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Month: July 2021

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ILL. CLS. Interlibrary Loan. Consortium Loan Service. Have you heard these terms before? If you have, awesome! If not, let us introduce you to them! We understand that the acronyms may be confusing, and want to take the time to share more about what these two library services can offer you.

Borrowing from other libraries

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Consortium Loan Service (CLS) provide materials that the library does not currently have access to such as medical articles, book chapters, and books to our GW medical, health sciences, nursing and public health students, staff and faculty members. We understand that your research is important, and will do everything that we can to provide the books and articles that you may need for your studies and research. 

Consortium Loan Service

Consortium Loan Service, or CLS for short, is a free service that allows our users to request books that are available within the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC). What this means is that if Georgetown (for example) has a book that you would like to borrow, CLS makes it possible to borrow their copy. One benefit of borrowing books through CLS is that this is the fastest way for us to borrow books from other libraries within the D.C. area as materials arrive usually within 2-3 days after the request has been placed. We rely on a courier service for the expedited delivery of books within business days. For detailed information about our CLS service, check out our Consortium Loan Service Guide!

How do I place a CLS request? 

  1. Search for the book you are looking for in the Himmelfarb catalog advanced search. Make sure that Articles + GW & Consortium Catalog is selected.
  2. Under “How to get it” click Sign In. Use your GW Net ID & password to login.
  3. Under “How to get it” click “Consortium Loan Service Request”
  4. Specify where you would like to pick the book up, at the Himmelfarb library, or at our Ashburn location.

Interlibrary Loan 

If you are looking for an article or book that is not available in our catalog or through CLS, Interlibrary Loan (ILL), is a great option! Through ILL, we can request books and articles from libraries across the country on your behalf. Articles normally take 24-72 hours to be delivered. Books may take longer depending on how far away the lending library is from D.C. For detailed information about our ILL service, check out our Interlibrary Loan and Documents2Go guide!

To make an Interlibrary Loan request, you will need to access our Documents2Go (Docs2Go) portal. 

  1. Log in using your GW Net ID & password. Make sure to leave out any ‘@gwu.edu’ part of your net ID. You will not be able to access your account if you include it.
  2. To make a request:
    1. Find the “Make a new request” menu item. 
    2. Select the type of resource you want to request : article, book, or book chapter.
    3. Please be as detailed as possible in order  to help us find the exact resource you need. Include the journal title, article title, page number, volume, or year, and author.
    4. Click the ‘Submit Request’ when you are ready to place your request.
  3. Once you’ve placed your request, we will do our best to find the resource from another library. 
  4. Once we receive a PDF of the requested article, or book chapter, you will receive an email notification informing you that you can access your article through your Documents2Go portal. Keep in mind, these articles disappear after 30 days on your account, so download it if you want permanent access to the material!
    1. If the item you requested is a physical book, once we receive the item, you will receive a notification informing you that the item is available for pick up at the Himmelfarb Circulation Desk, or at the Ashburn Library.

Does it cost money? 

CLS requests are free! As for ILL, we offer 15 requests for free to all GW medical, health sciences, nursing and public health students, staff and faculty members from the dates of January 1st to July 1st. Afterwards, we offer another free 15 starting from July 1st, to the end of December. This amount resets each calendar year. Any additional requests over the initial 15 will incur an additional $10.00 charge. We will contact you to confirm any charges, which you can deny or accept. Rush requests, which guarantees article delivery within 24 hours,  will cost an additional $10. In the event that we are unable to fulfill a rush request within 24 hours, you will not be charged. 

How long does it take to receive my article or book? 

In most cases, we should be able to provide an article to you within 3 to 6 days. Depending on availability and rarity of the article, it may take us longer to receive a PDF for your request. If a request is taking longer than expected to fulfill, we will contact you. 

Books generally take anywhere from one to two weeks to receive, depending on the library’s location that ships the book to us, and the shipping method they use. Because of the unpredictable nature of book requests, we would recommend using CLS whenever possible to ensure a more timely arrival of any book requests. 

My CLS request was cancelled, what should I do now? 

If the book you are looking for is not available through CLS, the request will be cancelled. When this happens, we recommend submitting your request through our Documents2Go portal.  

