Resources, tools & health news from GW Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library
Category: Himmelfarb Info
Posts in this category include information about circulation, course reserves, reference and instruction services, building renovations, website updates, etc.
Himmelfarb Library’s building will be closed during Winter Break starting Saturday, December 23rd at 6:00 pm, but our online collections will remain open and accessible. The library building reopens on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 7:30 am and resumes 24-hour operations. To see our complete hours, take a look at our website.
Even though our building is closed, our electronic resources (databases, e-books, and e-journals) are always available from anywhere!
We’re taking a break from new blog posts during Winter Break. New blog posts will return on January 3, 2024.
If you’ll miss being in the library while we’re closed, here’s some library ambiance to tide you over:
The library will be closed during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Our hours during this time are as follows:
We will resume normal 24/7 hours after re-opening at 9:00 am on Sunday, November 26, 2023.
Even though our building is closed, our electronic resources (including our databases, e-books, and e-journals) remain available from anywhere during this time.
October is National Medical Librarians month. Started by the Medical Library Association in 2001, it is “an annual observance that recognizes and appreciates the critical role that health information professionals play in healthcare, research, and education.“
This year’s theme is Yes, We Do That! Librarians and library staff at Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library do everything from literature searching and systematic review service and consultation, to providing support for virtual anatomy and 3D printing. Here are some of the things Himmelfarb librarians and library staff did over the last academic year:
Answered 2,188 reference questions through chat, email and at the Himmelfarb service desk, including 574 in-depth consultations for literature searches, systematic reviews, predatory journal consultations and for other reference and research support services.
Taught 725 education sessions to 7,422 attendees.
Ran 1863D print jobs for users.
Loaned over 3,800 books and other materials to users.
Borrowed 372 consortium loan service books for users and provided over 1,500 articles, chapters, and books through interlibrary loan services to users.
Purchased and processed 400+ new print books for Himmelfarb collections and 9 new anatomy models for the Bloedorn lab on the third floor - stop by and check them out!
Licensed and activated 619 new ebooks for users.
Provided service for 1.2 million links to full-text electronic resources.
Added 2,307 records representing GW SMHS, GW School of Public Health, and GW School of Nursing scholarly output to the Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC). 192,814 items were downloaded from HSRC by researchers at 7,704 institutions in 216 countries!
Published 16 instructional videos to the Himmelfarb YouTube channel representing over 2 hours of original content, with high-quality closed captioning edited manually by library staff. Our new videos were viewed 465 times (13.27 total hours of watch time), out of 23,227 views (1,292 hours) for all content on our channel.
Created 9 and maintained 341 Research Guideson topics including APA Citation format, library tutorials, guides to databases, and resource guides by subject. Research Guides had over 2 million page views by users at GW and beyond.
Himmelfarb library staff members are here to support your research, education, and clinical information needs. Reach out to us through our chat service (always staffed by a Himmelfarb librarian or reference specialist), email at himmelfarb@gwu.edu, phone at 202-994-2850, or stop by our service desk.
We are thrilled to announce that a representative from the GW Writing Center will be providing in-person consultations at the Himmelfarb Library this semester!
A Writing Center consultant will be onsite every Tuesday from 4 pm - 6 pm, beginning October 10th. They can help you with a variety of writing assignments from research reports to cover letters to CVs.
The Writing Center service will be located adjacent to the first-floor Circulation Desk, in the alcove near the emergency exit. The service is free.
Walk-ups are welcome if there is availability, but appointments are recommended. To make an appointment, visit the Writing Center website.
If you are a first-timer, you'll see a link on the page that lets you register for an account. If you are an online student, or would simply prefer a remote consultation, you'll see an option to request a virtual consultation (appointments are available from 9am to 9pm, Monday through Friday, and 5pm to 10pm on Sundays).
In the meantime, check out the Writing Center's resource collection, including tips on citations, grammar, and quality research.
Are you a regular visitor to our physical facility? If you spend time here for study, research, using collections, or just lounging, here’s a few tips to prepare you for emergencies and enhance your safety.
Don’t leave valuable belongings unattended - Though it doesn’t happen frequently, there have been thefts in the library. Keep your valuables with you at all times.
