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Sign with text that says "Welcome Back!" Star, smiley face, and heart icons.
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

We hope you had a restful and relaxing Winter Break! We’ve enjoyed having so many of you in the library again during the first week of Spring Semester classes! It’s always fun to feel the buzz of excitement in the library at the start of a new semester! 

We’d like to take a minute to remind you that Himmelfarb Library is here to support you as you pursue your goals this term, so let’s review some ways Himmelfarb can help you make the most of the Spring Semester.

Library Hours 

Himmelfarb’s regular operating hours are:

Himmelfarb LibraryReference ServicesConsultation
Monday - Friday6:00 am - Midnight8:00 am - 8:00 pm8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday8:00 am - MidnightNot staffedNot staffed
Sunday8:00 am - Midnight4:00 pm - 8:00 pmNot staffed

Visit our Hours page to view any exceptions to our normal hours, such as holiday closures. 

Study Zones

Himmelfarb is also a great place to study with numerous options to meet your needs and preferences. 

  • Social Zone - 1st Floor: Our first floor is not quiet and is the perfect place to study with your friends, hang out, and be social, or take a study break with a game of chess, our current puzzle, coloring books, board games, or hula hoops! 
  • Silent Zone - 2nd Floor: Our second floor is a silent floor reserved for graduate and advanced degree students. Silence is golden on this floor - it’s the perfect place to study if you need pristine silence to focus while you study. Don’t let the 4-person tables tempt you to be social - even whispering can disturb your fellow silence seekers. 
  • Quiet Zone - 3rd Floor: Our third floor is a quiet study area, where whispering is acceptable, but please be respectful to others and keep things quiet.
  • Group Study Rooms: Our study rooms are located on the second and third floors and are great for studying with friends! Reserve your study room in advance to secure a room. These rooms aren’t noise-proof, so please keep conversations quiet so you don’t disturb others in the Silent and Quiet Zones!

Our Collections

Himmelfarb has extensive collections that include more than 125 databases, 6,700 e-books, and 6,500 journals, available 24/7 from on and off campus! Our print book collection, located in the basement-level stacks, is available for checkout. Most books can be borrowed for three weeks, with two renewals available if you need an item longer. To renew your items, stop by the first-floor service desk, call us (202-994-2962), or log in to your library account and renew online.

If you can’t find what you need in our collection, we can get it through our Docs2Go (ILL) or Consortium Loan Service (CLS) programs. Learn which option is best for you on our Borrowing From Other Libraries page.

Technology Resources

While we pride ourselves on our books and collections, Himmelfarb offers a lot of things you might not expect from a library. Take some time this semester to explore some of the more unique things Himmelfarb has to offer!

  • Virtual Reality Headsets: Check out the awesome virtual anatomy and healthy living apps! 
  • 3D Printing: We proudly offer free 3D printing!
  • BodyViz: This interactive anatomy visualization tool is a fantastic way to explore and learn anatomy in a fun and exciting way!
  • Statistical Software: Some of our third-floor computers come equipped with statistical software including SPSS, Stata, SAS, NVivo, MATLAB, and Atlas.ti.
  • Tech Equipment: Our digital camcorders, digital voice recorders, and ring lights can be reserved in advance for your media-related projects.
  • Medical Gear: We have suture kits, an ultrasound machine, a blood pressure monitor, an ECG monitor, an iPhone otoscope, and a fitness tracker available for checkout!
  • Tech & Support: We have chargers for iPhones and MacBooks, USB-C to HDMI OUT and USB-C to USB-A IN adapters, HDMI cables, headphones, and dry-erase markers available for checkout. We also have free earplugs at the first-floor service desk!

Reference and Research Support

Himmelfarb is more than just a great space to study and fantastic resources! Our librarians and staff can help you find the resources you need for your studies and research. Whether you’re looking for the right book or journal article for an assignment, need help with a literature search or a systematic review, or want to learn how to organize your sources with RefWorks or Covidence, our reference librarians and staff can help! 

Stop by the first-floor service desk to get help from our knowledgeable and friendly reference librarians and staff in person, or use our Ask a Librarian service to chat virtually. Our Ask a Librarian service is staffed by real Himmelfarb librarians and staff, so you can be sure you’re getting the help you need! You can also email us a question, or schedule a consultation with a reference librarian at himmelfarb@gwu.edu.

Connect with Us!

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We’re excited to help you do your best this semester! Here’s to a successful Spring Semester!

