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.
Himmelfarb Library offers two methods of off-campus access for our electronic collections. Both methods require a GW NetID and password. Users can use either method - or both - depending on their needs and location. VPN is software, Cisco AnyConnect, which can be downloaded from GW and installed on your personal computer. The VPM works well if you are working from your own computer, or from a work computer which you use regularly.
You can login to the Cisco AnyConnect VPN (go.vpn.gwu.edu) using the first part of your GW NetID (everything before the @) and password. The Cisco AnyConnect VPN will make your computer function as though you're working from the library so you won't be prompted to enter additional login/password information when you access Himmelfarb's databases, e-journals, and e-books.
As an alternative to the VPN, Himmelfarb's web-based login works well if you're accessing Himmelfarb's online collections from a computer where you can't install or run the VPN. For example, users accessing Himmelfarb Library from clinical locations or from computers which they do not use regularly will find the web-based login useful. Himmelfarb's web-based login will prompt you to login just as you login to your GW email - i.e. by entering your full NetID (netid@gwu.edu or netid@gwmail.gwu.edu) and password and completing two-step authentication.
You will be prompted to login using your GW NetID and password for the first Himmelfarb resource that you access, but the browser will 'remember' your information after that so you won't need to enter your login/password repeatedly.
Some users who access Himmelfarb's online resources from other institutions (e.g. Children's National, GW Medical Faculty Associates, etc.) have reported issues with the web-based login. The issue seems to be that GW's system automatically picks up your other institution's login and does not give you the opportunity to enter your @gwu.edu address and password. We've developed two methods to get around this issue:
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 well if you are working from a computer that you use regularly as you can remain logged in.
Open an 'incognito' browser window. This option works well if you are working from a computer that is shared with other users.
If you run into login issues, please ask a librarian! We can help you login and troubleshoot any issues that you enter. We are here to help!
Himmelfarb Library provides access to online resources to George Washington University Hospital staff! GW Hospital users will be automatically routed to Himmelfarb Library's customized page for hospital users which provides direct access to key clinical resources including DynaMed, Lexicomp, ClinicalKey, and ClinicalKey for Nursing! Hospital users can access these resources while on-site at the GW Hospital.
In addition to the clinical tools available to GW Hospital users, Himmelfarb Library is pleased to provide access to a core collection of e-books and e-journals. From the library webpage for GW Hospital, users can access popular titles like New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, BMJ, etc. Users can also use the links to Hospital e-Journals and Hospital eBooks to explore additional titles available to GW Hospital users.
Himmelfarb users who are affiliated with GW as residents, students, faculty or staff are also able to 'switch' to the library's default webpage to access our complete collections. After switching to the default webpage, users will be prompted to login using their GW NetID and password in order to access Himmelfarb's complete collections.
Questions? Please ask a librarian! Himmelfarb Library's reference team can be reached via instant message, phone and email!
Welcome and welcome back to all of our students, faculty and staff! We are excited to meet students who are on-campus for the first time, as well as see some familiar faces. It is so great to have all of you here with us at GW!
Regardless of whether you are new to campus or returning, we wanted to provide information about navigating Himmelfarb Library onsite. Perhaps you've been wondering....where are printers located at Himmelfarb? Are there study rooms available to use? How do I find Room B103? For those of you who don’t know all of Himmelfarb’s nooks and crannies, we offer you a guide to navigating the library. Read on...
Library hours
Visit the Himmelfarb Library website for our current hours of operation. Our daily hours are always posted and updated on the Himmelfarb Library website. Presently we are open:
Mondays - Thursdays: 8am - 10pm
Fridays: 8am - 6pm
Saturdays: 12pm - 8pm
Sundays: 12pm - 10pm
We plan to return to 24/7 hours of operation in September.
Getting in and out
Entry gate
The entry gate is located just beyond the library lobby. A current GWorld card is required in order to get in.
Exit gate
The exit gate is to the right of the entry gate as you are leaving.
The exit gate opens automatically as you approach it.
No need to use your GWorld card when leaving Himmelfarb.
