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Category: Himmelfarb Info

Posts in this category include information about circulation, course reserves, reference and instruction services, building renovations, website updates, etc.

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October is National Medical Librarians Month! This year’s theme is Avoid Misinformation! Take the Right Path: Partner with Your Medical Librarian. The Medical Library Association is raising awareness of the value health sciences librarians bring to clinical information needs. Health sciences librarians can find the best evidence to answer your questions. 

Graphic displaying findings of the 2013 NN/LM study demonstrating impact of medical librarians in patient care

In 1992, the landmark “Rochester Study”1 demonstrated a relationship between information services provided by health sciences librarians and improved patient outcomes. The study sampled a group of 448 physicians in the Rochester, NY area. 80% of the 208 physicians who returned their questionnaires said that they probably or definitely changed some aspect of patient care based on information received from a hospital librarian. The National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) sponsored a follow up study whose results were published in 2013.2 Focus groups, surveys, and phone interviews gathered input from physicians, residents and nurses from 118 hospitals about a recent incident in which they had sought information for patient care. The key findings were:

Library and information resources were perceived as valuable, and the information obtained was seen as having an impact on patient care.

Electronic access to information resources from multiple locations has increased the ability of health professionals to use these resources for improved patient care.

The roles of librarians are diversifying to include management of electronic resources, user instruction and support, specialized research and clinical information search services, and involvement in institution-level quality improvement.

Marshall et al. (2013)

A similar 2016 study conducted in the UK measured clinical librarian’s impact on patient outcomes. It found a wide range of positive interventions including “direct contributions to choice of intervention (36%) diagnosis (26%) quality of life (25%), increased patient involvement in decision making (26%) and cost savings and risk management including avoiding tests, referrals, readmissions and reducing length of stay (28%).”3

Librarians at Himmelfarb are all well versed in the principles of evidence-based practice. Many are expert searchers, with advanced training on databases like PubMed and Scopus. Our reference team has years of experience conducting systematic reviews and other in depth searches. When you have an information need, whether it be for research or patient care, turn to our team of professionals at Himmelfarb Library! You can reach us at himmelfarb@gwu.edu or call 4-1850 or chat with us 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday.

  1. Marshall JG. The impact of the hospital library on clinical decision making: the Rochester study. Bull Med Lib Assoc. 1992 Apr;80(2):169–78. PMID: 1600426
  2. Marshall JG, Sollenberger J, Easterby-Gannett S, Morgan LK, Klem ML, Cavanaugh SK, Oliver KB, Thompson CA, Romanosky N, Hunter S. The value of library and information services in patient care: results of a multisite study. J Med Libr Assoc. 2013 Jan;101(1):38-46. doi: 10.3163/1536-5050.101.1.007. PMID: 23418404
  3. Brettle A, Maden M, Payne C. The impact of clinical librarian services on patients and health care organisations. Health Info Libr J. 2016 Jun;33(2):100-20. doi: 10.1111/hir.12136. Epub 2016 Feb 17. PMID: 26887653.

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Image of open notebook with pen

This fall the GW Writing Center won’t have a satellite location in Himmelfarb Library, but you can still access their services at the Writing Center in Gelman Library (Suite 221 in the Learning Commons) or make a virtual appointment. Appointments will be available starting next Monday, September 12th.

The Writing Center can provide 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.

Before you schedule an appointment, you’ll need to create a free account. Some appointment preparation is encouraged to make sure you get the most out of your consulting session. If you have questions you can reach the Writing Center staff at gwriter@gwu.edu or call them at 202-994-3765.

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 RefWorks and other citation managers. You can always reach out to our reference librarians via Chat or by emailing himmelfarb@gwu.edu for direct assistance if required.

Find other resources on scientific writing in our collection.

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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. 

In the event that we don’t have an article or book that you need, we can get it for you through our Docs2Go (ILL) or Consortium Loan Service (CLS) programs. Check out our Borrowing From Other Libraries page to learn which option is best for you!

On-Site Access & Use

Masking is a Must!

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.

3D Printing

Thanks to a generous grant from the GW Hospital Women’s Board, we are proud to offer free 3D printing! To learn more, check out our 3D Printing at Himmelfarb Guide.