Snow covered pine trees surrounding a snow covered path. Text: Himmelfarb is Closed! January 7, 2025"

Due to snow, the Himmelfarb Library's building will be closed on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. However, our electronic databases, e-books, and journals are still available through our website! You can also get reference help via our Ask Us chat reference service.

We are in the final days of the Fall semester! Congratulations on completing the semester! As the semester draws to a close, we’d like to share some end-of-semester tips to help make life less stressful during this busy time.

Studying for Exams:

Himmelfarb Library is a great place to study and prepare for exams. We recognize that each person’s study needs are different. Some people need complete silence to focus, while others prefer being able to chat with others and bounce ideas off each other. Himmelfarb has a space for all noise level preferences!

1st Floor: The first floor of Himmelfarb is not quiet and is perfect for group study! You’ll find some tall tables and 4-person tables that are great for group study sessions. The numerous rolling dry-erase boards available on this floor are perfect for jotting down your study notes! The first floor also has comfortable sofas and chairs near the elevator where you can get caught up with your colleagues. 

If you need a study break, check out our Healthy Living Collection located near the sofas! During your study break, you can help finish the current puzzle on the puzzle table, get rid of some excess energy with our hula hoops, play a friendly game of chess or another board game, destress with some adult color books, or even use the yoga mats to get in some stretching after long hours of studying.

Picture of puzzle table with puzzle and adult coloring pages.

2nd Floor: Himmelfarb’s second floor is a silent floor reserved for graduate and advanced degree students. While there are 4-person tables on this floor, please don’t be tempted to talk or whisper with others while on the second floor. Silence is golden on this floor, and students seeking a silent place to focus value the pristine silence of this space. You’ll find open and closed study carrels on this floor to meet your silent study needs.

Librarian action figure making a shhhing gesture in front of a "No Talking - This is a silent floor" sign.

3rd Floor: The main portion of the third floor is a quiet study area. The Bloedorn Technology Center provides areas for collaboration including the Levine Lounge, which can be used for our BodyViz software, and the tables with anatomical models. The SMHS IT Help Desk is also on the third floor as well as computer labs with statistical software installed. 

Group Study Rooms

Himmelfarb has 28 study rooms available for use. Reserve your study room in advance to be sure you secure a room. Forgot to reserve a room in advance? No problem! Scan the QR code outside of the study room and reserve an available room when you arrive. Study rooms can be reserved for up to 4 hours at a time, and can be made a week in advance. All study rooms come equipped with computer monitors and dry-erase boards. While study rooms are a great place to study as a group, they are not noise-proof, so please keep conversations quiet. Study rooms are located on the silent second floor and the quiet third floor - so please be respectful of others while using these spaces.

Helpful Study Supplies & Technology

Himmelfarb has a variety of study supplies and technology that can be checked out at the first floor Circulation Desk, including:

  • Dry-Erase Markers
  • Remote Controls (for the study room monitors)
  • HDMI, VGA, VGA to HDMI Adaptors
  • MacBook and iPhone Chargers
  • Headphones

Earplugs are also available at the Circulation Desk.

Returning Library Materials

Before leaving campus for Winter Break, check your library account to make sure you don’t need to return library materials. You can return items to the Circulation Desk. If you have materials borrowed through Interlibrary Loan, check your Docs2Go account for due dates, and return items on time so we can ship them back to their home library.

Himmelfarb’s Winter Break Hours

Himmelfarb Library will close for the Winter Break at 8:00 pm on Sunday, December 22, 2024. Our building will be closed from December 23, 2024, through January 1, 2025. We will reopen at 8:00 am on Thursday, January 2, 2025. While our building is closed over the break, our databases, journals, and e-books are available from anywhere through our website! Visit our hours page to view our full hours and holiday closures.

Picture of a pumpkin. Text: "Happy Thanksgiving"

Himmelfarb Library wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

As a reminder, we are currently closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Our holiday hours are as follows:

Date:Day:Hours
November 28, 2024ThursdayCLOSED!
November 29, 2024FridayCLOSED!
November 30, 2024Saturday9:00 am - 8:00 pm
December 1, 2024Sunday9:00 am - Midnight

Our electronic databases, journals, and e-books are still available through our website.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Picture of a small pumpkin, coffee mug, and coffee beans. Text: "Happy Thanksgiving"

Himmelfarb Library will be closed during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Our hours this week are as follows:

Date:Day:Hours:
November 27, 2024Wednesday7:30 am - 6:00 pm
November 28, 2024ThursdayCLOSED!
November 29, 2024FridayCLOSED!
November 30, 2024Saturday9:00 am - 8:00 pm
December 1, 2024Sunday9:00 am - Midnight

We will resume normal hours on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Even though our building is closed, our electronic resources (including our databases, e-books, and e-journals) are still available during this time.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Banner for Joe and Brittany's blog post

As we move into the holiday season, Himmelfarb Library is excited to announce some changes and growth within our team. We are pleased to introduce our new colleague and to celebrate a well-deserved new role for one of our own.

