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Things in the Illingworth Library February 2024

 Library Things 

Find the library at our temporary home on the first floor of 26 Northumberland Road (the Estates offices) Our study spaces with laptops are popular, please email illingworth.library@nhs.net 

or call 0114 27 17347 to book a study space.

We get all sorts of queries in the library, this month our blog focuses on a recent request for guidance on publishing research.

Focus on: publishing your research

Congratulations! You’ve submitted your thesis and passed your degree. Then your supervisor says, "you should submit this to a journal". Or maybe you’ve introduced an innovative way of working that you think could work for others in your field. Your first thought is probably: "Where do I start?" 

We've broken this journey down into five steps.

Photo Credit: Wes Hicks

Step one: Find journals in your field

Use your local contacts: which journals have you referred to in your research? Which journals in your field does your institution subscribe to? Talk to your colleagues or supervisor, look at where they have published. 

The Illingworth Library maintains a register of research published by authors affiliated with Sheffield Children’s, accessed via the YorCat catalogue.

Use online tools: The Public Library of Science (PLOS) has a good general guide to selecting ajournal. Over at JANE (the Journal/Author Name Estimator) is a useful tool which searches PubMed via your abstract. Its search page hasn't changed much since 2007, so it's also a bit of a time machine to transport you to the olden days of the Internet.

Publisher tools: Many publisher sites, such as Wiley have a journal finding tool, where you can paste your abstract and retrieve suggestions of the journals they publish which could be a good match for your research. If you don't have an abstract for your research, there is plenty of guidance available, including this recent article in 'The Clinical Teacher'

Perhaps your research could fit into a 'themed issue' where all the articles are about one topic, these are often publicised via a ‘call for papers’ on the publisher's website.

Step two: filter out predatory journals

The unwary writer may be preyed upon by bogus journals which charge for publication without providing the infrastructure (peer review, editorial services) which you would expect from a reputable journal. Charging for publication is not in itself a red flag; this is common practice in academic publishing. The site ‘Think, Check, Submit’ provides excellent checklists to lead you away from the potential pitfalls. These checklists are also useful for assessing the trustworthiness of journals you are consulting during your research.

You may have heard that there are online lists of predatory journal publishers, but these lists should themselves be handled with care, as they can go out of date quickly and there is limited information on the identity of the compilers.

Step three: remember Open Access

Before you commit to a particular journal, check if you have an obligation to make your research available as Open Access. If your research was supported by a grant, you may be required under the terms of the grant to publish your article on an Open Access platform.

Open access publishing makes research available to all for no fee. It seems contradictory, but Open Access publishers often charges hefty fees, because that’s how they’re paid for making research freely available to all. It’s always worth checking if there are grants available to cover the publishing fees. Traditional journals may have an open access option, but the charges for this can be high.

Step four: tailor your writing for your target journal(s)

Once you have narrowed down the journal(s) you are considering, check what their ‘house style’ is, to make sure that your references are in the style that they expect. The home page for any journal should include a section on Instructions for Authors, with guidance on how to write for that publication.

Step five: submit your manuscript with a covering letter

Your covering letter needs to sell your manuscript to prospective publishers, so make sure it's a zinger! It is absolutely essential that you submit your work to only one journal at a time. Taylor and Francis provide a useful guide to writing cover letters, including a template. The author’s instructions on the journal homepage may include details of what is expected (such as disclosures of possible conflicts of interest).

And finally: two last thoughts

Thesis copyright

If you are publishing part of your thesis, it’s worth checking how the journal publisher approaches the question of who retains the copyright of your research. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) publishes a useful checklist. If in doubt, ask the editors of your target journal.

Letters to the Editor

One way in to publication is via a Letter to the Editor. These are generally written in response to a published article: if you can respond to a journal article in your field from an interesting and informed perspective, then consider writing an ‘LTE’. These are indexed in many research databases. Check out this useful guide to writing a Letter to the Editor.

