CAMLIS—The first comprehensive library for research, education and patient information in CAM

In April 2007 the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital embarked on the CAMLiS project (Complementary and Alternative Medicine Library and Information Service). In the UK most general medical libraries have very limited, if any holdings in CAM. The professional bodies in CAM, on the other hand, are too small to be able to build up adequate library collections and services. Researchers used to rely on their private collections; training healthcare professionals in CAM methods, or at least raising interest in them, was difficult; and patients and members of the public had little choice, but resort to websites of dubious quality. To fill these gaps CAMLIS was created as a joint venture between the RLHH as Europe’s largest public-sector provider of a wide range of CAM therapies and core professional bodies in the field. CAMLIS is a hybrid library, collecting print resources as well as offering access to e-journals and databases. All research-relevant publications in CAM in the major European languages are acquired, all evidence-based textbooks for practitioners in English as well as evidence-based publications for patient information. The periodical collection aims to include all peer-reviewed titles. The most important databases are subscribed to. Any person with an interest in CAM can use the collection on site, and members of stakeholder organisations enjoy borrowing privileges and remote access to on-line resources. Staffs run information skills training sessions, write guide materials and provide individual support. Beyond access to information CAMLIS helps the CAM community build channels for scholarly communication—from virtual learning environments for CPD courses to hosting mailing lists and open access e-journals.