Please join us in welcoming Joseph McGraw, Serials Librarian to the Himmelfarb Library family. We look forward to working with him. Please take a minute to get to know him.

Share your path to Himmelfarb Library.
I’ve been on a journey through a few academic libraries before landing at Himmelfarb. Most recently, I was the Interlibrary Loan Librarian at Fogler Library at the University of Maine. Also at U Maine, I worked in the Research and Instruction Department (confusingly similar to the Shakespeare Library in DC so much that we got their emails sometimes). Before that I was the Student Employee Supervisor and Multimedia Manager at West Virginia University’s Downtown Campus Library, which was my first full-time library job after graduate school. I graduated from the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2020 and graduated from the University of Virginia in 2014. In between, I managed KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in North Carolina.

Joe McGraw, Serials Librarian

Tell us about your position at Himmelfarb and what you do.
I am the new Serials Librarian at Himmelfarb, only starting at the beginning of September. I manage the library’s online journal collection, working with other librarians in making decisions on which journal resources to buy as well as troubleshooting any problems that patrons have accessing the material.

What do you enjoy most about your position?
I love being part of the academic life of a library at such a great university. Universities like this is where I feel at home. Since I’m so new to the position, I’m not sure what’s my favorite part of the job yet, but I’m looking forward to digging into projects at the library and becoming more familiar with the serials collection and all my great new coworkers.

What do you like to do in your time away from work?
I play a lot of Dungeons and Dragons, at least twice a week. I’ve also gotten back into golf this summer and I’ve been trying to play at least weekly this summer. I’m also a big sports fan and I could talk about the Celtics or Arsenal all day, if you let me.

Where are you from originally, and what brought you to the DC area?
Originally, I am from Tazewell, Virginia which is in very far Southwest Virginia along the border with West Virginia and close to Kentucky. I’ve moved around a fair bit, living in North Carolina, West Virginia, and Maine. I moved to the DC area in summer 2023 after my partner got a job in the area and I really love it so far!

In addition to welcoming new members, we are proud to announce that Brittany Smith has moved in to the position of Scholarly Communications and Metadata Librarian. Let’s sit down and chat with Brittany.

Brittany Smith, Scholarly Communications & Metadata Librarian

Congratulations on your new position! What would you say has been the best part of your experience in the transition to Scholarly Communications and Metadata Librarian?
Thank you so much! I think the best and also challenging part of the transition has been delving deeper with the library systems and programs that we use. In my previous position, I primarily used our systems to label and process new books or equipment. I worked with our institutional repository to import new monthly publications. But now I’m learning about other features that will help me as a librarian as I tackle complex cataloging and scholarly communications projects. It’s exciting and I enjoy changes to my normal responsibilities, but it is also a lot to learn and remember.

Have there been any hurdles in adjusting to the role?
No, I would say it has been a seamless transition. Fortunately, I worked closely with Sara Hoover, the librarian who previously filled this position, for close to five years. In that time, Sara gradually trained me in more complex librarian-adjacent tasks and I learned a lot by asking questions, doing self-learning in my downtime or shadowing Sara and the other Himmelfarb librarians. There are some skills I hope to improve over the years, but I feel that I had an easy time moving from my previous position into this new role.

What is your favorite service that the library has to offer?
The 3D printer! I recently submitted a print job for a piece of equipment to replace a broken piece at home. My mom had a difficult time finding a replacement part in stores and I thought the 3D printer at the library may be able to help. I haven’t tested our printer yet, but it is nice to know that I can print obscure pieces that may be difficult to purchase online. And I would love to use the printer for other jobs in the future.

What has been your favorite project to work on at Himmelfarb?
I would say my favorite project so far was acquiring a button maker machine to make our own pronoun buttons for the library. This was a project that the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Committee worked on for a while and finally revealed at orientation this year. Right now we use the machine to refill our pronoun buttons stock at the circulation desk. The students at orientation seemed to enjoy the button maker machine; some even asked if they could make their own buttons during orientation. The machine and our supply of buttons are a simple way to encourage others to be mindful of a person’s pronouns. Plus, it’s fun using the actual machine; it breaks up the work day and it’s a good upper body workout!