Stay aware - We recommend that you keep your headphone volume at a level that allows you to hear alarms or instructions should evacuation become necessary. There are sirens that sound on all floors and flashing lights if the building needs to be evacuated. It can be more difficult to hear when in a study room, so adjust your volumes accordingly. We also ask that you do not cover study room door windows for safety reasons.
Know your closest exit - You should always be aware of how best to quickly exit a building should it become necessary. On the library first floor there are emergency exits in the alcove by the elevator (exits to the courtyard) and in the stairwell by the rest rooms (exits to 23rd street). From the upper floors you will need to use one of the two stairwells to descend to the first floor to exit. On the basement level there is an exit from the book stacks to the parking garage if you can’t reach the first floor safely. Check our emergency floor maps for the exit locations.
Exit immediately if the alarm sounds - Unless it has been communicated in advance that there is a scheduled test of the alarm system, always respond to sirens in the library as if there is a fire or other hazard in the building that requires immediate evacuation. Quickly grab your belongings including any outerwear you brought with you and leave via the closest stairwell and exit door. It could be minutes to hours before you will be able to re-enter the building.
Fire extinguishers and alarm pulls are available - The library has multiple extinguishers and alarm pulls on each floor. Check the emergency floor maps for locations. If you don’t know how to use an extinguisher, the GW Division of Safety and Facilities offers training sessions between May and November.
Defibrillators save lives - The library has a defibrillator on the first floor in case of a medical emergency. It’s on the entry lobby wall that faces the courtyard. The Division of Safety and Facilities offers CPR/AED training if you want to learn how to use this lifesaving equipment.
Move away from windows during a storm - If a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued, move to the interior part of each floor and away from windows. The safest shelter area is on the basement level and in the stairwells.
Water is a hazard to people and books - If you see leaks or water on the floor, alert a library staff member immediately.
Staying alert, exiting promptly when alarms sound, and following instructions will keep you and other library users safe in emergencies.
The summer is a time for recreation and relaxation. It’s also a time when injuries and accidents occur with more frequency. The highest rates of preventable injury deaths peak in July and August. Both workplace injuries and car accidents increase over the summer months, attributed to higher temperatures, crowded roads and increased miles driven and more inexperienced seasonal workers on the job. Drowning deaths also spike in the summer with children one to four years old at greatest risk. In fact, drowning is the leading cause of death in this age group.
Whether you’re looking out for your own health and safety, or that of others, Himmelfarb Library has many first aid and preparedness resources. You can find resources in our Emergency Preparedness and Response Research Guide. Here are some book titles from our collection:
Getting ready to travel? This video from SmartEngage has tips for both preventing and being fully prepared for injury or illness while traveling in the US and abroad.
Hurricanes and severe weather are another threat to health and safety in the summer and into the fall. Know your risk ahead of time and prepare with an emergency plan and kit.
This summer brought a new hazard to the metro DC area - wildfire smoke. The state of California provides excellent guidance on understanding the health risks and protecting yourself. Virginia, Maryland and the District all provide air quality data. You can sign up with EnviroFlash from the EPA and AirNow for Air Quality Forecasts and Action Day Health Alert notifications, or get the AirNow app for your smartphone.
While at the University, the GW Division of Safety and Facilities encourages you to make a plan for responding to emergencies. Know the exits from buildings you frequent and evacuation plans, where first aid kits, AEDs and fire extinguishers are located, and how to get in touch with University Police and Emergency Services. Himmelfarb Library’s defibrillator is on the library first floor in the entry lobby and our first aid kit is available at the circulation desk. Library floor maps indicate where fire extinguishers and emergency exits are located.
Want to get training to provide CPR, AED, or first aid at work or in your community? The GW Department of Emergency Medicine Training Center offers courses for the general public, employees and health care professionals. GW’s Medical Faculty Associates has an AED lifesavers program that will provide equipment and training to organizations.
It’s less than a month from the end of the spring 2023 semester and graduation. Congratulations to all of our prospective graduates in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, and School of Public Health! It’s been a privilege to support you on your health sciences education journey.
Whether you’re graduating or just taking a break, here are some tips for a smooth transition.
Returning Library Materials
Before you leave campus or go on that big vacation, check your library account to make sure you don’t need to return materials to us or another Washington Research Library Consortium partner library. Our returns page has instructions for how to return materials on campus or how to ship them back to us. Himmelfarb no longer charges fines for most overdue materials until they are assumed lost (41 days past the due date). Check our guide on loan periods, renewals, and fines for more information.
