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Do you need to find a quiet space? Somewhere with an extra strong WiFi signal? We’ll take you floor by floor through Himmelfarb Library to help you find what you’re looking for.

B1 Level

One floor below the library’s first floor, the B1 Level is a haven for those seeking peace and quiet. Study tables are located in the book stacks. Additionally, group study rooms, classrooms, and the B103 computer lab are available as long as classes aren’t scheduled. (Daily class schedules are posted by the entrance to each room.) 

First Floor

If you and your friends would like to study together in an area where you can talk (library voices, please!), our first floor has plenty of study tables to accommodate you. If you need a public computer, we have plenty of workstations here, as well as three WEPA printers. And, if you just want to chill with friends after an exam, we have couches and other furniture designed for relaxation on both sides of the floor.

Second Floor

Shhhh! You are on the quiet floor. Choose from study tables with a window view and both open and closed study carrels. If you’d like to reserve a group study room through Himmelfarb Library, the second floor has two wings of rooms, each of which can accommodate small groups. (Library voices only in these rooms, please!) The 203 wing of study rooms is located on the 23rd St side of the library, and the 204 wing of study rooms overlooks the Ross Hall courtyard.

Third Floor

Peace and quiet extends to half of the third floor. The area in front of the elevator is reserved for quiet study. Choose from group study tables and open/closed study carrels. Beyond this study commons is a wing of group study rooms that you are welcome to reserve online. The 304 wing of study rooms overlooks 23rd St. (Again, library voices are appreciated.)

To the right of the study commons as you exit the elevator or main stairwell is the Bloedorn Technology Center (BTC). The BTC is home to the bulk of our public computer workstations. The BTC also houses all but one of the library’s public flatbed scanners. We have two WEPA printers on the floor, one by the elevator and the other just inside our Middle Computer Lab.

If you need technology assistance, you are in the right place! The SMHS IT Help Desk is located at the BTC, and they welcome walk-up questions!

A few larger rooms for study are available to use as long as classes aren’t scheduled. (Check the daily class schedules that are posted by the door.)

Additionally, you will find a large group study table, located near the IT Help Desk, as well as bistro-style study tables in the BTC’s Levine Lounge (directly behind the Help Desk). BodyViz for interactive anatomy study is also located in that room.

For the best WiFi

Are you looking for a room with a strong WiFi signal for your next WebEx or Zoom meeting? We have robust WiFi throughout the library, but for an extra boost, you’ll find ceiling-mounted WiFi access points located just outside of the 203, 204, and 304 wings of study rooms. 

Questions?

If you have any questions about study spaces at Himmelfarb, please stop by the first floor Circulation Desk or Reference Desk and ask for assistance.

1

It’s that time of the year again! While many of us may be taking a moment to find what we are grateful for, a lot of us might be scratching our heads while asking ourselves: what do I make for this holiday weekend? 

If you are looking to change things up a bit, why not make this Cornbread Stuffing? Even choosy eaters might be willing to give this one a try! Are you looking to zest up the potato based side? This flavorful Sweet Potato Casserole has my attention. Watching the carbs? This Sausage and Butternut Squash Frittata is bound to make your feast packed full of protein and veggies! If you are looking for more greens, this low carb Broccoli salad with Bacon is definitely a traditional delight. Vegetarian? This Butternut Roasted Squash Risotto will no doubt have your guests lining up for seconds! 

For the main course, this Turkey dinner with homemade Gravy looks tempting! Who can say no to gravy with worcestershire in it? Is gluten an issue? No problem. We found a savory and easy to make slow cooker gluten free turkey breast. If meat is off the menu, this Vegetarian Lasagna is easily customizable to your own liking! Not into squash? Just add more broccoli. 

Lastly for dessert, this Keto pumpkin muffin with cream cheese filling is not just for low carb lovers. If dairy is an issue, this Dairy Free Chocolate Silk Pie is likely going to be on my baking list! Are you looking to impress? These Pumpkin Cannolis have certainly caught my eye. 

From our kitchens to yours, we wish you all a safe, warm, and happy Holiday weekend from the Himmelfarb library. 

Your research is important, and we are here to help. What if Himmelfarb does not have the book or article you are looking for? The good news is that we have services designed to help you should these situations arise. 