Do you have any favorite hobbies that you like to do when you have downtime?
In the spring and summer, I tend to hike a lot. I mostly stick to trails and parks in Virginia but I have explored a few in DC and Maryland. Roosevelt Island is a short, no elevation circuit trail that I enjoy. Great Falls is another good hiking spot around here; it was one of the first parks I visited when I started hiking. I also keep a vegetable and herb garden. I tend to grow tomatoes, eggplants, kale and lavender. When the cooler weather starts (like now), I stick to indoor activities. Unsurprisingly, I read a lot. My first masters degree is in Creative Writing and I spend a lot of time writing mostly fantasy and science fiction stories; recently I also decided to write personal essays. I play video games and I have a monthly table-top role-playing game night with some friends. Last but not least, wWhat is your favorite book and why?
This is a tough question and I’m going to cheat a bit by giving more than one book. It’s a close tie between The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin and A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. A runner-up would be Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb. All three books are genuinely some of the best fiction I’ve ever read and these authors are brilliant storytellers that inspire me when I’m telling my own stories. These books all belong to a series and I think it’s worth reading the full series if possible, especially the Jemisin one. Last, there is a twist in The Fifth Season that I believe every sci-fi/fantasy reader should experience and enjoy.

Graphic of books with the text Himmelfarb 2024 booksale

Are your bookshelves looking a little empty? Do you have an interest in having a physical copy of some textbooks or study guides? Want a piece of medical history to call your own? The Himmelfarb Annual Book Sale has all of this and more.

From October 8th to October 11th, Himmelfarb will sell books in the first-floor alcove. The cost of hardback books is $4 and the cost of paperbacks is $2. All payments must be made by card. The sale is open from 8:00am to 8:00pm Tuesday to Thursday, and from 8:00am to Noon on Friday.

We hope to see you there!

Himmelfarb has more than books and articles! This article will highlight some of the exciting options available to you as SMHS, GWSPH, or GW Nursing students.

Himmelfarb has more than books and articles! This article will highlight some of the exciting options available to you as SMHS, GWSPH, or GW Nursing students.

3D Printing: 

If you’ve stopped by the circulation desk, you may have noticed a slight scenery change: Himmelfarb has a new Bambu Lab 3-D printer! The Bambu Lab X-1 Carbon prints significantly faster than our older printers, greatly increasing our turnaround time and ability to process more jobs. Plus, it can print in multi-colors, leading to festive and interesting options. 

You can print as many curricular prints as the queue allows and one non-curricular print a month (full policy here). 

If you’re wondering where to find 3-D printer models, check out this article!

The applications for med students are vast: from stethoscope holders to molecular diagrams to model organs. 

Or fun friends, like this poseable turtle. 

A 3D printed turtle stands angled towards the camera.

VR:

Himmelfarb has two Oculus Quest VR headsets for checkout. 

A VR headset is displayed behind a glass case.

[Oculus headset on display at the Himmelfarb library - available for 4hr checkouts]

These are great for taking a study break with guided meditations or nature walks (although make sure you have the appropriate space) or, if you want to get serious with studies, you can take advantage of the preloaded Medicalholodeck Medical VR platform (which includes Anatomy Master XR, Medical Imaging XR, and Dissection Master XR). Somewhere between a textbook and a cadaver lab, Medicalholodeck allows you to inspect high-resolution dissections layer-by-layer alongside your research.

Check out the video below for a brief demonstration:

BodyViz

Like Medicalholodeck, BodyViz is an interactive anatomy visualization tool that lets users view, study, and manipulate 3D anatomical structures. Although there's a bit of a learning curve, once you get a handle on it, the BodyViz slicing software allows you to digitally dissect models with great precision, allowing for intensive inspection.

Unlike the VR headsets - which can be used anywhere you find the space - BodyViz is best used in the Levine lounge (Himmelfarb 305A), adjacent to the Bloedorn Technology Center. All of these materials are available at our circulation desk. To learn more, explore our BodyViz Guide.

We hope these help take your studies to the next level.

Scrabble tiles laid out on a wooden table with the word "loudness" spelled out in the middle.
Photo by Markus Winkler

Himmelfarb Library is a great place to study! Whether you’re looking for a silent study area where you can focus without distractions, a space for quiet conversations in group study rooms, or the creative buzz of collaborative spaces, Himmelfarb has a study space to suit your needs! And when it’s time to take a breather and rest your mind, we’ve got you covered with puzzles, hula hoops, yoga mats, and board games! 

Different floors serve different purposes at Himmelfarb. Knowing where to go to find your preferred noise level will help you find a study space that matches your study preferences and needs.

