HUMANS OF THE HOSPITAL: Tracy McDonald

“We often get emails that start with “help”.

In the library, we’re seen as problem solvers; a bit like detectives. Our motto is: “if you’re spending too much time looking for information, that’s my job”. The team is challenged every day and we love that.

The library is for staff and students of the hospital, but we do occasionally help patients who come to us via their clinician.

We get lots of different enquiries. Some enquiries sound like, “I’m doing a research project; where do I go to find out this information; who do I speak to about this?” and others sound like, “how do I do X on an excel”. No two days are the same.

Within Western Sydney Local Health District and particularly Cumberland Hospital, there’s a really strong emphasis on research education.

It’s really lovely for us when you have someone come in who may not be confident about research or going back to study – and then you help them along the way – and at the end of it, which could be three years later, you’ll get a thank you note for your help.

You’re on a journey with them and we love that.

I feel really privileged to see people progress and develop in their personal and professional development.”

– Tracy McDonald, Library manager at Cumberland Mental Health Library

‘Humans of the Hospital’ is dedicated to the inspiring humans working at Westmead, Blacktown, Mount Druitt Auburn and Cumberland hospitals in western Sydney.