If you have additional questions, or want to better understand the difference between these two borrowing services that Himmelfarb has to offer, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at mlbdoc@gwu.edu. 

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This Monday, July 26, 2021, marked the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This landmark legislation literally and figuratively opened the doors for millions of Americans with disabilities to equal access to jobs, education, transportation, and recreation. While we are often reminded of physical access in the form of providing ramps for wheelchairs, accessible seating in theaters, provisions for service animals in stores and public transportation, and interpreters for the hearing impaired, just as important are accessibility initiatives in the online world. 

GW has a Digital Accessibility policy and trainings to enable those who provide web services and other online resources to ensure that content is accessible and usable to everyone in the University community. These policies are centered around WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards; among them are making color contrast strong enough to be perceived, ensuring that fonts are of sufficient size and readability, providing alt-text for images, and providing for assistive technologies that allow navigation of a website by voice. 

Recently the library’s search service, Health Information @ Himmelfarb, began providing a voice search component. Use the microphone icon next to the search bar to enable voice search.

Himmelfarb Library is committed to providing accessible resources keeping POUR (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust) in mind. If you have questions or comments about accessibility and Himmelfarb Library, contact us at himmelfarb@gwu.edu.

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If you’re a faculty member in the midst of fall semester preparations, consider using Himmelfarb’s Durable Link Service and let us create durable links your students can use to access their course readings on and off campus. 

What is a durable link?

A durable link is a link that will provide reliable access to electronic reading materials, i.e. e-books, e-journals, articles, etc. Whether students access the resource while connected to GW’s network, via their home network, in a coffee shop, at the airport or any other location with internet, they’ll be able to open and read the material. If you’re worried about copyright issues when adding course materials as PDFs to your syllabus, then consider using the Durable Link Service 

The Linking to Electronic Resources: Creating Durable Links libguide offers tips and quick tutorials on how to create your own durable links. If you know the article’s PMID, DOI, or an e-book’s ISBN or ISSN, then you can easily create a durable link for your course material. Or check out our Quick Tool where you can input the URL and create a proxy link that can be added to your syllabus or reading list. Worried that the link may be broken? Use the ‘Test Link’ button to ensure that the link works. 

This quick tool allows you to create a new durable link from an existing URL.

The Durable Link Service is available throughout the year. Once you have your reading list or syllabus for your courses, feel free to use the libguide to create your durable links. If you’ve created your own links, but want someone to check that they’re not broken or if you’d like someone to create and add links to your syllabus, please contact a staff member at Himmelfarb library by sending an email to himmelfarb@gwu.edu. We’ll be happy to check any links you’ve already created or add new durable links to your syllabus! 

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Photo of SMHS Technology Support Center staff
James Kim, Wesley Baker, Trace Horger, Ben Deem, and Lakshmi Indla (not pictured: Darcy Taig and Kenzie Walters)

The moving van has left, and Ross Hall’s 3rd floor IT Department is settling into its new location in Himmelfarb Library’s Bloedorn Technology Center (BTC). Computer Application and Support Services (CASS) is now The SMHS Technology Support Center, but they offer the same range of technology services and assistance as before.

Directions, please!

Do you need IT staff to take a look at your laptop or iPad, but don’t know exactly where to find the Help Desk? You may ask for directions at Himmelfarb’s first floor Circulation Desk. Or you can follow these instructions:

  • Take the elevator or courtyard-side stairwell to the 3rd floor. 
  • If the door to the right of the 3rd floor stairwell/elevator is open, 
    • Walk through it and then turn left when you reach the wall. 
    • The IT Help Desk will be straight ahead of you in the adjoining room. 
  • If that door is closed,
    • Walk along the wall of portraits just beyond the 3rd floor stairwell door and then make a right.
    • You’ll see a glass door entrance to the BTC ahead on the right. 
    • Enter there and walk straight ahead until you see the IT Help Desk on your left.

Other ways to get IT support:

In addition to an in-person consultation, you may email casshelp@gwu.edu, or you may reach the Help Desk by phone at (202) 994-9400.

Who are the current staff members of the SMHS Technology Support Center?

