Do you struggle with keeping your citations organized for papers or articles that you are writing? One of the most challenging aspects of the publication process can be documenting and organizing references and citations. Himmelfarb Library has a short webinar that can help you choose the right citation management tool.
In this Citation Organization for Beginners webinar, Reference and Instruction Librarian Paul Levett, explores how bibliographic management tools can simplify the process of documenting and organizing references and citations. These tools also ensure that you adhere to formatting styles such as APA or AMA. Paul examines bibliographic management tools such as RefWorks, EndNote and more to show you how to use these resources quickly and effectively. This webinar compares the features of bibliographic management tools, and provides considerations to think about when deciding which tool is best suited to your needs.
Stack some books from your collection, snap a photo, and share an image on Instagram. Be sure to tag @himmelfarbgw and #gwspinepoetry for your chance to win a $25 gift card to Politics and Prose. Images must be posted between June 1 and June 30, 2020, to be considered eligible. Only GWU SMHS, SON, and SPH affiliates are eligible to win. Entries will be evaluated for originality and creativity. Winner will be announced July 7, 2020.
Earlier this year we published a post on the new preprint server, medRxiv (pronounced ‘Med Archive’). We touched on the benefits of archiving research via this service, as well as pointing out the potential downsides. But with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many to work from home and observe social distancing guidelines, preprint services like medRxiv help researchers share their preliminary findings as they seek to better understand this new disease and discover potential treatment options.
With new information on COVID-19 released on a near daily basis, medRxiv is an excellent place to archive research and disseminate it within the medical community.The archival server has a specialized collection dedicated to research pertaining to the study of COVID-19. At the time of the publication of this post, the preprint server holds approximately 4204 articles. With Altmetrics, researchers are able to track the level of engagement their article receives.
Articles located on the preprint server have not undergone the rigorous peer review process.It is imperative that the research located on medrRxiv is not used in a clinical setting nor shared with the media or public. As we learn more about this disease, how best to fight it and how to prevent its spread, members of the medical community must observe best practices and avoid sharing potentially harmful misinformation to the public or media.
The research and news on COVID-19 is constantly evolving. There is still much to learn about this novel coronavirus and medical professionals are working tirelessly to add to the expanding literature on this disease. MedRxiv, the preprint server, has a collection dedicated exclusively to preliminary research on COVID-19. As such, it is an excellent and free resource that puts researchers in contact with each other.
If you would like to learn more about medRxiv or if you’re interested in submitting research to the server, be sure to visit https://www.medrxiv.org/.
The Himmelfarb Library will open on Monday, June 15 to patrons that have been approved to be on campus during phase 1 of reopening and to students currently enrolled in classes or on clinical rotations. Our summer hours (subject to change) are:
Mondays – Thursdays: 8am – 8pm
Fridays: 8am – 6pm
Saturday – Sunday: 12n – 8pm
We are implementing a number of safety measures to promote social distancing and safeguard your health.
Masks
Users are required to wear a mask at all times inside the library.
Getting around
Directional signs will be posted throughout the library to indicate proper distancing and traffic flow.
Only one person at a time may use the elevator; priority goes to handicapped users.
Our stairwells will be one-directional:
To go up, use the stairwell on the Courtyard side of the building next to the elevator.
To go down, use the stairs on the 23rd Street side of the Library.
Using study spaces
We have arranged study tables and chairs in a way that ensures 6 ft. of space between users. Floor decals will be used as markers for each and every approved seat to make sure that the patrons are social distancing
Please do not move furniture.
Keep chairs stationed over their floor decals.
All study rooms at Himmelfarb Library MUST be reserved in advance on our web page.
To ensure that all students have access to our limited spaces, rooms may only be reserved for a maximum of 4 hours per day.
Only 1 user is permitted in a study room at a time, except in the following rooms:
2 users are permitted in: B100B, B100A, 201, 203G, 204H, 203C, 204C, 304I, 304C, and 305H.
4 users are permitted in: 303.
Please limit the amount of food and drink you bring into the library (You can only eat in a library carrel or study room.). Please clean up your space before you leave.
