.
Anyway, I was imoressed by the number of medical museums in London. LMOHM has 25 members – see their website for full details. They also have a very nice leaflet with details of their members. I must try and get round all of these museums before too long.