Getting around
Library floors and room numbers
Himmelfarb Library has four floors:
Room numbers starting with 1 (for instance, Room 107), are located on our 1st floor.
Room numbers starting with 2 (for instance, Room 202), are located on our 2nd floor.
Room numbers starting with 3 (for instance, Room 305H), are located on our 3rd floor.
Room numbers starting with B1 (for instance, Room B103), are located on the B1 level (one level down from the first floor).
Stairwells and elevator
Himmelfarb has two stairwells, one on the library’s courtyard side (west) and one of the 23rd St. side (east)
Staff at the Circulation Desk (located just beyond the entry gate on the right) can direct you to either.
Only the courtyard-side stairwell takes you to the B1 level.
Himmelfarb has one elevator, located to the right of the courtyard stairwell.
It goes to all floors.
Places to study
Study rooms to reserve
We have small rooms that you may reserve for individual or group study on our 2nd and 3rd floors. Please make a room reservation (for up to four hours) prior to occupying the room.
Book and AV item locations
Books available for 3-week loan are housed on the B1 level. Reference books (in-house use only) are located on the 1st floor next to the Reference Desk. A smaller Reference collection is housed at the Bloedorn Technology Center on the 3rd floor. DVDs and audio CDs available for 3-week loan are also kept at the Bloedorn Technology Center.
Service desks
Circulation Desk
The Circulation Desk is located ahead to the right as you pass through the library’s security gate. The Desk is staffed during all open hours. Here, you can check out everything from books to iPhone/iPad chargers to dry-erase markers and erasers to use in our study rooms. This is also where you can check out items on reserve. Circulation’s phone number is (202) 994-2962, and their email address is mlbcir@gwu.edu.
Reference Desk
Himmelfarb’s Reference Desk is staffed Monday - Thursday from 8:30am - 8pm, and Friday from 8:30am - 5pm. You can reach a Reference Librarian via text, email, or chat. Or you can stop by the Reference Desk (located next to the Circulation Desk) to speak in-person with a Reference Librarian. Reference’s phone number is (202) 994-2850. They can help you with literature searches, citation resources, and much more!
IT Help Desk
The School of Medicine’s IT department is conveniently located at the Bloedorn Technology Center on Himmelfarb’s 3rd floor. IT offers assistance weekdays from 8am - 5pm, and they welcome walk-up questions. You may also call them at (202) 994-9400, or email them at casshelp@gwu.edu.
Technology
Computer workstations
Computers are available for use on the 1st and 3rd floors, as well as on the B1 level in Classroom B103 (depending on room availability). Just log in with your NetID and password.
Computer labs
Our largest computer lab is in Room B103 (on the B1 level). It is available to use except when reserved by departments for classes and exams. Our other computer lab is the Women’s Board Teaching Classroom (WBTC), located in the Bloedorn Technology Center on the 3rd floor. It is also free to use as long as a class or exam has not been scheduled.
Printing
Public printing is available on the 1st and 3rd floors of Himmelfarb. Three WEPA printing stations are located directly across from the Circulation Desk. An additional WEPA printer is located at the Bloedorn Technology Center’s middle computer lab. GW’s Colonial Printing website tells you how to print from various devices, and lists the cost of printing as well as how to pay.
Scanning
Flatbed scanners are available to library users on the 1st and 3rd floors. The 1st-floor scanner is located near the Circulation Desk. Scanners on the 3rd floor are located in the Bloedorn Technology Center.
Free writing consultations
GW Writing Center
The GW Writing Center offers one-on-one consultations for all types of writing assignments. Their main location is at the Gelman Library (Suite 221 on the entrance floor). The Center offers face-to-face appointments at Gelman throughout the week (hours listed below). Zoom appointments are also available, which is useful for those living off campus.
The Writing Center’s hours of operation are:
Monday - Thursday: 9am - 9pm
Friday: 9am - 3pm
Sunday, 5pm - 10pm
Visit WCOnline to schedule appointments. Once registered, you can sign up for up to three appointments per week, up to two weeks in advance.
If you are working on a long-term project, take advantage of the Writing Center’s Long-Term Project Program. This program allows you to partner with a single consultant on a major project for up to a full semester.