Hand sanitizer and wipes will be available throughout Himmelfarb.
Handling library materials
If you pull a book off the shelf that you don’t plan to check out, please return it to a shelving cart.
Library staff will quarantine all books on carts for 3 days after usage.
Library staff will quarantine all borrowed books for 3 days upon check-in.
Borrowed equipment will be cleaned upon return and prior to checkout.
Restrooms
Restrooms will have a one-person occupancy limit.
Please announce yourself before entering to make sure the restroom is unoccupied.
To open the door without using your hands, use the “foot puller” .
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns. You may text a librarian at 202-601-3525, or send an email to: himmelfarb@gwu.edu. You may also contact the Circulation Desk at 202-994-2962.
In 2020 we faced the challenge of a worldwide Pandemic that has changed many of our lives. From relocating ourselves and our belongings to other states to limiting our errands and taking extra sanitary precautions, being on lock-down has taken its toll on many not only physically, but mentally as well.
That being said, there are many ways that you can take care of your mental health while still abiding by social distancing guidelines. Unsure of what you can do? Here are some ideas:
Make a new daily outdoor resolution.
Does being indoors so frequently get you down? You are not alone, being inside for so long can make anyone restless! Make it a daily goal to get outside just once, even if it’s a short stroll to the mailbox or spending an afternoon out on your balcony or patio. Even a short time spent outdoors can help you reap the benefits of some fresh air and vitamin D. Want to avoid any crowds? Get outside early. Not sure where to go? You can always take a few laps around some of the city’s athletic fields which are open as of May 29th.
Start a garden.
Never tried gardening before? What better time to start than now? There are a variety of flowers, herbs, and vegetables that can be grown both outdoors and indoors. Find seeds, plants and tools online or at your local grocer or hardware store. The internet has countless resources for gardening basics and tips, depending on what you would like to grow.
Stop by your local Public library.
While operating on a limited basis, there are several locations of the DC Public Library that are open for curbside pickup. Further information on which locations are open can be found on the Mayor’s Website.
Try a new recipe.
Never had the time to bake or cook due to a busy schedule? Why not use this time to bust out those pots, pans and baking sheets and put them to good use! No recipe is too simple or complex. Treat yourself to some french toast, or homemade pizza. Impress your roommate and your pets with this simple two ingredient pizza dough recipe which will not only cost a fraction of standard delivery, but will taste delicious too!
These are challenging times for all. We cannot stress how important it is not only to be mindful of social distancing guidelines, but to take care of yourself too. Stay safe, and study hard. We are excited to be back and to see you at Himmelfarb!
Himmelfarb Library would like to welcome all of our new users! Whether you are a new resident, fellow, physician assistant or public health student, we welcome you to the GW community! Himmelfarb is ready to serve you and help make your experience here a positive one. You may be curious about what Himmelfarb has to offer and how you can make the most of our resources and services. Here are the top five things we’d like you to know about Himmelfarb:
1) Getting Research Help is Easy!
Our reference librarians are available to answer your questions and provide research support when and where you need help. Get your research and library-related questions answered right from your computer by using the Ask a Librarian service! Reference librarians are available to answer your texts and instant message questions Monday-Thursday from 8:30am-8:00pm, and Friday from 8:30am-5:00pm.
2) Himmelfarb Resources are Available Anytime, Anywhere.
Himmelfarb’s 100 databases, 4,100 journals, and 4,500 e-books are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our e-book collection includes most major textbooks from most fields. Install the LibKey Nomad Google Chrome browser extension for seamless and speedy access to full-text articles available through Himmelfarb. After installing the extension, choose ‘George Washington University - Himmelfarb Library’ as your institution, and you’ll be all set. For more information about accessing Himmelfarb’s online resources including tips for navigating articles, check out our E-Resources FAQs page.
To access our electronic resources from off-campus, we recommend connecting to the GW VPN. The Himmelfarb off-campus access page provides additional information about installing the VPN and accessing electronic resources with your GW NetID. Many of our resources are also available as mobile apps for download on your mobile devices.
3) 3D Printing is Available!