Picture of a gray 3D printed heart.

Off-Campus Access

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! 

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Himmelfarb Library congratulates Laura Abate who was promoted to Library Director on July 1, 2022. Laura had been serving as interim Library Director since Anne Linton retired in January.

Laura Abate, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library Director

Laura first joined Himmelfarb Library’s staff in 1999 as a reference librarian. She developed materials supporting medical informatics instruction for medical students and created a database and web interface for managing access to the library’s growing number of electronic resources. In 2003 Laura became Electronic Resources and Instructional Librarian and served in this role for 16 years. She managed the library’s electronic resources during the time that Himmelfarb made the transition to mostly electronic collections. She also played a key role in developing the curriculum for informatics for first and second year medical students in problem based learning. At the same time she expanded her role as a clinical librarian, frequently attending rounds for internal medicine residents and providing real time clinical information support for them. She was awarded Non-Medicine Attending of the Year by the Department of Medicine Housestaff for 2018-19.

In 2019 Laura was promoted to Head of Library Operations and the position was expanded to Associate Director of Library Operations in 2020. Laura oversaw all aspects of the Library’s web services and collections management, including budgeting and contract negotiations. She maintained her teaching role serving as an Adjunct Associate Professor for the Department of Medicine and Co-Director of the Informatics in the Health Sciences and Introduction to Systematic Review courses.

Let’s hear from Laura about her promotion and plans to lead Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library.

What inspired you to apply for the position and what are you most enjoying in your role as Library Director?  

During my time at Himmelfarb Library, I’ve had several positions, worked my way through a lot of different duties, and seen major changes in our collections, services, and access.  I don’t identify myself as someone who loves change, but I do like to solve problems, love to identify ways to improve our services and collections, and want to keep growing, learning, and honing my personal knowledge and skills.  In short, being library director seemed like a big challenge and one that I was ready to take on.  In terms of what I’m enjoying the most in this role, I love working with Himmelfarb’s staff and their creativity in continuously identifying ways to improve the library and to reflect the needs of the GW health sciences community.

What are your top priorities for the coming year?

Himmelfarb Library has seen major changes over the past two years and as I think about what comes next, I think about both renewal and assessment.  I’m anxious to renew the library as a place for the GW health sciences community to meet, work, study, and socialize (not too loudly?).  I am excited to continue to rebuild and hone our collections, and want to explore new ways that we can support teaching and learning, research and scholarly publishing, and clinical care.  But, I also want to assess and continue to evolve - i.e. do we want to keep doing things as we do now or did prior to the pandemic, or are there alternative approaches that we should consider and explore.   We take feedback from our user community seriously so please share your thoughts.  I’m available in Himmelfarb 101 and can also be reached at leabate@gwu.edu or 202-994-8570.

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Welcome!
Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash

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. 

Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest Himmelfarb news and updates. 

We look forward to serving you! Welcome to the GW community!

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Image of a login screen with a hand on a keyboard in the background.
Image retrieved from https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-qqdhk

As you may have heard, GW is now using the term “UserID” in place of what was formerly known as “NetID.” When logging into your GW email account, Blackboard, GW Box, web conference and other GW systems, you are now asked to use your UserID. This includes how you access your Himmelfarb Library account and off-campus access to electronic resources.

If you claimed your GW identity prior to May 22, 2022, there will be no changes in how you access your GW accounts. You should continue to login using the first part of your GW email address (i.e. userID@gwu.edu) as your UserID. 

For new students, faculty and staff who claim their GW identity after May 22, 2022, a new identity claiming process is now in place. GW users who claim their GW identity after May 22, 2022 will use their GWID (an alpha-numeric value used to identify you within GW’s systems, the letter G followed by an 8-digit number - example: G12345678) as their UserID. 

So how do you know which user ID is the correct one to use? Remember that it’s dependent on when you claimed your GW identity. If your GW Identity was claimed:

  • After May 22, 2022: UserID is your GWID (G12345678).
  • Before May 22, 2022: UserID is the first part of your GW email address.

For more information, please visit the GW Information Technology Identity and Access Management website. If you have questions about GW’s One Identity Manager, check out the frequently asked questions page.