Restrooms
Restrooms for men and women are located on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors of the library in the southeast corner (23rd Street side of building). A restroom for women is also located on the library’s B1 Level, as well as a Lactation Room. Ross Hall offers a nearby gender-inclusive restroom, located next to Room 101.
Restroom foot pull door openers
All restroom doors are equipped with no-touch foot-operated door openers.
Hand sanitizing stations
Two hand sanitizer dispensers are currently located at Himmelfarb Library: one in the library lobby and the other near the first floor, courtyard-side stairwell.
Himmelfarb Library provides access to more than 125 databases, 6,400 e-books, and 4,800 journals - all of which are available electronically through Himmelfarb’s website. We understand that finding and accessing the full-text to this content can sometimes feel overwhelming. But have no fear, this post will point you to some tools that can help streamline accessing full-text content.
LibKey Nomad & Browzine
LibKey Nomad works with multiple resources including PubMed, publisher sites, Scopus, Web of Science and others to immediately deliver a full-text PDF when available. If a full-text PDF is not available, LibKey Nomad will provide you with Himmelfarb full-text and document delivery options.
To use LibKey Nomad, download LibKey Nomad from the Chrome Web Store page. If you prefer a different browser, you can download the extension for Firefox or Edge. (A Safari extension is current being developed, but is not yet available). After installing the browser extension, choose “George Washington University - Himmelfarb Library” as your institution, and you’re all set!
LibKey Nomad streamlines the process of getting full-text articles by making it possible to get the articles directly from the publisher’s website. Once you have the LibKey Nomad browser extension installed, you no longer need to go to Himmelfarb’s website, log-in, search our collections, and be linked to full-text content. LibKey Nomad integrates full-text access directly from where you find the article! If you have questions about using LibKey Nomad, contact Laura Abate (leabate@gwu.edu).
Browzine is another resource that can help you access full-text content. Browzine enables you to build a bookshelf of your favorite journals from Himmelfarb Library’s holdings. Users are alerted when new articles and issues are available, and read and save full-text content. To download the Browzine app, head over to the Himmelfarb App Shelf.
GW VPN
If you prefer to access content by going directly through Himmelfarb’s website, you can still access full-text content directly through our website quickly and easily. We strongly recommend connecting through the GW VPN if you are accessing our resources from off-campus. Using the VPN allows your computer to function as though it is on the GW campus, and therefore ensures seamless, integrated access to all of Himmelfarb’s electronic resources without additional logins.
You need to have a GW NetID in order to use the VPN. If you have not already done so, you can obtain your GW NetID from the GW Help Desk Account Center. Instructions for downloading the GW VPN can be found on Himmelfarb’s Off-Campus Access page.
Himmelfarb Website Access
When accessing full-text content directly from Himmelfarb’s website, you can search our catalog using the search box on our homepage, search our databases, or go directly to an individual journal. When searching our catalog, you will be able to tell if the full-text of the item is available online by looking for the “Available Online” link shown in the screenshot below.
If the item is a book, clicking on this link will open the book and you can locate the chapter or section of the book you would like to read from there. For journal articles, you may see several access options including a “Download PDF” link and a “View Issue Contents” link if you are using LibKey Nomad, and an “Available Online” link (see screenshot below).
If you have the LibKey Nomad browser extension installed, clicking on the “Download PDF” link will open a PDF copy of the full-text of the article that you can read or download to your device. Clicking on the “Available Online” option will open the catalog record and you will see the available options for viewing this article, as seen in the screenshot below.
Simply click on the option you wish to view, and the full-text of the article will open. Clicking on the “Elsevier ScienceDirect Journals” link from the above example, brought up the following page:
From here, click on the “View PDF” button in the top left corner of the page to download the full-text PDF, or scroll down the page to view the full-text of the article on your web browser. It’s important to note that each publisher may place their PDF download link in a different location on their pages, so you may need to scan the page to find this option depending on the publisher.