If you borrowed materials on interlibrary loan, check your Docs2Go account for due dates and be sure to get them turned in on-time for delivery back to their home library.
If you need library materials for over the summer study, research, or preparations for next fall, check in with our Circulation Desk staff at mlbcir@gwu.edu or 202-994-2962.
If you have personal books you no longer need, Himmelfarb’s donation cart will be at the library entrance starting Tuesday, April 25th.
Studying at Himmelfarb
In the next few weeks, the library will be full of students doing intensive study. Know our study zones before you arrive so you can find the best spot for the type of work you’re planning to do at Himmelfarb. Some areas are reserved for quiet study (2nd floor) while others allow quiet conversation and collaboration.
A reminder also that study rooms must be reserved in advance. Use our scheduling tool to find a space that suits your needs.
Preparing for Upcoming Classes
Are you an instructor preparing to teach classes this summer or fall? You can place items on reserve using our course reserves request forms. If you need materials purchased for future classes, contact Ian Roberts at imroberts@gwu.edu. To request audiovisual materials, please contact Catherine Sluder at crharris@gwu.edu.
If you would like a Himmelfarb librarian embedded in an upcoming BlackBoard class, reach out to Tom Harrod at tph@gwu.edu.
This semester Himmelfarb Library welcomes back the GW Writing Center! We are gratified to be able to host this valuable service and make it more convenient for the health sciences community to get feedback and support to improve their writing.
GW Writing Center consulting space on Himmelfarb Library's first floor.
Starting February 16th, the Writing Center will have a consultant available Thursdays from 6-8pm on Himmelfarb Library’s first floor. To book an appointment, call 202-994-3765 during Writing Center operating hours. They also welcome drop ins!
The Writing Center provides assistance with a variety of writing needs including research reports, speeches, group project reports, cover letters and CVs, and even written take-home exams if the professor permits. Services are provided by student consultants. Consultants who specialize in public health and STEM writing, or have expertise in APA citation style, can be found here. Some appointment preparation is encouraged prior to consulting sessions.
Himmelfarb Library can help you with bibliography formatting and citation style. We have Research Guides on APA and AMA citation style format with all the information you need in one place, including example citations for all material formats. We can also assist you with the use of citation managers like RefWorks. You can reach out to our reference librarians via Chat or by emailing himmelfarb@gwu.edu for direct assistance if required.
Himmelfarb Library strives to offer study environments that meet the needs of all of our users. Sometimes space is needed to gather a group for study or collaboration. Sometimes a table with space to spread out is best and sometimes a cubicle in deep quiet is necessary for focus and intense study. You can find all these options in Himmelfarb Library.
First Floor = Group Study and Collaboration Zone
Himmelfarb First Floor study tables
On the first floor you’ll find mostly open tables and some lounge areas. Because our main service desks are on this floor, the accepted noise level is quiet conversation. There are white boards on wheels for group activities and collaborations. There are also some public computer workstations as well as printers and scanners.
Second Floor = Quiet Study Zone
Himmelfarb Second Floor open cubicles
The second floor is the deep quiet zone. Even whispering is discouraged. There are mostly open cubicles for individual study on this floor and some open tables if you need space to spread out. If you are listening to music with headphones, please be mindful that they are set to a level that only you can hear. The second floor also has a number of study rooms for study groups. These rooms should be booked in advance and activities in the study rooms should not disturb others on the second floor; please be mindful of the noise level in study rooms.
Third Floor = Mixed Use Zone
Himmelfarb Third Floor open tables and closed cubicles
The third floor has segregated spaces with separate uses. The main zone when you step off the elevator is a quiet study area with a mix of open and closed cubicles and study tables. To the right is the Bloedorn Technology Center and computer classroom space. This area is glassed in and though quiet is encouraged, there are activities occurring there that require conversation including the Body Viz Workstation and anatomical models. You’ll also find the School of Medicine IT help desk in this area. The third floor also has study rooms that can be reserved in advance.
If you find our quiet zones are not being respected and would like our staff to remind users, please reach out to us via IM, email, or phone (202-994-2962) during Monday-Friday business hours, or reach out to the Circulation Desk staff during other hours (in person or phone listed above).