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Did you know himmelfarb has a bookshelf on the 1st floor that is reserved for you? 

We call it the “take a book, leave a book” bookshelf, and it works exactly the way it sounds. The take a book, leave a book shelf is in the nook area next to the Humanities and Health Collection. If you’re familiar with little free libraries, this is the same concept. We invite you to take any of the books on the shelf for personal reading. There is no need to check them out at the circulation desk.

Do you have books at home that are collecting dust, or do you have a few titles that you would like to share with your classmates? Feel free to leave them on the “take a book, leave a book” shelf. Keep in mind that leaving a book is discarding the book - these titles are not added to our collection, and we do not keep track of them. That being said, isn’t it fun to try something new? Who knows, you might find your next favorite book on our take a book, leave a book bookshelf!

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Sticky Note with "To Do" Scrabble letters above.
Photo by Breakingpic from Pexels

As Spring semester draws to a close, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with tying up loose ends, completing long to-do lists, and meeting last minute deadlines. Himmelfarb Library can help ease the burden by providing study space and scholarly resources to help prepare you for end of semester exams and assignments, and resources and services to help you prepare for next semester. Here are some things to keep in mind as the end of Spring semester gets closer.

Returning Books

If you have books checked out, whether they are Himmelfarb Library books, Interlibrary Loan or Consortium Loan books, be sure to return these items to the Himmelfarb Circulation desk. Himmelfarb is open 24/7 so stop by and return your items when it’s most convenient for you.

Renewing Books

If you need to renew an item, there are three ways to do so:

  • Online: Log into your library account with your GW NetID and password.
  • In Person: Stop by the Himmelfarb Circulation Desk and renew items in person.
  • Phone: Call the Circulation Desk at (202)994-2962

Check Your Accounts

Be sure to log into your library account to see a list of all items checked out to you. Check your Documents2Go account to make sure you don’t have any items due or owe any money for Interlibrary Loan requests. If you have Consortium Loan Service (CLS) related fees, contact the lending library to arrange payment. 

Studying at Himmelfarb

Are you looking for a quiet place to study? Or do you need a group study space? Himmelfarb has options for both! If you are looking for a quiet place to study, the 2nd and 3rd floors (with the exception of Bloedorn Technology Center) of the library are reserved for quiet study. Both of these floors are designated quiet zones. If you don’t mind noise while you study, or want to study with other people, the first floor of the library is not a quiet floor and can be a good fit for these preferences. 

Study rooms are also an option! Study rooms must be reserved, so be sure to make your reservations ahead of time. Most study rooms can accommodate up to four people and have large computer screens and white boards. White board markers and erasers are available for checkout at the first floor Circulation Desk.

Don’t forget that masks are still required inside Himmelfarb Library in compliance with GW’s indoor mask requirements!

Faculty End-of-Semester Items:

Embedded Librarian Service

Are you planning ahead for Summer or Fall semesters and would like to have a Himmelfarb Librarian embedded in your Blackboard course? Contact Tom Harrod (tph@gwu.edu) to make arrangements!

Course Materials 

Are you thinking of adding new books, articles, or other materials to your upcoming courses? Let us know what materials you are considering using. We are happy to look into print or online access options! Contact Ian Roberts (imroberts@gwu.edu) for assistance. And don’t forget to submit your Course Reserves requests for Summer semester.

Library Outreach

If you have residents or students that are new to GW and are interested in scheduling a brief orientation to Himmelfarb Library, let us know! We are happy to meet with your group and provide an overview of all Himmelfarb has to offer and answer any questions you or your residents or students may have. Contact himmelfarb@gwu.edu for more information.

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Have you noted some new faces at the Information Desk on the Himmelfarb Library first floor or manning our library chat service? We are pleased to introduce you to Rachel Brill, Reference and Instruction Librarian, and Corinne Petro, Evening/Weekend Reference Specialist.

Rachel recently completed her Masters in Library Science at Indiana University and worked previously as a reference assistant at Wells Library at Indiana University. She also has instructional and scholarly publishing experience, including utilizing NVivo for qualitative analysis. At Himmelfarb, she joins our team of reference and instruction librarians who provide research support and online database search services, and instructional services, including serving as embedded librarians in the first and second year MS Practice of Medicine curriculum. You can reach Rachel at rgbrill@gwu.edu.

