Native American Heritage Month occurs in November every year. The month “is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.” (U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d.) Many governmental agencies and health organizations share resources that discuss the history of Indigenous groups within the United States.
Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness is a virtual exhibition that “explores the interconnectedness of wellness, illness, and cultural life for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.” (National Library of Medicine, n.d.) The exhibit is split into five sections:
Along with the five sections, a collection of interviews touches on themes such as community, healing, nature and more.
The virtual exhibit has educational resources that are useful in a classroom setting or for personal use. Their suggested readings bibliography features works by Native Americans or works that focus exclusively on Native Americans.
This month is an excellent time to explore the concerns and needs of American indigenous communities. The readings and resources listed above provide a glimpse of the long history and unique culture of American indigenous nations.
Many people are aware that June is LGBTQ Pride Month in the United States. But the community’s history is also recognized in October during LGBTQ History Month. This month began in 1994 when Rodney Wilson, a high school history teacher in Missouri, noticed a lack of LGBTQ representation in the curriculum. To address this gap, Wilson drafted a proposal and shared it with national organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign. Wilson worked with other historians and community organizers to ensure that LGBTQ History Month was nationally recognized.
Wilson envisioned LGBTQ History Month becoming part of a school’s curriculum. This meant that he needed to consider the standard academic schedule when selecting when to honor LGBTQ History Month. October was selected because it did not overlap with other cultural or historical awareness months such as Hispanic Heritage Month (September) or Black History Month (February). October also had historical significance to the LGBTQ community in the United States. “The first March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979 was in October. The second March on Washington in 1987 was also in October, specifically October 11–a date that would make the inaugural National Coming out Day the following year.” (Agassi, 2023)
For these reasons, October became LGBTQ History Month in the United States.
The 1979 & 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights:
Similar to the Stonewall riots and protests in 1969, the 1979 and 1987 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights were two events that drew attention to the discrimination the LGBTQ community faced. During both marches, community advocates listed their demands that would protect people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender.
The 1979 march was inspired by the 1963 March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr gave his ‘I Have A Dream’ speech. Openly gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk pushed for a similar march for LGBTQ people. Unfortunately Milk was assassinated before his idea could become reality. Two New York based activists, Steve Ault and Joyce Hunter, moved forward with Milk’s vision. (Chibbaro Jr., 2017). The 1979 march drew national attention as thousands of people came to DC to protest and share their demands for an equitable society.
“A five-point platform for the march called for passage by Congress of a “comprehensive” lesbian and gay civil rights bill; a presidential executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the federal workplace, the military, federally contracted private employers; repeal of all ant-gay/lesbian laws; an end to discrimination in child custody disputes for gay and lesbian parents; and protections for gay and lesbian youth against discrimination at home or in schools.” (Chibbaro Jr., 2017)Several years later, the 1987 march took place in October and the group of marchers had similar demands as the one made in 1979. This march also focused on the impact of AIDS on the LGBTQ community and discriminatory laws. “Items added to the platform beyond those included for the 1979 march included a call for legal recognition of lesbian and gay relationships; repeal of sodomy laws applying to consenting adults; an end to discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS; reproductive freedom for women; and an end to racism in the U.S. and an end to apartheid in South Africa.” (Chibbaro Jr., 2017) The AIDS Memorial Quilt was displayed for the first time on the National Mall during the march. This NBC News report provides a historical view of the 1987 march and press coverage. Additionally, there is an original recording of the 1979 March and other resources available to the public.
While Pride Month celebrates the accomplishments of the LGBTQ civil rights movement, LGBTQ History Month serves as a time to reflect on the history of the community and remind people of the hard work from activists and other historical figures. Rodney Wilson if believes it is vital to look to history and that history has a way to make people feel less lonely or uncertain about their lives. “For Wilson, history at its core is mystical, particularly “about this continuing conversation with the dead, and with the events that they worked on and completed in their lifetimes–some of which are still with us, and some aren’t. There’s a real mystical communion between the past, the present and the future in studying our history.”” (Agassi, 2023)
The Nobel Prizes are awarded annually on December 10 which marks the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. According to Nobel’s will, the prize and award funds “is to be distributed annually as prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.” (Nobel Prize Outreach AB, 2023) Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded over six hundred times and one thousand laureates have been recognized across the five award categories.
