Things in the Library - March

Library Move & other changes

The Illingworth Library will be temporarily moving to Broomhill Community Library from Monday 20 March because of the Helipad build. We will still have some study space, and on Tuesday 1-5 and Thursday 8.45-5 the building will only be open to Sheffield Children's staff, so those are good times to come for quiet study. We will have a presence in the dining room on the main site and a drop box for returning books. We will be operating a click and collect service so you will still be able to borrow anything you need, from the main site. We will still be able to do literature searches, training (where you are, on Teams, or at Broomhill), document supply and most things we currently do. We will be back in the Stephenson Wing in early 2024.

And on that note, it is change all round as I (Jess) will be leaving at the end of March for a new job, and this is my last blog. It has been a pleasure to get to know you during my time here, and I'm sure the blog will be back quickly under new management.

 Mental Health

The Centre for Mental Health reports on new figures showing that there is an urgent need to invest in preventing mental ill health and further improve treatment, especially for children and young people too often forced to wait and travel long distances for care. 

This gap between demand and provision has grown as poverty, which drives mental illness, has increased and as public health and other council services, which prevent ill health, have had their budgets cut by about a quarter. These cuts have fallen most heavily in areas of high deprivation, meaning that people are getting poorer, more ill and with less preventative services to support them. Combined with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, this is causing and worsening population mental health and driving demand for mental health services that is not being met.

NICE has recommended four digital technologies that can help children and young people with mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or low mood, once they achieve regulatory approval. The guided self-help digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) technologies can be used as an initial treatment option for those aged 5 to 18 while evidence is being generated. This topic is the first to be published as final early value assessment (EVA) guidance, new NICE guidance that provides conditional recommendations on promising health technologies that have the potential to address national unmet need.

 Introducing Solid Foods

The Department of Health & Social Care have introduced a new campaign on weaning babies onto solid foods. A new survey has found that half of parents are confused about the timing of weaning and how much food their babies should be given. An online weaning hub has been developed to support parents, including NHS-endorsed advice, videos and tips, plus simple healthy recipes.

Gene Therapy

A new gene therapy has been used on the NHS for the first time. The therapy treats metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), which is a fatal genetic disorder. The therapy, Libmeldy, has been used in a toddler, Teddi, who was diagnosed with MLD after her older sister recieved the same diagnosis. The life-saving gene therapy works by removing the child’s stem cells and replacing the faulty gene that causes MLD before re-injecting the treated cells into the patient. As it can only be used before the disease progresses, sadly it couldn't be used on Teddi's sister Nala.

Child Development

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities have released the data from the child development outcomes 2 to 2 and a half, 2021-22. The data show annual experimental statistics on child development at 2 to 2 and a half years. Information is presented at local authority of residence, regional and England level.

Things to do in Sheffield in March

Sheffield Beer Week

From 6-12 March Sheffield Beer Week is here, featuring unique beer tastings, walks, tap takeovers, meet-the-brewer sessions, brewery tours, online talks, exhibitions, food matching menus, and more. Sheffield is a fantastic city for beer lovers, full of great pubs and breweries - find out what's happening here.

Music for the Arts Tower

On Friday 17 March at 8:00 pm you can pop over the road to the Arts Tower and it's iconic paternoster lift to experience a concert that's a little but different. Featuring musicians in lifts, architecturally inspired sound loops and off-the-wall experimental music, Platform 4 and Lorenzo Prati will perform 'Music for the Arts Tower'.

Recipe of the Month

A celeriac appeared in my veg box this month and I didn't know what to do it with. Soup! I thought. I found this really simple recipe, which is given some extra loveliness with the pesto. It was delicious with some fresh bread and it didn't last very long!