On Monday, May 20, 2024, Himmelfarb Library, in partnership with GW Libraries and Academic Innovation (GW LAI), will change the underlying system that provides access to our online collections including our ebooks, databases, and journals. This change will be seamless for most users as the new system (OpenAthens) uses the same GW Single Sign-On login method used by our current system (EZproxy).
Changes you can expect to see when accessing Himmelfarb’s e-resources include:
When accessing a subscription resource through the library, you may be prompted to log in with your GW UserID and password, even if you are on campus or connected to the VPN.
If you’ve recently logged in to another resource via GW’s Single Sign On, you may be able to access resources without logging in again.
Many publishers offer direct OpenAthens login from their resources by providing an interface that allows users to choose their institution and select a Single Sign On option for access (for example: JAMA’s OpenAthens access)
For GW faculty, instructional designers, and staff who maintain links to course materials in Blackboard and other course management systems, links that use the older EZproxy system will need to be updated. However, additional time is available to make this transition.
Here are some key points to know:
EZproxy links continue to work and users will be forwarded directly to the linked resource.
Link forwarding will remain in place for one year to allow for time to update links to OpenAthens.
Most Blackboard links will be updated automatically via a GW LAI project.
Links embedded in PDF documents will need to be updated manually.
Himmelfarb Library provides the BrowZine journal reader to library users to help keep current and make browsing journal contents online easy. We are pleased to see an uptick in usage of BrowZine by library users this past year!
When searching Health Information @ Himmelfarb, the library catalog, you may have seen and used the links to View Issue Contents in catalog records:
These links direct users to BrowZine to view journal tables of contents and download full-text when available.
Library users can set up a BrowZine account and follow journals of interest to them by putting them on a BrowZine bookshelf. Whenever a new issue is published for a bookshelf journal, an email notifying of the new content is sent.
In case you have not heard, GW’s Cisco AnyConnect VPN will be retiring on August 8th. The university is transitioning to Palo Alto GlobalProtect. To access the new VPN from off-campus locations, you will need to download, install, and configure the Palo Alto GlobalProtect Client.
Depending on which device you have, you can set up the GlobalProtect Client by following the steps below.
GW Managed Windows and macOS Devices
For GW Managed Devices, use Software Center on Windows or Self Service on macOS to install the Palo Alto GlobalProtect client.
Within the Software Center or Self-Service, browse or search for GlobalProtect to install.
GW Managed or Personal iOS and Android Devices
For iOS (including iPads) and Android devices, the GlobalProtect Client is also available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Personal Windows and macOS Devices
For personal devices, please follow these instructions:
Download the GlobalProtect VPN Client for your device from the GW IT Software website.
Locate the downloaded files and open/run the installer to begin the installation.
Follow the steps in the installation wizard to complete the installation.
For macOS 10.15.4 and Later: Select both the GlobalProtect and GlobalProtect System extensions options during installation.
GlobalProtect Portal Address: gwvpn.gwu.edu
go.gwu.edu/downloadvpn
Note: Installation of the GlobalProtect VPN Client will briefly interrupt your Internet connection. If you experience issues accessing the VPN, please report them via the VPN form.
Once installed, In the GlobalProtect Client menu, ensure the portal address, gwvpn.gwu.edu, is present. This should be pre-populated for GW Managed device installations.
Click Connect and follow the prompts to sign in using your UserID credentials for single sign-on (SSO) with two-step authentication.
After successful sign-in, the GlobalProtect Client will show a successful connection.
If you have any questions or need assistance, contact the GW IT department at ithelp@gwu.edu or 202-994-GWIT (4948).
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.
We’d like to welcome everyone joining the SMHS, GW Nursing and GWSPH communities this month! Himmelfarb Library has a wealth of resources and services to meet your patient care, education, and research needs and you don’t need to visit the building to take advantage of most of what we offer. Our electronic collections are available 24/7 from anywhere, on campus or off campus when using VPN or web authentication services.
Himmelfarb Resources and Collections
Himmelfarb has 125 databases to search, including PubMed, Scopus, and our library discovery service Health Information @ Himmelfarb. Health Information @ Himmelfarb enables users to search physical and electronic books, journals, articles, dissertations, and more from one search box.