For books, we often have access to both a physical copy and an electronic copy of the book. In these cases, you will see that the item is available in Himmelfarb’s book stacks (located in the basement level) with a call number that will help you locate the item on the shelf, as well the “Available Online” link mentioned above. To access the full-text online, simply click the “Available Online” link.
Locating and finding full-text access to Himmelfarb’s electronic resources is seamless and easy with tools like LibKey Nomad, the GW VPN, and the Himmelfarb website! Should you experience any problems accessing our resources, refer to our Access Issues guide that provides some troubleshooting tips that provide solutions for some of the most common access problems. You can also reach out to us at himmsubs@gwu.edu for help.
Welcome and welcome back to all of our medical students! We especially want to extend a warm welcome to our second years, as you are finally stepping foot on campus after a difficult year. It is so great to have all of you here with us at GW!
Regardless of whether you are a new or returning student, we want to help you get started by introducing some of the resources we have available at Himmelfarb Library. For an overview, check out our Himmelfarb At-A-Glance Guide.
On-Site Access
Himmelfarb recently expanded our on-site access protocols. All medical students are welcome in the library! You must have a valid GWorld card and have uploaded your proof of vaccination to GW’s Vaccine Portal. Our study rooms are available as well. You must make a reservation in advance via our Study Room Reservation system. You can find policies and requirements on our Study Room Reservation Guide. Finally, masks are again required in Ross Hall and Himmelfarb Library unless you're studying alone in a private study room.
MS Research Guides
We have Research Guides containing all sorts of information and resources available for our MS1s and MS2s, MS3 Clerkships, and MS4 Clerkships. These Research Guides include links to required texts, study tools for Steps 1 and 2, and information on accessing the electronic health record (EHR) systems. If you have questions about your iPad, you can find instructions on setup and maintenance on our iPads for Medical Students Guide.
Research Help Made Easy
Getting research help is easy! Our reference librarians are available to answer your questions in-person or remotely. Use ourAsk a Librarian service right from your computer and you’ll be connected directly to our reference and research staff. If you’re in Himmelfarb Library, please stop by the library’s help desk on the first floor!
Himmelfarb’s Resources are Available from Anywhere
Himmelfarb’s 100+databases, 4,800+journals, and 6,400+ebooks are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere! Install theLibKey Nomad Google Chrome browser extension for seamless access to full-text articles available through Himmelfarb. After installing the extension, choose ‘George Washington University - Himmelfarb Library’ as your institution, and you’ll be ready to quickly download full-text articles! When accessing our resources remotely, we recommend using the GW VPN. For directions on how to install the GW VPN, visit Himmelfarb’soff-campus access page.
Get to Know Us
Learn more about Himmelfarb and our resources by visiting ourtutorials page. You can also check out ourresearch guides on a wide variety of topics. We are also active on social media, so be sure to connect with us onTwitter,Instagram,Facebook, andYouTube to get the most updated information about all things Himmelfarb!
We’re looking forward to working with you during your time at GW!
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!
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.
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.
Open the web browser selected for Himmelfarb/GW, then clear the browser's history and cookies.
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.
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.
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
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!
After over a year of social distancing and virtual learning, we’re excited to see students, faculty and staff return to GWU's campus for in-person instruction! The university is committed to maintaining a safe environment for everyone and has released updated guidelines and requirements for in person instruction during the fall semester. As part of these new guidelines, the university has implemented a COVID-19 vaccination policy:
All students, faculty and staff members who wish to access any building on GW’s campus must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Once you’ve received your full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, you must update the university by uploading your vaccination card onto the medical portal. A link to the medical portal is located here.
To upload your vaccination record to the portal, follow these short instructions:
Log onto the portal, enter your date of birth and you’ll be directed to the home page
On the left side menu, click ‘Medical Clearances’
Once you’ve reached the ‘Medical Clearances’ page, scroll until you see ‘Add COVID Vaccine Record’
Press ‘Update’ and upload a copy of your vaccination record
Note: Please upload the file as a JPEG. PDFs will not be accepted
Once you’re ready to upload, click the ‘Done’ button and your record is now in the portal!
The vaccination record must be uploaded by August 1st in order to receive clearance to access any GW buildings.