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 Himmelfarb does not currently have access to such as articles, book chapters, and books.  These services are available to our GW SMHS, SON, and SPH 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 need for your studies and research. 

Consortium Loan Service (CLS)

Consortium Loan Service, or CLS for short, is a service that allows our users to request books that are available within our local library consortium, the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC). What this means is that if Georgetown 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. We rely on a courier service for the expedited delivery of books within 2-3 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 - e.g. at Himmelfarb library or the VSTC library. You will be notified when your book is ready to be picked up at the designated library.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

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 are normally delivered within 24-72 hours. 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? 

The Consortium Loan Service is always free, and for Interlibrary Loan, we offer 15 free requests to all GW SMHS, SON, and SPH students, staff, residents 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, so you’ll never accrue charges without knowing about it. 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. 

Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail (Women's History Matters)

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 examines the life and activism of Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail.

Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail was a Native American nurse who consistently advocated for better access to quality, culturally sensitive healthcare and during her decades long medical career, she documented and recounted stories of medical abuse that Native Americans frequently experienced when visiting hospitals or non-Native doctors. Yellowtail was one of the first Native American registered nurses and the first registered nurse from the Crow people. Her work as an activist paved the way for other medical professionals who sought to end harmful practices that frequently impacted lower-class families and people of color.

Yellowtail was born on January 27, 1903 on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. She was orphaned at a young age, but lived with an aunt who took care of Yellowtail and her sister. Like many young Native children, Susie Yellowtail attended an Indian boarding school until she met the Baptist missionary, Frances Shaw. Yellowtail traveled with Shaw to a Baptist convention in Denver, before moving to Oklahoma to complete her education at the Bacone Indian School. When Frances Shaw married and became Mrs. Clifford Fields, Yellowtail once again moved to the East where she lived with the Fields family. During this time, Susie Yellowtail enrolled in Northfield Seminary. Mrs. Fields paid for the tuition fees, but to afford her room and board, Yellowtail worked as a nanny and maid for the Fields family. Eventually she left the seminary and instead enrolled in a nursing program at Franklin County Memorial Hospital and completed her training at the Boston City Hospital School of Nursing. She received her degree in 1927 and worked in several different positions before returning to the reservation where she was born.

Working as a nurse for the Indian Health Service’s run hospital, Yellowtail witnessed firsthand the mistreatment many Crow people experienced during their appointments. She “documented instances of Indian children dying from lack of access to medical care, Indian women being sterilized without consent, and tribal elders unable to communicate their health concerns to doctors.” (Women's History Matters) Yellowtail sought to provide better treatment for her community and was vocal with her criticisms of the non-Native doctors, nurses and medical professionals who worked in the hospital. She blended her Crow culture and traditions with her medical education to care for Native patients who were nervous around the hospital staff or unable to access the hospital and its services. In 1929, Susie Walking Bear married Thomas Yellowtail and the two became major leaders on the reservation.

Thomas and Susie Yellowtail (Women's History Matters)

Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail served as a member of several reservation advisory committees and this eventually led to President John F. Kennedy appointing her to the Surgeon General’s Advisory Committee on Indian Health. She was reappointed to this position by both the Johnson and Nixon administrations. In this role, Yellowtail traveled to other Native American reservations and documented Native Americans’ experiences with visiting their hospitals. Almost immediately, she noticed a similarity in stories and used this information to create recommendations that would improve not only the relationship between Native Americans and health professionals, but also address years of harm that went unchecked. Susie Yellowtail continued her work for decades and died on December 25, 1981.

Yellowtail received recognition for her work both during her lifetime and after her passing. She was awarded the President’s Award for Outstanding Nursing by President Kennedy in 1962 and she was inducted into the Montana Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2002, she was also inducted into the American Nurses Association Hall of Fame.

While Susie Walking Bear Yellowtails’ career and advocacy efforts positively impacted the Crow people and other Native American tribes in her lifetime, her work served as an example on how health rights activists could monitor and document patient mistreatment by the medical field. Yellowtail used her Crow identity and nursing education to provide culturally sensitive care to the Native Americans who requested her services. As one of the first registered nurses of Native American descent, Susie Yellowtail embedded herself in the medical field and brought about long-lasting changes that can still be felt to this day.

Sources

“Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail: ‘Our Bright Morning Star.’” Women’s History Matters, 6 May 2014, montanawomenshistory.org/susie-walking-bear-yellowtail-our-bright-morning-star.

