Current Awareness is a term used to describe users receiving the latest information, whether it be news, research, publications or some other format – in this context, you could also use the phrase “keeping up to date”. Current awareness is something that users can do for themselves, as there are many resources that they can sign up to directly, or it is something that libraries can provide in the form of current awareness services.
Users on their own
There are many ways that users can keep up to date with what is going on through accessing different resources. One way that is relatively simple is through a contents alert service, where the table of contents of recently published journals are emailed to users. Many libraries offer a dedicated service, but there are also providers that have set up services that users can sign up to generally. One of these is JournalTOCs, a service that allows users to sign up for free, and then select the journals they want to receive notification from. JournalTOCs also has a premium service for libraries to subscribe to that allows the institution’s own library management system to be integrated with the JournalTOCs database.
KnowledgeShare provides users with personalised email updates based on the topics that are of specific interest to them. These updates will include evidence that is in KnowledgeShare’s overall database, but can also feature items , including locally procured resources and training sessions, that have been made available by the user’s own organisation.
Remember that KnowledgeShare is a subscribed resource, so check to make sure your organisation has access to it.
Users can set up their own updates by using so called “news aggregator” sites, also known as RSS readers, to collate content from various sources, including news sites, blogs and social media platforms, into a single feed. By selecting the topic areas of interest, the aggregator can then mine relevant web sources to bring together the feed on a daily basis.
Top 10 Great News Aggregator Websites in 2022 – and How to Build Your Own
Current awareness services
NHS England’s Knowledge and Library Services have set up a page of guidance on how to start and run a current awareness service, going into various areas, including how to determine the kind of service you offer, how to find the best sources to create your content, how to format what you create, not to mention acknowledging where it came from, and wording any disclaimers you include.
NHS England have also curated a list of current awareness bulletins from library services around the country, intended to signpost library staff to content that has been created and is potentially available for use.
NICE has a series of newsletters and alerts that it sends out on a regular basis – some of these are sent daily, some monthly, and others are quarterly, while some are sent whenever new evidence is published. Users are able to subscribe directly to the ones that are of interest and receive updates via email.
The UK Health Security Agency’s Knowledge Services also has its own set of current awareness products that you can sign up to, including regular current awareness updates, topic and table of contents alerts, and content from other providers.
Where can I learn more?
While many library services directly provide current awareness to users, others provide information about external services, of which there are many. See whether your own library service has a page detailing such services, if they don’t provide their own updates.
Take a look at the different resources that have been discussed – some will require registration, while others may need a subscription for you to get access.
Your colleagues may already run training sessions for users on current awareness. If they do, or they know someone else that does, ask them for more information.
Who can I contact?
Find out what current awareness tools are being used within your health library.
- KnowledgeShare: Ben Skinner, Head of Library Services, Brighton and Sussex NHS Library and Knowledge Service
- LIHNN: Contact LKS North by email at HEELKSNorth@lksnorth.nhs.uk
- All of the Home Nations have dedicated current awareness sections on their websites, together with contact details:
- NHS England – england.kfh@nhs.net
- NHS Scotland (via the Knowledge Network) – knowledge@nes.scot.nhs.uk
- NHS Wales Current Awareness Services
- Healthcare Library of Northern Ireland Library Subject Guides
Page last reviewed: 25 June 2025
Next review due: 25 June 2027
Health Libraries Group 