The focus of this article is to reflect on current and near future issues and trends concerning academic libraries. This includes an overview of the literature on embedded librarianship and a focus on the need for more participatory and collaborative approaches to library services.The core argument is that academic libraries need to continue to adapt their roles and develop stronger relationships across the university in order to maintain and promote their relevancy to all stakeholders. Embedded roles in research and teaching, and an embedded existence through collaboration and outreach will strengthen the academic library's presence within its parent institution.

This article investigates academic library needs of doctoral students. The study identifies PhD students' information literacy training needs and explores current levels of library engagement, barriers to use and gaps in existing services. First year PhD students at Ulster University were surveyed and interviews were undertaken with three students. Findings show that just over half the respondents start their research from the Library's e-journal interface or library databases and these resources are also their main research tools. Little use was made of social media or apps. Students' ability to correctly identify different source types within a reference did not match the confidence they expressed in their own abilities, and two thirds were not aware of basic e-book capabilities. However over 90% of the respondents strongly agreed that the university library service was essential for their research. The article concludes with a number of recommendations on improving library services for PhD students.

AimTo examine the efficacy of clinical practice strategies in improving clinical outcomes and reducing length of hospital stay for inpatients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. BackgroundPeople living with diabetes are at increased risk of being admitted to hospital and to stay in hospital longer than those who do not have the condition. Diabetes and its complications cause substantial economic loss to those living with the condition, their families, to health systems and national economies through direct medical costs and loss of work and wages. Length of stay is a major factor driving up hospitalisation costs relating to those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes with suboptimal blood glucose management, hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, and co-morbidities shown to considerably impact upon length of stay. The identification of attainable evidence-based clinical practice strategies is necessary to inform the knowledge base and identify service improvement opportunities that could lead to improved clinical outcomes for these patients.Study DesignA systematic review and narrative synthesis.MethodsA systematic search of CINAHL, Medline Ovid, and Web of Science databases was carried out to identify research papers reporting on interventions that have reduced length of hospital stay for inpatients living with diabetes for the period 2010–2021. Selected papers were reviewed, and relevant data extracted by three authors. Eighteen empirical studies were included.ResultsEighteen studies spanned the themes of clinical management innovations, clinical education programmes, multidisciplinary collaborative care and technology facilitated monitoring. The studies demonstrated improvements in healthcare outcomes such as glycaemic control, greater confidence with insulin administration and reduced occurrences of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia and decreased length of hospital stay and healthcare costs.ConclusionsThe clinical practice strategies identified in this review contribute to the evidence base for inpatient care and treatment outcomes. The implementation of evidence-based research can improve clinical practice and show that appropriate management can enhance clinical outcomes for the inpatient with diabetes, potentially leading to reductions in length of stay. Investment in and commissioning of practices that have the potential to afford clinical benefits and reduce length of hospital stay could influence the future of diabetes care.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=204825, identifier 204825.

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