The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman. Their research in mRNA and its potential therapeutic applications “contributed to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times.” (The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute, 2023) Karikó and Weissman’s research not only significantly contributed to the rapid development of the COVID-19 vaccine, but their work may be used as the foundation to create future immunizations against certain forms of cancer or other debilitating illnesses.
Prior to the work of Karikó and Weissman “In vitro transcribed mRNA was considered unstable and challenging to deliver…Moreover, in vitro-produced mRNA gave rise to inflammatory reactions.” (The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute, 2023) Despite these obstacles, the two researchers collaborated and through their efforts “Karikó and Weissman had eliminated critical obstacles on the way to clinical applications of mRNA.” (The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute, 2023)
In their first reactions interviews, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman shared what winning the award meant to them and how their long careers led them to this moment:
The formal award ceremony will take place on December 10, 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden and will be broadcast live on television and on The Nobel Prize YouTube channel. To learn more about previous Nobel Prize winners or about the history of these awards, visit the Nobel Prize website.
The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute. (2023, October 2). The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institutet has today decided to award the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman [Press release]. https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2023/10/press-medicineprize2023-3.pdf
Did you recently present at a conference or during a workshop? Would you like to share your conference poster with other scholars? Are you interested in archiving your research in a central location? The Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC) is Himmelfarb Library’s online institutional repository and allows researchers to store their research in a reliable location so it may be accessed by other researchers.
Here are a few benefits to storing your research in the HSRC:
Your conference poster will be placed in a permanent collection with a consistent link. This link may be embedded in your resume/CV or on your researcher’s website. It may also be shared with your peers and connect them with your conference poster.
Your work is archived according to your departmental affiliation, so your work is situated among the collective output of your colleagues.
Your research is discoverable via search engines such as Google Scholar, thus allowing your work to reach a broader audience.
Lastly, you can measure the impact and reach of your research through PlumX metrics and Altmetrics data.
Archiving your poster in the HSRC is a reliable alternative to conference websites which may not be maintained once the conference ends. The HSRC is able to accept most file formats and you may upload a full image of your poster. Library staff members maintain the repository and will archive your research for you. Send an email hsrc@gwu.edu and a Himmelfarb Library staff member will respond to collect more information.
Are you interested in a preview of how your poster will appear in the institutional repository? Visit the 2023 Research Days Posters collection or any of the other collections in the repository.
Addressing consumer health questions from a racial or ethnic minority group requires cultural sensitivity and understanding. Healthcare organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Minority Health provide consumer health resources that are available in multiple languages. The organizations also share resources on how to connect with minority groups in a healthcare environment. These resources allow providers to communicate health information with their patients and also establish a rapport between patients and providers no matter their background. To commemorate this year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting several consumer and healthcare provider resources that specifically address the needs of the Hispanic community.
The Office of Minority Health aims to “improve the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will help eliminate health disparities.” (Office of Minority Health, 2019, para. 1) The office recently released their “Better Health Through Better Understanding for Hispanics/Latinos” reading list. The list is divided into three sections and contains information for both health consumers and providers. The resources are free to access and download. Some of the resources are available in English and Spanish so they may be shared with patients who may not be fluent in English. Lastly, there are links to journal articles that discuss the treatment and health outcomes of the Hispanic/Latino population.
The Office of Minority Health also provides resources based on the five social determinants of health. The listed information contains federal and non-federal options so the information is applicable to many individuals. Similar to their Hispanic Heritage Month reading list, the resources on this page are intended for both healthcare patients and providers. Some resources that may be of interest include:
If you’re looking for mental health resources, Palo Alto University’s curated list of Latinx Community Resources features books, videos, podcasts and more. There is also an extensive list of mental health organizations that serve the needs of the Hispanic community.
Himmelfarb Library is home to a diverse collection of health information. The Antiracism in Health research guide is an excellent starting point for available resources. Links to student and national healthcare organizations are listed on the guide, directly connecting you to groups actively working to meet healthcare needs and dismantle barriers to access. Himmelfarb Library’s Diversity and Disparities in Health Care connects you to physical and electronic books, academic journals and other library materials. Please be aware that some resources will prompt users to login with their GW UserID and password to access. If there are journal articles, books, podcasts or other materials that you believe should be featured on the antiracism research guide, please submit your suggestion through this Google form.