Things in the Illingworth Library December 2023

 

Library Things

The Illingworth Library Reading group meets once a month for a friendly discussion of a wide selection of books, chosen by members of the group.  The most recent was 'Babel' by R. F. Kuang, which certainly divided opinion! If you'd like to join the group in the New Year, then email illingworth.library.nhs.net 

Things in the News

Parents' use of social media

 

Research carried out by the University of Bangor and Public Health Wales has looked at parental use of technology such as smartphones, computers and other digital devices, and how this may affect the social development of children and adolescents. The bottom line is: "Parents should critically examine their screen use whilst in the presence of children."

The true impact of caring for others

An inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Young Carers and Young Adult Carers, supported by national charity Carers Trust, has published its findings. It uncovered alarming evidence showing 15,000 children, including 3,000 aged just five to nine, spend 50 hours or more a week looking after family members because of illness, disability or addiction.  

Promoting healthy weight in children, young people and families

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has published updated guidance on taking action to reduce obesity in children and young people.  This resource is made up of briefings and practice examples to promote healthy weight for children, young people and families as part of a whole systems approach.

Things to do in December

Yorkshire Carolling

Photo: Soundpost

November and December see the return of Yorkshire and Derbyshire carols, a tradition which has carried on for hundreds of years, as local carols are  sung in pubs around Sheffield and neighbouring villages. Everybody is welcome, you don't have to be a great singer (although the advice is to arrive early!). There's an introduction to the tradition, and its sometimes unfamiliar carols, from Soundpost in the Winter Gardens on Saturday 2nd December. 

 

It's a Sheffield Thing

Handmade for Christmas 

Keeley Traae 3d printed vases image: Grace Marshall

Handmade for Christmas is here! Now at the Millennium Gallery, it  offers gift ideas for everyone, with work available from over 40 artists, designers and craftspeople. All of the work on show has been hand-crafted in workshops and studios across Sheffield, Yorkshire and Derbyshire; every purchase supports home-grown creative talent and Sheffield Museums. 

Things in the Illingworth Library November 2023

Library Things

You will find the Illingworth Library at our temporary home on the first floor of 26 Northumberland Road for the duration of the helipad build. Our Estates colleagues have made us feel right at home! Our study spaces with laptops are proving popular, please email or call to book a study space.

Things in the News

‘Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping’ 

The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a consultation on ‘Creating a smokefree generation and tackling youth vaping’ The consultation will be open until 6th December 2023.

The consultation itself can be found here

The Power of the Ordinary

A report from the Centre for Mental Health ‘The power of the ordinary’ finds that through the Children in Need funded ‘A Million & Me’ programme, tens of thousands of children have seen an improvement in their mental wellbeing. This has been done by enhancing the ‘scaffolding’ around children – providing resources and capacity for the parents, trusted adults and the systems surrounding them – which then has the power to support children’s mental wellbeing and prevent mental ill health. 

A mixed picture in the latest figures on childhood obesity

NHS Digital reports the latest figures on childhood obesity. The prevalence of primary school children living with obesity continued to fall in 2022/23, after reaching highest recorded levels during the Covid-19 pandemic.  However, obesity prevalence among year 6 children, aged 10 to 11, remains above pre-pandemic levels.

Things to do in November

Watch out for the giant E.coli as BioFest comes to town

The University of Sheffield launches BioFest, a unique new festival running throughout November. The festival is dedicated to sharing and illuminating cutting-edge bioscience research. A definite highlight will be Luke Jerram’s giant inflatable E.coli and Glass Microbiology sculptures, which will be on display in the Winter Garden and Millennium Gallery throughout the festival. Martha Clokie of the University of Leicester will be giving a guest lecture on Bacteriophages; killing bacteria to save lives on 24th November, in the Firth Hall. 

It's a Sheffield Thing

A totally biased spotlight on small businesses in the Sheffield area

There is a bit of a DIY theme to this section, probably because I spend far too much time on an endless cycle of house maintenance. If you’re looking for any shade of paint (or any decorating tools), head to Carracks of Crookes which has been in business since 1947. They can match any colour and I have found that their paint is both cheaper and better quality than you’ll find in a big DIY store. Some of their vintage wallpaper stock was used on the sets of ‘The Full Monty’. You can’t get much more Sheffield than that.