Theobald, Brianna. “Nurse, Mother, Midwife-Susie Walking Bear Yellowtail and the Struggle for Crow Women’s Reproductive Autonomy.” Montana The Magazine of Western History, vol. 66, no. 3, 2016. National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, www.niwrc.org/resources/journal-article/nurse-mother-midwife-susie-walking-bear-yellowtail-and-struggle-crow.

The Himmelfarb Library search box includes content ranging from books and book chapters, to dissertations, scientific reports, newspaper articles, and journals. If you’re looking for journal literature specifically, there are several methods you can use.

The first method is to use the Articles search scope. This will automatically limit all search retrieval to just article content. To activate this scope, click the down arrow next to the microphone icon to see all the search scope options and select Articles:

Himmelfarb Search box Articles scope screenshot

Articles scope includes articles from a variety of journal, magazine, and newspaper sources.You may need to use further limits, including selecting particular content types or limiting to peer review journals with the Availability filter on the left side of results.

Himmelfarb search box left column filters screenshot

These same limits can be used if you start in the default search scope and later want to limit your retrieval to a particular content type.

If you’re looking for content from a particular journal, use the Journal Search option. You can then search either the journal title or ISSN if you have it and can click through to the journal contents from the retrieved record.

Himmelfarb search box journal search for Lancet screenshot

To get to full-text of a retrieved article, use the Available Online link that appears in brief results or click the Download PDF link if present.

Himmelfarb search box brief results full-text options screenshot

To see all supplier options for getting to full-text, click the article title in brief results to open the full record, then see the View Online area to click through to full-text from a particular supplier.

Himmelfarb search box full record view online options screenshot

If there are no full-text options, use the Documents2Go link under How to Get It to order the article via interlibrary loan.  You can login to Documents2Go with your GW NetID username and password.

Himmelfarb search box full record view Documents2Go link screenshot

A scanned or electronic version of the document will be sent to you. It may take several days to a week to process.

If you need assistance with searching the library search box or other databases, contact reference staff via Himmelfarb Library chat.  For assistance with document delivery services, contact mlbdoc@gwu.edu.

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 highlights/celebrates National Native American Heritage Month.

For November’s National Native American Heritage month, there are many ways to spread appreciation and promote equality and diversity in your own area. The NIH has prepared events and a useful infographic along with several blog posts to celebrate and educate about the achievements and resources available to our Native American friends. 

On November 16th, the NIH is  also hosting a chat to explore internships and job opportunities in the field of Medicine. Even if you are already employed it can be helpful to gain some insight from Native professionals who are able to offer advice and career highlights! This is an interactive virtual discussion so you will be allowed to ask questions and converse with the panelists directly! Find out more information about the event at the NIH Website. 

Additionally, the Smithsonian will be hosting a Native Cinema Showcase as a celebration of the best in Native film. This year’s focus is on highlighting Native people who have boldly asserted themselves through language, healing, building community, and a continued relationship with the land. Each film will be available on Demand through the Smithsonian’s Cinema Showcase page, and we definitely recommend checking out a film or two! 

Looking to de-stress? How about spending an afternoon with a good book or some poetry written by the current US poet Laureate is Joy Haro, the first Native to earn the title. 

Flow chart of research lifecycle: plan & design; collect & capture; collaborate & analyse; manage, store & preserve; share & publish; discover, reuse & cite

Do you have a question about some aspect of the research lifecycle? Perhaps you need help putting together a systematic review or are looking for tools that will help you select a journal for your manuscript. Or maybe you want help tracking citations for your published research. The Himmelfarb Library’s Scholarly Communications Short Video Series can help you with these questions. These brief (~5 minute) tutorials cover topics related to all aspects of the research lifecycle from project planning to publishing to promotion and preservation. The series currently includes 15 video tutorials that cover the following topics: 

Project Planning and Development Tutorials: 

Publishing Related Tutorials: 

Project Promotion and Preservation Tutorials: 

Look for more video tutorials in January 2022 on topics including post-publication promotion tips, advanced literature searches using the MeSH search builder, open access publishing, and more. Have a suggestion for a video tutorial? Complete this brief survey

Image citation: Pinnock, G. (2018). The Research Data Management (RDM) lifecycle at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Retrieved from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:UCT_RDM_lifecycle_(all_icons).svg

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 post will highlight the Native Health Database.