Finding additional resources to address the questions of a specific community may feel daunting. If you are interested in finding information similar to the sources listed in this article, Himmelfarb Library is here to help. There are several ways to contact a staff member including by email, phone, or instant message. Contact us with any questions you may have.
Gender-affirming care has been a topic within mainstream media for the past several years. While some people think of surgical interventions during these discussions, health care providers and organizations classify a range of treatments as part of a gender-affirming care routine. Research shows that transgender and nonbinary individuals who receive gender-affirming care experience greater health outcomes such as decreased levels of depression, anxiety and suicidality. Dr. Arjee Javellana Restar’s paper Gender-affirming care is preventative care, examines the relationship between mental health and access to gender-affirming care. “While there are established treatments available outside of GAC, preventing negative mental health outcomes before they occur requires widening the tools of prevention, and calling in medical, insurer, and policy communities to value GAC in improving mental health for trans people.” (Restar, 2023, pg. 2) In order to address the mental health outcomes of trans and nonbinary individuals, it is important that barriers to gender-affirming treatment options are eliminated and the patient’s autonomy is prioritized.
Gender-affirming care are treatment options that aim to affirm a person’s gender identity. Treatments may include speech therapy, hormone therapy, or surgical interventions. Gender-affirming care options are frequently discussed and created by patients, healthcare providers and if the patient is a minor, parental or legal guardians are also present. The Association of American Medical Colleges states that “For children in particular, the time of the interventions is based on several factors, including cognitive and physical development as well as parental consent. Surgery…is rarely provided to people under 18.” (Boyle, 2022)
Research shows that transgender and nonbinary people who receive gender-affirming care often experience improved mental health outcomes than those who do not receive treatment. Dr. Restar writes “Addressing mental health problems among trans people necessitates explicit programmatic and investment goals that allow the equitable provision of not just treatment, but instead, an array of both preventative and treatment tools…” (Restar, 2023, pg. 1) Both Dr. Restar and the Association of American Medical Colleges note that people who receive gender-affirming care experience lower rates of negative mental health outcomes. (Restar, 2023; Boyle, 2022) “GAC is linked to improved quality of life and mental health among trans people…To date, no studies have reported findings that suggest GAC increases negative mental health outcomes.” (Restar, 2023, pg. 1)
There are social and structural barriers that prevent people from accessing the full range of gender-affirming care treatment options. Dr. Restar suggests that the healthcare profession should make changes to the existing structures to allow for more equitable access to care. “Over the years, the benefits of GAC has become apparent, yet beneficiaries remain exclusive, leaving many trans people to wait until eligible for treatment at the cost of worsened outcomes…To address the high prevalence of mental health problems, GAC must be synergized as part of combined preventative mental health care options and strategies.” (Restar, 2023, pg. 2)
Building a gender diverse and gender-affirming environment is important because it “allows for frank discussions about the patient’s gender identity and related stress, sexual activity, and potential transition toward a different gender identity.” (Boyle, 2022) Himmelfarb Library’s Diversity and Disparities in Health Care special collection contains materials to help you learn more about transgender and gender diverse healthcare needs. Additionally, Dr. Restar’s article provides suggestions that may lead to healthcare structural changes and improve healthcare access for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Would you like to learn more about healthcare related disability and accessibility issues? Would you like to hear perspectives from disabled individuals as they discuss how their disability impacts their lives? The Disability Visibility podcast, hosted by Alice Wong, has one hundred episodes that center disabled individuals and activists who work to create a more accessible world.
If you are interested in listening to the podcast, Himmelfarb Library’s DEI Committee suggests starting with episodes 95 and 98. In episode 95, Alice Wong speaks with Dr. Justin Bullock, an African-American medical resident who wrote the New England Journal of Medicine article Suicide–Rewriting My Story. The episode’s conversation focuses on Dr. Bullock’s experiences with Bipolar Disorder, suicidality and his medical school and residency journey. Episode 98 is another conversation with UC Berkeley undergraduate student, Alena Morales. Morales shares her experiences with creating the Disability Cultural Center on Berkeley’s campus and what that process taught her about creating communities for disabled people.
If you listen to the suggested episodes and would like to hold a community discussion, the DEI Committee created a starting list of questions that may guide the conversation:
Did this podcast change your perspective on disability? What surprised you?
If you or someone you know has disabilities, what challenges have you/they faced?
How does disability intersect with other identities such as race or sexual orientation?