James Kim (Supervisor, Technology Support Center)

Ben Deem (Senior Technology Support Associate)

Wesley Baker (Technology Support Associate)

Trace Horger (Technology Support Associate)

Lakshmi Indla (Student Support Technical Assistant)

Darcy Taig (Student Support Technical Assistant)

Kenzie Walters (Student Support Technical Assistant)

What are the Help Desk’s hours of operation?

You may visit the IT Help Desk weekdays between 8am - 5pm.

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Picture of fireworks.
Photo by Rene Bernal on Unsplash

It’s official - the results of the 2021 Faculty Journal Survey are here! Himmelfarb Library would like to thank all faculty members who took time to participate in this year’s survey! Your feedback will help improve our resources and services to better serve you in the coming years. 

Of the 122 respondents, 94% expressed satisfaction with Himmelfarb’s resources and services! While we are thrilled with this overwhelmingly positive feedback, we recognize that there is always room for improvement. Survey results indicate that opportunities for improvement exist related to VPN education, Interlibrary Loan and Documents2Go education and usability, journal ease of use, expansion of our journal collection, and increased promotion of underutilized services and resources.

The important take-away points from the results are displayed in the infographic below. A full report of the survey results is available on the 2021 Faculty Journal Survey Results Guide. 

2021 Faculty Journal Survey Results: Key Take-Aways 122 Responses: SMHS - 78 responses, GWSPH - 33 responses, SON - 11 responses 94% Overall Satisfaction Rate: 94% of respondents were satisfied using Himmelfarb's resources and services! 89% Journal Satisfaction: 89% of respondents were satisfied with Himmelfarb's journal collection! Image of the outside of Himmelfarb Library. 50% VPN Use: Only 50% of users accessed e-resources from off-campus using the GW VPN. Find Literature & Stay Current: 90% of respondents agreed that Himmelfarb contributes to their ability to find scientific literature and stay current in their field! Image of Himmelfarb book stacks. Himmelfarb logo. Research Guides & Chat Reference: The most frequently used services among respondents were research guides (LibGuides) and chat reference. PubMed Use: PubMed was the most popular method of locating journal articles among respondents. "The Himmelfarb Librarians are amazing! Friendly, helpful and great colleagues!" View full results at https://guides.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/2021FacultyJournalSurvey Created by: Ruth Bueter, Serials Librarian

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photo of a Welcome sign
Image source: unsplash.com

Himmelfarb Library has recently updated its access protocol to allow more of our users to visit us in person, as long as they comply with new entry policy requirements. Graduate students in all SMHS/GWSPH/SON programs may now come onsite. All faculty and staff in these schools have library access, as do GW Hospital and MFA employees. 

Before planning your next visit, please note the following safety requirements:

Current Library hours are available on our website. For additional information, please visit Himmelfarb Library’s access page. If you have questions, contact the Himmelfarb Access Coordinator, Catherine Sluder, at crharris@gwu.edu.

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Non-binary flag.

In an effort to remain accountable to communities who have been negatively impacted by past and present medical injustices, the staff at Himmelfarb Library is committed to the work of maintaining an anti-discriminatory practice. We will uplift and highlight diverse stories throughout the year, and not shy away from difficult conversations necessary for health sciences education. To help fulfill this mission, today's blog post celebrates International Non-Binary Day!

July 14th is International Non-Binary Day! The first International Non-Binary Day took place in 2012 (Angulo, 2019). The date falls between International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day, making it an appropriate date on which to raise awareness of people who do not identify exclusively as man or woman. So what is non-binary? 

Non-binary refers to anyone whose gender identity isn’t categorized as female or male. While some non-binary people identify as both a man and a woman, others don’t identify with either of these gender categories (HRC Staff, 2020). While some non-binary people identify as transgender, many do not. “Non-binary identities are varied and can include people who identify with some aspects of binary identities, while others reject them entirely” (Stonewall Staff, 2006). Simply put, being non-binary is as unique and individual as the people who identify as non-binary. 