The Native Health Database is an online collection that organizes and shares information related to the health and health care of American Indians, Alaska Natives and Canadian First Nations. The Native Health Database  “...provides information for the benefit, use, and education of organizations and individuals with an interest in health-related issues, programs and initiatives regarding North American Indigenous peoples.” 

Created in the 1990s, the Native Health Database is the final result of the merging of two different Native American health care collections, the Native Health History Database and the Native Health Research Database. When Dr. William W. Schottstaedt donated over 3,000 documents to the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center, the resources were compiled into the Native Health History Database. The historical documents  dated from 1672 to 1966 and were collected into a single database that focused on the history of health and healthcare of Native American people. 

The Native Health Research Database began in 1997 when the United States Indian Health Service contracted with The Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center to create a resource that covered the current landscape of Native American health. These two databases merged into the Native Health Database in 2007,  and recently transitioned to the Mukurtu CMS platform with the goal of giving Native American groups and individuals better control and access to the content that’s available for viewing and sharing. 

The Native Health Database does not require users to create an account to browse or access items in the collection, but registered users can save items to their personal collection for later review and registration is free. 

When searching for a resource, you can refine your search by the date, tribal or group affiliation, subject, resource type or by other parameters. Resource types include, but are not limited to, journal articles, editorials, guidelines and monographs. While the full resource  is not stored on the database,  the individual database records provide  information to guide you to the manuscript or document elsewhere.

 You may use the item’s identifier to search for the resource through an external link such as PubMed Central. If you’re interested in the physical copy of the resource, you can contact the Native Health Database administrator at hsc-nhd@salud.unm.edu to request access to the resource. Please note these requests are granted on a case-by-case basis. 

The Native Health Database is an excellent resource for  learning about the historical and current needs of Native American communities. With documents ranging from the late 1600s to now, the database covers a broad spectrum of topics and time periods. The content available through the Native Health Database is meant to serve as a springboard for individuals as they explore the specific topics and needs that directly impact Native American groups. By increasing their level of understanding of Native American health, medical professionals and researchers will have the ability to better address the needs of their patients or undertake research opportunities that are respectful of Native American people and communities. 

The Fall season is upon us so let’s enjoy these healthy and fun festivities from Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb’s November Study Break Guide.

The Redeye Night Market
Date: November, 6, 4:00pm - 12:00am
Location: Pennsylvania Ave., NW between 3rd and 7th Streets
Cost: FREE, Register to attend.

THE REDEYE Night Market is a family-friendly, open-air night market paying homage to the foods + cultures of the Asian diaspora. Featuring DC’s hottest chefs, artists, and more, THE REDEYE’s unifying goal is to support small businesses, create a cultural tentpole event for our city, and give people a night of celebration, community, and discovery

National Parks Offer Free Admission on Veterans Day!

Enjoy the great outdoors! National parks are America’s best idea, and there are more than 400 parks available to everyone, every day. This fee-free day provides a great opportunity to visit a new place or an old favorite, especially one of the national parks that normally charge an entrance fee. The entrance fee waiver for fee-free days does not cover amenity or user fees for activities such as camping, boat launches, transportation, or special tours.COVID-19 Response

COVID-19 Response: Masks are required for everyone, regardless of location or vaccination status, in all NPS buildings, crowded outdoor spaces, and all forms of enclosed public transportation. Additional details are available at www.nps.gov/coronavirus. Before visiting, please check the park website to determine its operating status. Please recreate responsibly.

Budget Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes
From Better Homes & Gardens

Planning a Thanksgiving menu on a budget can be stressful, but BH&G is here to help. And you don’t have to sacrifice taste, either. These affordable Thanksgiving dinner recipes are packed with all the flavors of fall without putting a strain on your wallet.

Annual Downtown Holiday Market

Date: November 9th - December 23: 12:00pm - 8:00pm Daily
Location: 8th and F Streets, NW (Closed Thanksgiving Day & Monday, December 6th)

Get a head start on your holiday shopping this year. Washington DC’s outdoor shopping village, kicks off the holiday season Friday, November 19. The beloved outdoor market continues to support small businesses and entrepreneurs across the region, welcoming shoppers for a safe, secure, and enhanced shopping experience in the heart of the District.

For more exciting activities check out the Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb November Calendar.