Are you aware of ways that GW accommodates students with disabilities? What else could be done?
Dr. Bullock discusses his experience with bipolar disorder. Had you considered mental health issues as disabilities? In what ways are these disabilities similar to and different from a physical disability?
The Disability Visibility podcast is one part of the ongoing Disability Visibility project. To learn more about the podcast or the larger multimedia project, visit the project’s website at disabilityvisibilityproject.com. If there is a DEIA resource that you would like to share with the committee, please contact the current chair, Rachel Brill at rgbrill@gwu.edu.
The staff at Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library would like to extend a warm welcome to the incoming Medical Student class of 2027! Over the coming days and weeks, you will grow familiar with the George Washington University campus and begin your medical school coursework. To help you learn more about Himmelfarb Library and the services available to you as students, this article will serve as a primer for everything you should know about the library.
Himmelfarb Library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Reference services are available Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am-8:00 pm, Fridays from 8:00 am- 4:00 pm and Sundays from 4:00 pm- 8:00 pm.
The library has a collection of physical and electronic media including books, audiovisual media, scholarly journals, and databases. There are several special collections within the library, including the MD Program: Required Books & Information Resources, Himmelfarb Library New Books, and Humanities & Health Collection. Please see our full list of special collections for access to these and other special collections.
Our physical collection is spread across the library’s four floors with most books shelved on the basement level. If you are unsure of an item’s location, a staff member at the circulation desk will assist you. The collection catalog is located on the homepage at himmelfarb.gwu.edu. The search box’s default setting is ‘Articles + Himmelfarb Catalog.’ and will display results within our collection. If you would like a more in-depth overview of the library search box, read Tips for Using Himmelfarb’s Library Search Box.
Himmelfarb has several interactive pieces of technology in its collection. There are two 3D printers in the library and faculty, students, and staff members are able to submit print job requests online. There is no charge for most print requests and pricing will be clearly communicated before printing begins. Our 3D Printing at Himmelfarb guide contains more information about the 3D printing program and explains Himmelfarb’s 3D printing policies.
The BodyViz virtual anatomy software suite located in Himmelfarb 305 is an interactive software that lets you examine and manipulate anatomical models. There are over 1,000 data sets loaded onto the BodyViz software. To reserve the BodyViz suite, please use the online reservation system. The library also has two Quest VR headsets available for checkout. Both headsets are loaded with the Medicalholodeck Medical Virtual Reality platform and may be used to explore anatomical models. To check out the VR headsets, visit the circulation desk.
There are multiple ways to contact a librarian if you need assistance. The Ask A Librarian service is available through our website. You may send an instant message to a member of the reference staff via the chat feature on our homepage or call the desk at (202) 994-2962. You may also send an email to himmelfarb@gwu.edu or stop by the circulation desk to speak with someone from the Himmelfarb team.
In addition to our electronic and physical media, the library maintains general and subject-specific research guides to help you complete your coursework or engage in the research process. Some guides that may be useful as you start your time at GWU are the AMA Citation Style, APA Citation Style, Borrow from Himmelfarb, Borrow from Other Libraries, Library Tutorials, and Study Design 101 guides. There are also subject-specific research guides that provide links to readings, tutorials, databases, journals, and other resources related to the specific health sciences subject. Visit our homepage or our dedicated Research Guides page to see the current list of research guides.
Study spaces are located on each floor of the library. Some spaces, such as the tables located on the first floor, are on a first-come, first-served basis. The study rooms on the basement, 2nd and 3rd levels must be reserved. If you are using a room without a reservation, you may be asked to move to honor a pre-existing reservation. To reserve a study room, visit our online reservation system. To learn about the quiet level zones in the library, please see our Studying at Himmelfarb? Know Our Zones article.
Follow Himmelfarb Library’s Facebook and Instagram accounts to learn more about future events or changes to our collection. We look forward to working with you during your time at the George Washington University.
Libraries have existed for many years, though ancient and medieval libraries operated differently than libraries today. Unfortunately, for many centuries, libraries were not accessible to everyone in society and only members of the elite classes (such as monarchs, religious leaders, or wealthy individuals) had the ability to use ancient libraries. The history of medical libraries is closely intertwined with the broader history of libraries. While many ancient civilizations created and archived medical texts, medical libraries as we know them today have only existed for a few centuries. To better understand the foundations of modern medical libraries, it is important to begin with the earliest foundations of all libraries.