1st Floor: The Not Quiet Floor

Himmelfarb’s first floor is not a designated quiet floor. Our first floor is a great space for group study, collaboration, or just hanging out with friends. Filled with 4-person tables, rolling whiteboards, and comfortable couches, the first floor is a great space for both productivity and leisure. You’ll also find our popular high-top tables that can double as standing desks near the windows where you can soak up plenty of natural light! 

Photo of students studying at high-top tables on Himmelfarb's 1st floor.
Photo of high-top tables on Himmelfarb's 1st floor.

Need a moment to unwind? Explore the Healthy Living Collection, located near the printers. Join the communal puzzle-solving tradition and add a piece or two to the current puzzle! Or dive into our selection of board games, hula hoops, yoga mats, and light hand weights - because a healthy mind thrives in a healthy body, especially after intense study sessions.

Himmelfarb's Healthy Living Collection on the 1st Floor.
Himmelfarb's Healthy Living Collection on the 1st Floor.

2nd Floor: The Silent Floor!

Himmelfarb’s second floor is a silent floor for advanced degree students. This sanctuary for concentration and undisturbed focus will help you dive into your studies without distractions. No talking, whispering, phone calls, or other noise is allowed - just peaceful concentration! Take your pick from the ample open and closed study carrels, or choose from a study table near the window if you thrive in natural light.

Photograph of a sign with the text "You are entering a silent floor. Advanced degree students only on this floor."
Silent floor sign on the 2nd floor.

3rd Floor: The Quiet Study Floor

Himmelfarb’s third floor is mostly a quiet study space. You can choose from the many open study carrels, or a closed carrel near the windows for extra natural light. The Bloedorn Technology Center, also on the third floor, is a great space for quiet collaboration and the place where you’ll find computer software, anatomical models, skeletons, and bone boxes. The SMHS IT Helpdesk is also located on the third floor to help you troubleshoot any technical issues you may experience. 

Photograph of individual study carrels on the 3rd floor.
Individual study carrels on the 3rd floor.

Group Study Rooms

Himmelfarb’s group study rooms are available for advanced degree students and must be reserved in advance. Study rooms are designed for quiet conversation. While these study rooms are enclosed, they are still on silent or quiet floors, so please be respectful of others using the space around you. Occasionally, study rooms are used for exams, so please be particularly respectful of noise levels if you see signs indicating that exams are in progress. If you need a space where you can collaborate without worrying about your noise level, the first floor is your best bet! 

Himmelfarb has more than books and eBooks! Make the most of your Himmelfarb access and check out our collection of tools and AV equipment that will help you along your medical journey: from chargers to VR to blood pressure kits. Items check out for 4 hours. Ask one of our staff at the circulation desk for more details. 

Himmelfarb has more than articles and eBooks! Make the most of your Himmelfarb access and check out our collection of tools and AV equipment that will help you along your healthcare journey: from chargers to VR to blood pressure kits. Items check out for 4 hours. Ask one of our staff at the circulation desk for more details. 

Suture Practice Kit

A suture practice kit is displayed on a countertop.

Vscan Portable Ultrasound Machine

A Vscan Ultrasound machine is displayed on a countertop.

Oculus VR Headset

A Oculus VR headset is displayed on a countertop.

BodyViz

 [Accessories to access the 3D Anatomy software in the 3rd Floor Levine Lounge]

The BodyViz accessory kit is displayed on a countertop, which includes a keyboard, remote control, wireless mouse, and Xbox controller

AliveCor ECG Monitor

An ECG monitor is displayed on a countertop.

Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor

A Wireless Blood Pressure Monitoring kit is displayed on a countertop.

iPhone Otoscope [for use with CellScope companion app]

An iPhone otoscope is displayed on a countertop.

‘LectroFanEvo White Noise Machine [for use in study rooms]

A white noise machine is displayed on a countertop.

Withings Advanced Health and Fitness Tracker

A fitness tracker is displayed on a countertop.

20w iPhone Chargers: Lightning and USB-C

Two 20w iPhone chargers - one USB-C and one lightning  - are  displayed on a countertop.

67w MacBook Charger

A 67w MacBook charger is displayed on a countertop.

USB-C to HDMI Out Adapter 

A USB-C to HDMI adapter is displayed on a countertop.

USB-C to USB-A IN Adapter 

A USB-C to USB-A IN adapter is displayed on a countertop.

HDMI Cable

An HDMI cable is displayed on a countertop.

9mm Wired Headphones

A pair of headphones are displayed on a countertop.