Things in the Illingworth Library October 2023

Library Things

The next Randomised Coffee Trial will be happening in November. This is your chance to meet up with another Sheffield Children's colleague chosen at random. We always get great feedback from people who take part so why not give it a go? We do all the work of matching you up, all you have to do is meet up virtually or in person: sign up here

Things in the News

Vapes '95% safer' than cigarettes messaging has backfired

The BBC reports on the disastrous results of the positive messaging that was used when vapes first appeared, which focussed on their use as a way to quit smoking. The risk to children was not mentioned, as it was not anticipated that vaping would become popular among non-smokers and children. The BBC speaks with Dr Mike McKean who is vice-president for policy at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

The Good Childhood Report

This year’s Good Childhood Report from the Children's Society reveals that many young people are unhappy with their lives. 10% of the children aged 10 to 17 who completed the Society's household survey in May and June 2023 had low wellbeing, and almost a third were unhappy with at least one specific area of their lives.

Ethnic inequalities in mortality in England

The King's Fund has published an interesting piece delving into data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which has provided the most comprehensive and up to date national profile of ethnic inequalities in mortality overall and from common physical conditions. It shows a complex picture of ethnic inequalities in mortality in England. 

What are Sheffield's 65,000 students studying?

Photo by Redd F on Unsplash

Online newspaper The Sheffield Tribune turns its attention (momentarily) from the battle over the Leadmill to the latest intake of freshers at our two Sheffield universities and asks what are all those new students going to be studying?

Things to do in October

Sheffield Photomarathon

Photo by Patrick on Unsplash

Photomarathon is back, on Saturday 28th October. Like all great ideas, it's simple and fun! Individuals and teams register in advance, then take 6 photos in 6 hours on topics announced on the day – anywhere in the city. At least one image per entrant (or team) will go on display after the event, in an exhibition showing one day in the life of a city from hundreds of different perspectives.

Off the Shelf Festival of Words

13th - 29th October brings the Off the Shelf Festival to Sheffield, with an absolute feast of events around the printed word, being a mix of free and ticketed events. An online event with a definite local flavour is this Showstopper featuring South Yorkshire's very own Rahul Mandal.

It's a Sheffield Thing

A totally biased spotlight on small businesses in the Sheffield area

Genuine Italian capuccino right here in Sheffield! Two brothers from Naples have opened 'Caffè Tucci' in Surrey Street, where the coffee is rightly getting a reputation as the best in the city. (They have recently opened a second outlet on Ecclesall Road). English football fans of a nervous disposition may want to avoid looking at the wall art: a certain Diego Maradona has the status of a hero in Naples, where he played for the local team. To say he features heavily in the café decor is a bit of an understatement.

Things in the Illingworth Library - September 2023

Things in the news

Updates on vaccinations 

Where did the summer go? As September brings a return to school or a new adventure at college or university, vaccinations are featuring heavily in the news.

Around 1 in 8 new students have missed their meningitis vaccination, warns the UK Health Security Agency.

All first-year students starting college or university this September and returning students who are not up to date with all their childhood and adolescent vaccinations are at increased risk of serious diseases such as meningitis, septicaemia and measles as they mix with large numbers of other students. 'Freshers' Flu' is not just an urban myth. 

NHS England announces a September roll-out for flu vaccines for children.

From September, children in England will be targeted to receive their flu vaccine to prevent them from getting seriously ill from flu and to break the chain of transmission of the virus to the wider population. School aged children will be able to get the flu vaccine at school or at community clinics, children aged two and three years will be able to get an appointment with their GP practice. Further details are in the guidelines.

The Children's Commissioner and school attendance

Shocking figures from Rachel de Souza, the Children's Commissioner, on school attendance: 'Last year, the school absence rate stood at 7.5%, compared to 4.7% pre-pandemic. An increasing number of children have started to regularly miss school. A child is known as “persistently absent” when they miss 10% or more of possible sessions in school. In 2022/23, nearly a quarter (22.3%) of all children were persistently absent. Absence levels have remained stuck at unprecedented highs.'