Libraries in the Ancient World:
Professor Michael H. Harris wrote in History of Libraries in the Western World “Conceivably, it should be possible to decide just when and where the first library originated, but all we know is that at certain times and in certain locations early libraries existed.” (Harris, 1999, pg. 7) Many of the manuscripts that once existed in ancient libraries are no longer available. Historians know of these lost texts by references made in other works.
Despite the inconsistent access to primary sources, historians have been able to determine some characteristics of older libraries. For example, archeological and historical discoveries reveal that there were three common writing surfaces used in the ancient world: papyrus, parchment and the clay tablet. (Harris, 1999) . These texts were typically stored in jars or on open shelves. There was also a classification system so items could be easily retrieved, though these classification systems varied from location to location.
One of the earlier libraries was located in the Assyrian civilization. The library of King Assurbanipal consisted of over 30,000 tablets which covered a range of subjects, including medicine and medical procedures. “Several hundred of the tablets cover medical matters and give details of medical practices; others are on the borderline between medicine and magic arts.” (Birchette, 1973, pg. 302) Staff members helped run the library and the library was open to scholars within the kingdom. (Harris, 1999) There was also an organization system used in the library: “The clay tablets inside the rooms of Assurbanipal’s library were kept in earthen jars, and the jars in turn were kept in orderly rows on shelves. Each tablet bore an identification tag, indicating the jar, shelf and room of its location. On the walls of each room, beside the door, was a list of the works to be found in that room.” (Harris, 1999, pg. 19)
The library of Assurbanipal provides a glimpse of what libraries were like millennia ago. Similar institutions could be found in other civilizations in Egypt, Greece and Rome.
Medieval Libraries:
After the collapse of the western Roman Empire in 476 there was a decline in learning and a general societal stagnation in many parts of Europe. During this time, Middle Eastern civilizations flourished culturally and served as the center of learning. Scholars note that there are several reasons why medieval Muslim civilizations became a central hub for learning. Some of these reasons include the inexpensive cost of manuscript books, relatively high literacy rates among the upper and middle classes and the centrality of books to the Islamic faith. (Walbridge, 2016) Medical centers existed in cities like Salerno and Cordova and research shows that libraries at this time contained massive collections. “At their finest, Islamic libraries were large, well-organized institutions with specially built facilities for book storage and reading, professional staff, regular budgets and endowments, catalogs, and even lodging and stipends for visiting scholars.” (Walbridge, 2016, pg. 2)
While there was a lack of cultural growth in Europe during the early periods of the Middle Ages, the rise of Christian monasticism began in the 500s and the newly built monasteries continued the work of ancient libraries. The libraries in monasteries were much smaller in size and scope than libraries in the Islamic or ancient worlds. Not only were monasteries places where people could study and reflect on religious texts in seclusion, but they also served as places to care for the sick. “The monastery of Monte Cassino in Italy, founded in 529 by St. Benedict, was one of the first monasteries to assume the responsibility for nursing the sick.” (Birchette, 1973, pg. 304) Additionally, Cassiodorus, an influential figure in the monastic tradition, “felt it was very important that a Christian should study the medical practices of the past in order to prepare himself for the care of the sick. As a result of his feelings toward medical knowledge, Cassiodorus began to collect for the use of the monks all available medical and philosophical manuscripts both in his monastery and at Monte Cassino.” (Birchette, 1973, pg. 305)
During the medieval period, religions heavily influenced libraries and the curation of their collections. While medical texts were present in both Islamic libraries and Christian monasteries, these texts existed within larger general collections. With the rise of universities and a renewed interest in education and learning, there was a gradual shift in the organization of libraries and soon medical texts would exist in their own collections.
The University Library:
Universities began to emerge in the Western World around the 12th century and with the rise of these institutions, libraries once again began to change to fit the needs of these new crop of scholars. Many early universities did not have the funds to establish a central library. As such instructors frequently opened up their private collections to their students. Alternatively, students would keep books in a communal area and money would be collected for the purchase of new books.
Two documented instances of medical libraries were the libraries located at the University of Florence and the University of Paris. (Birchette, 1973) As with all other university libraries, the development of medical libraries was slow for many years. “Not until printed books became common did the library book stocks reach into the thousands.” (Harris, 1999, pg. 79) Private book collections were a common practice for those who could afford to frequently purchase books and these private collections sometimes became the foundations for many early university libraries.