To browse and access our collection of e-journals we recommend using BrowZine. BrowZine can be accessed on a browser or you can download the app to your IOS or Android device. You can assemble a personalized bookshelf of journal titles, follow your favorite journals, and be alerted to new issues with a table of contents.
We also recommend installing LibKey Nomad on your favorite browser for easy access to full-text when searching PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO databases, Google Scholar, Amazon, publisher sites, and more. Nomad will alert you to the full-text availability of articles and e-books from Himmelfarb and in many cases deliver a PDF with one click.
If we don’t have what you need, we can get it for you through the Consortium Loan Service or Documents2Go. Consortium Loan Service provides free loans of materials from most of the academic libraries in the DC metro area. Documents2Go provides scanned article and chapter copies or physical book loans with up to 30 free requests for Himmelfarb users a year.
Clinical Tools and Applications
For those providing patient care, Himmelfarb has specialized apps and information services to support you. DynaMed, Lexicomp, and others are available to be downloaded as apps for easy access from your device. Check our App Shelf to browse for tools.
For residents specifically, we offer NEJM Resident 360. This resource contains interactive cases, videos, rotation prep materials, clinical pearls, morning reports, and more! To learn more about NEJM Resident 360 and our many resources for residents, check out our Residents and Fellows Research Guide.
For most of the academic year, the Himmelfarb Library facility is open 24/7. We will be observing shorter hours during the month of July - but will still be open nightly until midnight. Note that from June 12 to July 26, 2023 entry to both Himmelfarb Library and Ross Hall will be through the Himmelfarb courtyard entrance doors from 7pm to 7am Monday through Friday and on weekends. You need your GWorld badge to enter the library. There is space for quiet conversation and group work on the first floor and quieter spaces for study on the second floor. Reserve our study rooms in advance.
Can’t come to the library? Our librarians can assist you via chat or phone (202-994-2850) during business hours or email us anytime at himmelfarb@gwu.edu. We look forward to seeing you in the library or assisting you remotely!
Update: Access has been restored as of 1:30 pm. You should be able to access Himmelfarb databases from off-campus through the usual browser-based login.
Due to a networking outage, users are currently unable to access Himmelfarb's e-resources from off-campus via web login. Please connect to the GW VPN to access our resources from off-campus. We apologize for any inconvenience.
November 13-19, 2022 is National Nurse Practitioner Week! Himmelfarb Library is proud to support our nurse practitioner (NP) students and faculty by providing a glance at our top NP e-books!
Aesthetic Procedures: Nurse Practitioner’s Guide to Cosmetic Dermatology: This textbook offers guidance to both experienced and novice aesthetic NPs. It reviews skin structure and anatomy, facial structure aging, the effects of aging and environmental exposures, pharmacology of aesthetic medications, benefits of treatments, and more. This is a one-stop resource for in-depth learning about cosmetic dermatology!
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review: This is a must-have resource if you are studying for the adult-gerontology primary care NP certification exam (AGNP exam). This concise, well-organized text includes updated information, review questions at the end of each chapter, full-color images, and four practice tests with hundreds of practice questions and rationales (800 questions in total). Get test-ready with targeted “need-to-know” details about diseases and classic presentations you’ll see in patients across the lifespan.
Family Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review: This text synthesizes the complex knowledge you’ll need to pass the ANCC and AANPCB certification exams. New test-format questions that include photos of skin and eye conditions and EKGs are included alongside drag-and-drop and multiple-choice questions. Non-clinical topics that are part of the exam are also covered including research, ethics, legal issues, advanced practice law, health practices of various cultures, and reimbursement guidelines. More than 700 practice questions are included to help you prepare!
Nurse Practitioner’s Business and Legal Guide: This book explains and analyzes legal issues for relevant nurse practitioners. This edition includes documentation requirements for avoiding malpractice, new case studies on risk management, current state laws, regulatory developments and prosecutions of NPs, and case analyses and lessons from these cases. Additional topics covered include medical bio-ethics terminology, malpractice cases, emerging health policy issues, opioid and controlled drugs prescribing guidelines, clinical performance measures, and much more!
