Monday 10 November 2008

Practical information

Special libraries in the main tend to hold academic material suited to those who are studying or professionally interested in a subject and because of this more practical information can get missed or overlooked. This library aims to include information at all levels and today I happened to be adding the latest issues of a number of journals/magazines to the library which are of a more practical nature, and are produced by charities/organisations in the UK set up to help those with Parkinson's disease, stroke and multiple sclerosis. Titles of such magazines include:

The Parkinson (Parkinson's Disease Society)
MS Matters (Multiple Sclerosis Society)
New Pathways (Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre)
Stroke News (Stroke Association)
Different Strokes (Different Strokes)

These offer personal accounts of conditions, tips for managing, coping, alternative therapies, drug information, advice for carers, latest government statements, information about the latest research projects. Very useful for those with such neurological conditions and their carers. These magazines can be obtained from their publishers free or for a small annual subscription - more information is available on their websites.

The Parkinson's Disease Society
Multiple Sclerosis Society
The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre
Stroke Association
Different Strokes

Such practical information related to cerebral palsy is not so easy to find. Cerebra Bulletin, published by the charity Cerebra, www.cerebra.org.uk set up to help children with brain related conditions, does includes cerebral palsy, but nothing aimed exclusively at those with cerebral palsy of all ages is published in the UK as far as I'm aware, and if anyone knows otherwise please tell me. In the United States, Cerebral Palsy Magazine is produced, concerned mainly with children and more information is available on the internet at

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