Ruth Carlyle, Head of Library and Knowledge Services, NHS England
Ruth Carlyle was elected as co-Chair of the Health Libraries Group in July 2025, having previously served as Policy Lead on the committee. She started her librarianship training in the pharmaceutical sector and has spent most of her career in the voluntary sector prior to joining the NHS in 2017. In her day job, she is Head of Knowledge and Library Services at NHS England, providing professional leadership and service improvement guidance to local NHS knowledge and library services. She also collaborates on national initiatives, such as health literacy and partnerships with local public libraries and the NHS App team.
“Being a part of the Health Libraries Group has given me insights into different health library sectors,” Ruth says. “It has provided me with opportunities to extend my knowledge and to move between sectors. I hope to enable others to develop their skills and knowledge of different aspects of health librarianship so that they can make career choices.”
In her first professional post, Ruth was the first information professional at the Motor Neurone Disease Association and identified MND/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis charities across the world to be invited to join The International Alliance of MND/ALS Associations. In pre-internet days, this involved working through British Embassies and international professional associations. She was proud to share a few words last year for the Alliance’s 30th Anniversary. In later roles, she trained the first Multiple Sclerosis Nurses and extended the network of local Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Services. She continues to be excited by the opportunities for health librarianship. Away from work, Ruth sings, writes (fiction and research) and embroiders.
Health Libraries Group 