Guidelines for Nurse Practitioners in Ambulatory Obstetric Settings: This clinical reference is a comprehensive source for current, evidence-based guidelines for NPs. This text covers clinical topics and practice standards relevant to preconception, prenatal, and postpartum nursing care. Each topic is broken down by definition, etiology, history, physical exam, lab exam, differential diagnosis, treatment, complications, consultation/referral, and follow-up.
The Doctor of Nursing Practice Project: A Framework for Success: This book provides a road map for DNP students to complete their DNP project effectively and efficiently. This text outlines how the project has been used to prepare clinical scholars for practice. This edition includes a newly added chapter on health policy that highlights DNP core competencies used in advocating for healthcare policy change.
In addition to these high-use titles, Himmelfarb also has a Nurse Practitioners Guide that links to core research databases such as CINAHL Complete, ClinicalKey for Nursing, PubMed, and Scopus to help you research and find full-text resources. This research guide can also help our NP students and faculty identify resources relevant to physical examination, diagnosis, drug information, professional organizations, and evidence-based practice. The textbooks tab provides links to all required textbooks and includes links to additional recommended textbooks.
Accessing these e-books from anywhere is easy! Check out our Off-Campus Access Guide for tips and instructions on how to access these books from off-campus. And remember - our reference staff is always available to help answer your questions about research or access to our resources!
Whether you’re a new Himmelfarb Library user, or have been using the library for years, chances are there are things you don’t know about us. We’d like to take this opportunity to help you get to know us, or get reacquainted with us and all that we have to offer!
Getting Help is Easy! Just Ask Us!
Whether you need help finding a specific full-text article, identifying a resource for your research, formatting a citation, or have a more in-depth question about conducting a literature review, a systematic review or managing your data, our reference librarians have the knowledge and know-how to help! Stop by our reference desk, chat with us using the “Ask Us” button on our website, call us (202-994-2850), email us (himmelfarb@gwu.edu), or text us (202-601-3525) for help. We look forward to answering your questions, large or small!
Our Collections
Himmelfarb has extensive collections that include 125+ databases, 6,700+ ebooks, and 6,500+ electronic journals that are available 24/7 from on and off-campus! We also have thousands of print books in our basement level stacks that are available for check out. Most books can be borrowed for three weeks. But don’t worry - if you need more time, you can renew most items twice by stopping by or calling our Circulation Desk (202-994-2962), or logging into your library account.
Remember that masking is still required in the library in accordance with GW’s current mask protocols. Please wear a mask while spending time in Himmelfarb for your own safety, and for the safety of those around you. Hand sanitizer is also available throughout Himmelfarb.
Himmelfarb Tour
Take a quick virtual tour of Himmelfarb to help you get acquainted with our space!
Study Rooms & IT Support
We have plenty of study rooms available on our second and third floors. Study rooms must be reserved and can be booked up to seven days in advance. The SMHS Technology Support Center is located on the third floor in the Bloedorn AV Study Center for all of your IT support needs.
Technology Resources
Himmelfarb’s Bloedorn Technology Center, located on our third floor, offers statistical software, including SPSS, Stata, SAS, NVivo, MATLAB, and Atlas.ti on select computers. We also have equipment such as digital camcorders and digital voice recorders for loan to support curricular development and activities, but these items must be reserved in advance.
All of Himmelfarb’s electronic resources are available 24/7 from anywhere! Just login with your GW UserID and password, or via the GW VPN. If you have trouble accessing any of our resources, reach out to us (himmelfarb@gwu.edu) so we can help troubleshoot, resolve issues and restore access as soon as possible.
Services and Support
Instruction:
We have services to help faculty and instructors use and connect Himmelfarb’s resources in the classroom. Our Durable Links Service will check, fix, or create new links to our resources that work from both on and off campus so your students will be able to access materials from anywhere. Our Course Reserves service provides access to electronic, print, and streaming course materials. Do you use a book in a course that Himmelfarb doesn’t currently own? Contact Acquisitions Librarian, Ian Roberts, and we will consider purchasing items for use in your courses.
