KEEPING THE MINISTRY ON THE RIGHT PAGE On the 14th floor of an office tower at linked to the user’s profile. This leads to the heart of the Hague’s political dis- a dramatic increase in efficiency, giving trict, Ronald Loeff and Els Alebregtse are users quick access to whatever they’re on the hunt for fresh insights. looking for. As information experts at the special library for the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, their task is to provide input to ministry civil servants so they can live up to the ministry motto: “The Netherlands Healthy and Well.” Civil servants, the House of Repre- sentatives, the state secretary and the Ministry of Health Wellfare and Sport minister herself, Edith Schippers, also submit queries on specific issues to the special library, via her subordinates. Els and Ronald are currently sta- tioned at the Ministry of Education while “We read a lot. We have to find the right input: new findings, reports, books, sta- their building across the street is undergoing tistics and academic papers,” Els Alebregtse renovations. However, their meticulous efforts to explains. generate input for civil servants, in many cases for important political decisions, are continuing The Ministry’s mission is to keep everyone healthy as long as possible. It’s an important “ “We not only need to find the icing on the cake, we have to find the right Once everything was ready for the switch to Adlib, progress was swift. It was up and running at full speed in two months.” Ronald Loeff cake,” says Els Alebregtse, who is pleased that everyone now has a completely different overview, accessibility, and faster lead-times. VWS Library, The Hague job – encompassing serious issues such as alcohol and drugs, drug approval policies, food safety, quality in healthcare delivery, the rights of children and young people to a healthy development – all of it, and more, aimed at proactively promoting a healthy lifestyle. at the same rate online. Ministry civil servants can subscribe to more than 400 special subjects from the digital special library. Els, Ronald, and their six colleagues search for, update, and add new material daily. Papers added to the catalog are displayed as headings directly on a portal, with the subject “ The old IT system was a dinosaur. When Adlib arrived, the new system paid off in a year – despite numerous customized solutions. Everyone now has a completely different overview, accessibility and considerably shorter lead-times.” Els Alebregtse VWS Library, The Hague