Himmelfarb has a 3D printer available for use by faculty, staff and students in SMHS, SON, GWSPH, the GW Hospital and the MFA. 3D printing will be available once the library opens its doors again. For more information about 3D printing at Himmelfarb, check out our 3D Printing Guide.
4) If We Don’t Have It, We’ll Do Our Best To Get It For You.
While we attempt to make our collection as robust as possible, we don’t have access to everything. In the event that we don’t have access to a resource that you need, you can place a request through our Interlibrary Loan/Documents2Go service. Through this service, we are able to work with a nationwide network of libraries to obtain a copy of a needed resource on your behalf. Articles are normally delivered within 24-72 hours. Interested in learning more about this service? Check our in-depth Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery guide.
5) The Health Sciences Research Commons Can Expand the Reach of Your Research!
Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC) is Himmelfarb’s institutional repository, and is a perfect place for you to share your research output during your time at GW. All faculty, researchers, students (with the sponsorship of a faculty member), and staff affiliated with SMHS, SON, GWSPH at GW are eligible to submit their scholarly works to HSRC. By placing your work in HSRC, your work will be easily shareable and discoverable via Google Scholar and other search engines. If you have questions about the HSRC, take a look at the FAQ page or contact Sara Hoover (shoover@gwu.edu), Metadata and Scholarly Publishing Librarian, for more information.
This top five list is just a glimpse into all that Himmelfarb has to offer! In addition to the resources mentioned above, we have numerous research guides on a wide variety of topics. Tutorials are also available on a variety of topics. Himmelfarb welcomes you to the GW community!
While there are still many unknowns about what the post-pandemic world will look like, there is a general consensus that the effects on scholarly output are likely to be lasting and far reaching.
In a recent article from Nature entitled “Will the pandemic permanently alter scientific publishing?” Ewen Callaway explores the impact of Covid-19 on publication timeframes and methodologies. The article looks at the accelerated use of preprint archives such as bioRxiv and the increasing push towards Open Access publishing models in recent months. For publishers, the looming question continues to be whether they will be able to devise a business model that both supports faster, open publishing while likewise ensuring financial solvency. For researchers new publication models and timeframes engender many new questions about how best to publish their research.
If you have questions about preprint archives or open access models and your research, please reach out to Sara Hoover, Metadata and Scholarly Publishing Librarian at the Himmelfarb Library (shoover@gwu.edu).
Written by Sara Hoover, Metadata and Scholarly Publishing Librarian.
LibKey Nomad is a Chrome browser extension that can connect you to articles in Himmelfarb Library’s collection. LibKey Nomad previously worked with multiple sources including PubMed, publisher sites, and even Wikipedia - and Scopus and Web of Science have been added to this list. LibKey Nomad immediately delivers a PDF if available, and will otherwise provide you Himmelfarb full-text and document delivery options.
LibKey Nomad provides a 'Download PDF' link as the first option, and if that's not possible will provide other full-text links and Documents2Go document delivery options via Himmelfarb Library. LibKey Nomad can also connect you to a table of contents for the specific issue to allow you to explore that issue for related items.
To use LibKey Nomad, download LibKey Nomad from the Chrome Web Store page. After you install the extension, choose ‘George Washington University – Himmelfarb Library’ as your institution, and you’re good to go!
Please contact Laura Abate (leabate@gwu.edu) with questions or comments.
I loved wandering the shelves of my library growing up, looking for titles that caught my eye. All lined up, the books had their own poetry, the occasional pair, trio, or quartet of titles that seemed perfect next to one another (and not just because of the order enforced by the Dewey Decimal System).
We may not be able to wander the library shelves right now, but we do have the opportunity to make poetry.
Stack some books from your collection, snap a photo, and share an image on Instagram. Be sure to tag @himmelfarbgw and #gwspinepoetry for your chance to win a $25 gift card to Politics and Prose. Images must be posted between June 1 and June 30, 2020, to be considered eligible. Only GWU SMHS, SON, and SPH affiliates are eligible to win. Entries will be evaluated for originality and creativity. Winner will be announced July 7, 2020.