Research Support:
Whether you are a faculty member, researcher, or student, Himmelfarb can help you be successful in your research! Are you working on your Culminating Experience project? Himmelfarb librarians provide individual consultations to help get your project started - and keep it going.
Are you working on a systematic review and could use some support? Check out our Systematic Reviews Guide for in-depth information on the process. Himmelfarb also provides access to Covidence, an online tool that streamlines parts of the systematic review process such as screening references, and creating and populating data extraction forms. You can also use our Systematic Review Service for additional librarian support!
Check out our tutorials for help with navigating databases, using specific software such as ArcGix, MATLAB, RefWorks, SPSS, or Camtasia, and for help with a wide array of research topics. Our Resources for Early Career Researchers Guide can help new researchers understand and navigate the research and publishing landscape. Check out our Scholarly Publishing Guide for information and resources related to publishing, researcher profiles, author rights, and measuring the impact of your research. Scholarly communications webinars and short tutorials are also available on this guide!
Himmelfarb Library Can Help!
Whether you are a student, faculty, or staff member, Himmelfarb Library has the resources and knowledge to help make your studies and research successful. From study space, extensive collections of resources, to expertise in systematic reviews and publishing, we have something for everyone!
From all of us here at Himmelfarb Library, we’d like to welcome all new residents, fellows, physician assistants, and students! We are excited that you’re here and we look forward to serving you during this phase of your medical or health sciences training. We know the beginning of any journey can be daunting, so we’d like to make it easier for you to familiarize yourself with Himmelfarb Library and help you get to know us a bit.
To help you get your bearings, here’s a short, video tour of the library.
Resources for Residents & Fellows:
Himmelfarb has numerous resources to help new residents and fellows navigate this new stage of your training. Our Residents and Fellows Guide is filled with helpful information about how to access Himmelfarb’s resources from the GW Hospital and other off-campus locations. Links to our most popular clinical resources including DynaMed, ClinicalKey, Lexicomp, and PubMed are also available in this guide. The guide also provides links to specific program resources, so you can easily find resources geared towards your specialization.
NEJM Resident 360 is available! Start by creating your free personal account using your GW email address (GWemail@gwu.edu). After creating your account, access the resource through the library or directly through NEJM Resident 360. This resource contains interactive cases, videos, rotation prep materials, clinical pearls, morning reports, and more!
Do you want to use our resources from your mobile device? Check out our App Shelf to download apps to selected resources and make Himmelfarb’s resources even more easily accessible. To learn more about GW University and GW Hospital wireless access, accessing your GW email, and GW Hospital clinical systems, visit the Wireless and Clinical Systems Guide.
Himmelfarb Resources Available 24/7 from Anywhere!
Himmelfarb’s 125+ databases, 6,500+ journals, and 6,700+ ebooks are available 24/7 from anywhere! For seamless access to full-text articles available from our collection, install the LibKey Nomad browser extension. Use the Read by QxMD app and website to keep up with published research in your specialty. When accessing our resources remotely, we encourage you to use the GW VPN. You can find directions on how to install the VPN on our off-campus access page. If you need help troubleshooting an access issue, don’t hesitate to reach out to us (himmsubs@gwu.edu).
Need Research Help?
Getting help with your research is a breeze at Himmelfarb! Our knowledgeable reference librarians are available to help answer your questions both in person at our reference desk or remotely. Our Ask a Librarian service connects you directly with our reference and research staff! Need help with a systematic review? Consider using our Systematic Review Service for help developing a search strategy, finding relevant articles, and organizing your search results.
Tutorials, Guides, and More!
As you get settled into this new chapter of your medicine and health sciences journey, don’t forget that Himmelfarb has more to offer than just databases, journals, and books. We have a wealth of research guides that can connect you with resources on a variety of topics. Do you need help navigating the publishing landscape? Check out our Early Career Researchers, Scholarly Publishing, Predatory Publishing, and Measuring Scholarly Impact guides and our Scholarly Communications webinars and short tutorials. We also have a large selection of tutorials on a wide range of topics.