When European countries began to colonize the Americas, colonial figures brought over their private collections. John Winthrop who lived in the Massachusetts Bay Colony is credited with one of the earliest medical collections in the United States. In 1812, his collection went to the New York Hospital, before eventually moving to the New York Academy of Medicine. The Pennsylvania Hospital Library is the oldest medical library in the United States and by 1856, its collection contained over 10,000 volumes. (Birchette, 1973) In the 1800s, more medical libraries were established in the United States and near the end of the century, there were an estimated 120 medical libraries in the country. (Birchette, 1973)
Modern Libraries:
After 1850, the growth of libraries in the United States increased significantly. “Using economic terms, the “take off” in the development of American libraries can be said to have occurred between 1850 and 1900, and by the latter date most of the library forms known to modern librarians were firmly established and their patterns of development clearly visible.” (Harris, 1999, pg. 165) From 1850 onward, there was an intentional and systematic development of libraries in the United States and other parts of the Western world. These libraries soon became the institutions we are familiar with today.
In 1898, the Association of Medical Librarians (now known as the Medical Library Association) was founded by four librarians and four physicians. The purpose of this association “was the fostering of medical libraries and the maintenance of an exchange of medical literature among its members.” (Medical Library Association, 2023) Several years earlier, in 1836 the Library of the Office of the Surgeon General of the Army was established and in 1956, Congress voted to rename this the National Library of Medicine.
In the 1900s, special department or college libraries were established as many university libraries became too large to effectively maintain. Libraries in hospitals also grew during this time. Hospital libraries served both health sciences professionals and their patients, providing technical, medical texts and consumer health resources. Special libraries such as medical school and hospital libraries are typically smaller than public or general university libraries. But the subject specificity of these libraries are greatly valued by fields like the health sciences. Harris noted that special libraries “can often experiment with new ideas, new methods, new technologies, and new services more easily than the older, larger, and more standardized libraries.” (Harris, 1999, pg. 189) Examples of this include the National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database or the consumer health website, MedlinePlus.
The development of libraries has a long history and at different points, certain groups worked to preserve literature, culture and share that information with the select elite. While this history spans multiple countries and points in time, it is important to note the limitations of this Western perspective. The history of libraries focuses primarily on Western Europe and the Americas after colonization. Thus this history is only a sliver of the larger story of libraries in the world.
Himmelfarb Library has an extensive collection of online books, journal articles, and multimedia materials. These resources can be accessed from both on- and off-campus locations. To ensure consistent access to e-resources from off-campus locations, a durable link may be required. Durable links provide consistent access to electronic journals, articles, books and other materials by ensuring that GW users are recognized and can access library collections. If you are a faculty member preparing for the start of a new semester, Himmelfarb Library’s Durable Link Service can assist you with embedding durable links into your syllabus and other course materials which will provide your students with reliable access to course materials.
Durable links are URLs that directly connect users with Himmelfarb Library’s electronic resources. These links are reliable and allow faculty members to share resources with students and avoid copyright violations.
There are four ways to create durable links:
Attach a proxy prefix
Use a permalink
Link by PMID, DOI, ISBN or ISSN
Link to databases
You can attach a proxy prefix to a resource’s URL which will route the link through GW’s systems and authenticate users as needed. Himmelfarb’s proxy prefix quick tool will automatically generate a link with the required proxy prefix. The tool also allows you to test the link prior to adding it to your syllabus or Blackboard course so you are confident that the URL works.
Himmelfarb’s catalog records have an option to create a permalink for a resource. Search for the resource in the catalog and select the ‘Permalink’ button under ‘Send to.’
This option will direct your students to the resource in the catalog where they can open the item’s full text. Databases such as EBSCO, Ovid and Proquest also have ‘Permalink’ features that can be given to students.
Last, you may link directly to databases. Visit the A-Z List: Databases page, search for the specific database and click the connected dots symbol to the right. A small window will open with a durable link which will connect users to the database’s homepage.
If you have questions about durable links or if you would like assistance with creating links, Himmelfarb Library is here to help! Our Linking to Electronic Resources: Creating Durable Links guide provides examples and additional information about durable links. Additionally, library staff members will check for broken links, generate new links and embed them onto your syllabus or Blackboard course. Send your syllabus or question to himmelfarb@gwu.edu and a staff member will provide more information.