Here are some more things to know about Rachel!

What are you enjoying most about your experience at Himmelfarb Library so far?

That everyone has been so friendly! The Himmelfarb staff was so welcoming to me. I feel like I’m already a part of the Himmelfarb family. I’m also really excited to start working with med students in the POM class.

What has surprised you?

That we have a real human skeleton on the 3rd floor!

Tell us a bit about your background.

I hail from Cherry Hill, New Jersey, outside of Philadelphia. I got my bachelor’s degree in classics at Princeton University, and then I got master’s degrees in library science and history from Indiana University. I have always wanted to be a librarian, especially in a role in which I could assist students and scholars conducting research. It is a dream job for me because I get to learn new things all the time.

What do you like to do in your free time?

You can usually find me reading a book, watching a funny TV show, or listening to show tunes.

Corinne is currently working on her Masters in Library Science at San Jose State and has a Bachelor in Philosophy and Women and Gender Studies from Colorado State. Corinne has extensive experience in educational settings, including work as a tutor and parent liaison at tutoring and child care services. She also has experience as a writing instructor and as an office administrator. Corinne will primarily staff the first floor information desk and the library chat service at Himmelfarb in the late afternoon and evenings during the week and on Saturday afternoons. You can reach Corinne at corinnepetro@gwu.edu.

Here are some more things to know about Corinne!

What are you enjoying most about your experience at Himmelfarb Library so far?

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know my coworkers, everyone is very helpful and kind. I’m also just happy to be working at the reference desk so I can put what I’m learning in my classes into practice.

What has surprised you?

I’m happily surprised about the many 3-D printed frogs that live here.

Tell us a bit about your background.

I studied Gender Studies and Philosophy during my undergrad at Colorado State University. Now I am studying for my Master’s in Information and Library Science at San Jose State University. I also work part time as a teacher and as a pet-sitter.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like spending time with my pets, reading, writing, and playing games. I also enjoy hiking.

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Join us for a series of noontime webinars February through May providing an overview of systematic reviews in the health sciences literature. Whether you’re planning to do a systematic review or just want to update your knowledge or fill in some gaps, these 30-minute sessions will provide the information you need from an expert librarian. Tom Harrod, Associate Director, Reference, Instruction and Access will be the instructor for all sessions. Tom has extensive experience with both authoring systematic reviews and teaching others, including a two week elective session, “Introduction to Systematic Reviews” for second and third year medical students.

Register to attend the seminar sessions live or view the recordings on our YouTube channel later.

Magnifying glass on keyboard

Here’s more information on our scheduled webinars:

PRISMA, Cochrane, and Other Systematic Review Guidelines, Thursday, February 17th, from noon to 12:30pm  Explore a variety of guidelines and standards that guide researchers on the proper way to execute a systematic review.

Developing A Research Question , Thursday, March 3rd, from noon to 12:30pm  Find out how to take an idea for a systematic review and transform it into a research question that can be used to drive the development of a systematic review protocol.

Formulating A Search Strategy, Thursday, March 17th, from noon to 12:30pm  Learn about the vital role that librarians play in supporting systematic reviews, including their role in developing an exhaustive and complete literature search strategy.

Using Covidence, Thursday, March 31st, from noon to 12:30pm  Explore Covidence, a software program that vastly streamlines the process of performing a systematic review.

Screening Articles, Thursday, April 14th, from noon to 12:30pm  Learn how to plan and execute the process of screening candidate articles identified through your search strategies.

Extracting Data, Thursday, April 28th, from noon to 12:30pm  Explore the process of systematically extracting data from the articles that made it through the screening process.

Quality Assessment, Thursday, May 12th, from noon to 12:30pm  Find out how systematic reviewers evaluate the quality of their included studies by using established quality assessment tools.

Do you need assistance with a systematic review? Contact our team of reference librarians to schedule a consultation at himmelfarb@gwu.edu or chat with us at Ask a Librarian.

A full listing of all our scheduled Spring 2022 classes is on our Library Events page. 

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