From the King's Fund - AI could help with health literacy

Amid all the scare stories and hype around AI, the King’s Fund offers a note of optimism, suggesting that AI may be a useful tool for making health information accessible to all. As up to 61 per cent of adults have been found to have low health literacy levels, this is a real challenge. This post also gives a great insight into how AI works.

Things to do in September

September is a busy month in Sheffield, with Art in the Gardens at the Sheffield Botanical Gardens Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 September and the Sheffield Festival of Walking Friday 8 – Sunday 17 September. 

The festival of walking coincides with Sheffield Heritage Open Days, also from the 8th - 17th, which offer a chance to visit historic sites you may not have access to for the rest of the year. If you're free on Friday 8th September at 10.30, then I strongly recommend the behind the scenes tour of Sheffield Town Hall, which was Sheffield's tallest building for nearly 70 years, until the Arts Tower at the University of Sheffield came along in 1965 and spoiled the party.

It's a Sheffield Thing

Our monthly feature highlighting independent businesses

For well-organised cooks who plan ahead (and me, in a good year), September is the start of the festive cooking season, when thoughts turn to getting a head start on fruit cake and steamed puddings. My favourite source of dried fruit and cooking ingredients is the zero waste shop 'The Bare Alternative' on Abbeydale Road in Sheffield. Zero waste shopping reduces the amount of plastic in a weekly shop and allows you to buy the exact quantities of dried goods that you need. They also stock all sorts of alternatives to everyday products, including plastic-free chewing gum because yes, most chewing gum contains plastic. 

Things in the Illingworth Library - August 2023

 Things in the Library

The Illingworth Library has now settled in to our new temporary home at 26 Northumberland Road. We have study spaces with laptops for staff use, feel free to email or call to book a study space.

Things in the news

Childhood immunisation rates start to recover

The World Health Organization and UNICEF report that global immunisation services reached 4 million more children in 2022 compared to the previous year, as countries stepped up efforts to address the reduction in immunisation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, the number of  'under-vaccinated' children worldwide is still over two million more than in 2019.

Guidelines for feeding young children

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) at the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities have published their Independent Report Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years. Recommendations include: “Children aged 1 to 5 years should be presented with unfamiliar vegetables on multiple occasions (as many as 8 to 10 times or more for each vegetable)”

Health in 2040

The Health Foundation has published projections of how our ageing population will affect the numbers of people living with severe illness in 2040, finding that much of the pressure that this will create will fall on Primary and Community Care.

The Women’s Health Strategy, one year on

A year on from its Women’s Health Strategy, the UK government has announced a package of new measures to boost the health and wellbeing of women and girls. New developments include: the first dedicated area for women and girls on an NHS website; support for bereaved parents who have experienced pregnancy loss and £25 million to help create women’s health hubs.

Things to do in August

For food lovers

A new street food market will be launched on the weekend of 5^th and 6^th August on the concourse outside Sheffield Station. I would say it’s ‘full steam ahead’ for a weekend of food and live music, but Exposed magazine got that pun in first.

For fans of dance and music

On the same weekend, as part of South Asian Heritage Month The Sunrit Culture Group present Threads of Unity: South Asian Dance, Music and Fashion in Sheffield City Centre at the Millennium Gallery on Saturday 5th August 3-4pm. 

On Bank Holiday Monday, 28th August 3-5pm, the National Universities Brass Band will be giving a free concert in Sheffield Cathedral, as the finale to their summer camp. The programme is best described as eclectic, ranging from Rossini to the theme from 'Thunderbirds'.

It's a Sheffield Thing

Our monthly feature highlighting independent businesses

A real Sheffield institution this month: Shaw's Ironmongers have been trading in Sheffield for more than a hundred years. Behind this unassuming front on Duchess Road is a treasure trove of everything you'll ever need for repairs around the home. I turn up with a broken widget or mystery wall-fixing and ask 'Do you have one of these?' I've been asking this question for five years now, so far the answer has always been: yes, they do.