We can all be an ally to non-binary people. Some of the simplest things you can do to be inclusive involve being aware of how the language you use can have a positive impact on everyone, regardless of gender identity. Including your pronouns when you introduce yourself, in your email signatures and social media profiles can be a great starting point. When you introduce yourself, saying “Hi, my name is Jane and I use she/her pronouns” can be an easy way for other people to safely introduce their pronouns. This not only lets the person know that you are interested in using their correct pronouns, but also makes it easy for them to communicate their preferences to you if they wish. You may also consider using gender neutral language when you are addressing a group by replacing “ladies and gentleman” with “folks” or “everyone.” When mentioning relationships, consider using gender neutral terms such as parents (instead of father/mother), children (instead of sons/daughters), siblings (instead of brothers/sisters), or partner (instead of husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend). 

From a medical and health perspective, non-binary people often experience health disparities resulting from their non-binary identities. One qualitative study published in 2020 in the Journal of Sex Research “explored the unique ways that non-binary adolescents experience minority stress and how it influences their mental health and well-being” (Johnson et al., 2020). Identity invalidation (the refusal to accept someone’s identity as “real” or “true”) was experienced during interpersonal relationships, within the LGBTQ communitity, on an institutional level in school environments, and through a lack of representation in the media (Johnson et al., 2020). The data collected from this study suggests that “identity invalidation has deleterious effects on mental health and contributes to mental health disparities facing non-binary adolescents” (Johnson et al. 2020).

A study published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved in 2018 examined interactions between transgender and gender non-binary individuals and their health care providers and identified characteristics of positive and negative interactions. Characteristics of positive clinician-patient interactions included: the correct use of names and pronouns; use of gender neutral language when referencing relationships, anatomy, and procedures; clinician knowledge of and experience with transgender and non-binary health; and treatment of identity disclosure as routine (Baldwin et al., 2018). Characteristics of negative clinician-patient interactions included: misgendering; lack of information and experience with transgender and non-binary patients (which often led to irrelevant questions stemming from clinician curiosity); and transphobia that led to a denial of care or a referral to another provider - another form of denial of care (Baldwin et al., 2018). This study concluded that formal medical education and training programs need to provide education and experience related to gender diverse patients. “Adjusting patient intake protocol and forms at the system-level to incorporate gender-neutral terminology and facilitate the use of preferred names and pronouns” was all supported by this study (Baldwin et al, 2018). 

As we celebrate International Non-Binary Day this year, take some time to explore resources such as SMHS’s LGBTQIA+ Community Support page, and GW student groups such as GW Out for Health or Transgender and Non-Binary Students of GWU. One of the best ways to celebrate International Non-Binary Day is through education and learning more about the non-binary experience. The following video is a great starting point - take a look and learn what it’s like to be non-binary.

References:

Angulo, D. (2019, July 15). Between international women’s and men’s day is non-binary day! Outright Action International. https://outrightinternational.org/content/between-international-womens-and-mens-days-non-binary-day

Baldwin, A., Dodge, B., Schick, V. R., Light, B., Scharrs, P. W., Herbenick, D., & Fortenberry, J. D. (2018). Transgender and Genderqueer Individuals’ Experiences with Health Care Providers: What’s Working, What’s Not, and Where Do We Go from Here? Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 29(4), 1300–1318. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2018.0097

CBC News: The National (2021, June 28). What it’s like to be non-binary . YouTube. https://youtu.be/7Gr78THojrU

HRC Staff (2020, July 14). Celebrating the Diversity of the Non-Binary Community for International Non-Binary Day 2020. https://www.hrc.org/news/celebrating-the-diversity-of-the-non-binary-community-for-international-non

Johnson, K. C., LeBlanc, A. J., Deardorff, J., & Bockting, W. O. (2020). Invalidation Experiences Among Non-Binary Adolescents. The Journal of Sex Research, 57(2), 222–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1608422

Stonewall Staff (2006, July 21). 10 ways to step up as an ally to non-binary people. Stonewall. https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/10-ways-step-ally-non-binary-people

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Reflecting GW’s return to campus and our physical facilities, the default search scope on Himmelfarb Library’s search box is changing. Instead of Online Access only, the default search setting will now include Himmelfarb Library’s physical collections.  Search results will include print books, print journals, physical multimedia like DVDs, and equipment for loan, as well as electronic materials.

If you prefer to continue to search only online collections, you can opt to change the scope to Online Access by clicking the down arrow to the right and then selecting Online Access.

Other available search scopes are Articles only, the Himmelfarb Catalog (does not include articles), or Articles + GW & Consortium Catalog.  The last option includes materials from all of the Washington Research Library Consortium members and all of GW’s libraries. Physical materials from these libraries can be borrowed via the Consortium Loan Service. Sign into Health Information @ Himmelfarb to see Consortium Loan Service requesting options.

If you cannot come physically into Himmelfarb Library there are still pickup and shipping options available.  Visit our Courtyard Request and Shipping Request services pages for details.

Need assistance with searching Health Information @ Himmelfarb? Contact our Information Desk staff at (202) 994-2850, himmelfarb@gwu.edu or Chat Us!

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Over the past several months, Himmelfarb Library staff have heard from users experiencing difficulty accessing the Library's online collections. The access issue seems to stem from the use of multiple authentications on one computer. For example, a user might access a clinical systems like the GW MFA's EHR system with their MFA credentials, and also regularly login to access Himmelfarb Library resources via their GW credentials. In some cases, the user's non-GW (i.e. GW MFA, Children's Hospital, etc.) login is automatically submitted to GW's single sign-on system rather than the user's @gwu.edu account information.

To support users while this issue is investigated, Himmelfarb Library has developed instructions to guide users and address this access issue so they can access Himmelfarb's online collections easily.

Option #1: Use one web browser for most work and reserve a second web browser for logging into Himmelfarb Library and other GW functions. This option works best on a computer that you use regularly, as you are able to have the browser 'remember' you.

  1. Open the web browser selected for Himmelfarb/GW, then clear the browser's history and cookies.
  2. A prompt may appear at the top of the screen asking the user to login to a non-GW system; log off/deactivate this function.
  3. Access Himmelfarb Library webpage (http://himmelfarb.gwu.edu) and select the database, e-text, or e-journal which you would like to access; the resource should display automatically.

Option #2: Open an 'incognito' browser window. This option works best on a computer that you don't use regularly, as you'll need to sign-in and complete dual authentication each time you open an incognito window.

  1. Open an incognito browser window:
    • Chrome: click on three stacked dots in upper right corner of window, then select 'New Incognito window'
    • Edge: click on three horizontal dots in upper right corner of window, then select 'New InPrivate window'
    • Safari: from File menu, select 'New Private Window'
    • Internet Explorer: click on gear menu in upper right corner of window, then select Safety followed by InPrivate Browsing
    • Mozilla Firefox: click on three stacked horizontal lines in upper right corner of window, then select New Private Window
  2. Access Himmelfarb Library webpage (http://himmelfarb.gwu.edu) and select the database, e-text, or e-journal which you would like to access; the resource should display automatically.

Remember, anytime you experience an access issue or are having difficulty finding what you need, Himmelfarb's library staff is here to help. You can reach us via instant message, phone, email, or text - remember to Ask A Librarian!

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It’s summer, it’s hot. It is the time that we all become best friends with our air conditioners and pints of ice cream. If you find yourself scrolling restlessly through Netflix for the umpteenth time, why not give yourself a reason to dust off those running shoes and enjoy the sun? 

The SMHS Strava Club is holding a Summer 2021 “Olympics Challenge”, and if you haven’t already, you should consider joining! 

The Strava Club Olympics Challenge is a great way to challenge your mind and body in 4 events by logging your exercise activities! The Challenge takes place during the month of July and offers Visa gift cards for Gold, Silver and Bronze in each event! 

How do I sign up? 
Download the free Strava app and/or visit www.strava.com, make a personal account, join GW SMHS club, log activity!

If you would like to find out more information about this Challenge, check out the Strava club’s guide, which explains how to make an account, how to join the club, and how to log and post your activity! With over 30 activities to choose from, there is bound to be a fitness plan for you. Which one is your favorite way to exercise? Are you into running, walking, or swimming? Or maybe you are into hiking and canoeing! 

You will be competing with others in the club to achieve a different goal in each of four categories. (Community, Variety, Endurance, and Meditation.) If you aren’t in the DC area, don’t worry! You can participate regardless of location. 

Are you going to go for the Gold? We hope you will take advantage of this awesome opportunity not only to improve your own physical and mental well being, but to interact in some friendly competition with fellow GW members!

Questions?  Contact the GW Wellness Committee at bewellgw@gmail.com!
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