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Published on Leave a comment on Welcome Back: Spring Semester Himmelfarb Basics!
Picture of study tables on Himmelfarb Library's 1st floor. Mural on back wall in background.

This post was authored by Joe McGraw.

We hope everyone had a long and restful Winter Break and are ready to get back into gear for Spring semester classes! We are looking forward to seeing everyone back in Himmelfarb Library!

As always, Himmelfarb Library is here to support you as you work this semester. Let us remind you of the basics of how we can help!

Library Hours

Himmelfarb’s regular hours:

Himmelfarb LibraryReference ServicesConsultation
Monday - Thursday6:00am - Midnight8:00am - 8:00pm8:30am - 5:00pm
Friday6:00am - Midnight8:00am - 7:00pm8:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday - Sunday8:00am - MidnightNot staffedNot staffed

The Hours page on the Himmelfarb website lists exceptions to our regular hours, including holiday closures.

Study Areas

Himmelfarb is a great place to study and has a variety of options to meet different needs and study styles.

  • Social Zone – 1st Floor: Our first floor is our social floor! It’s a great place to study with your classmates, hang out with friends between classes, and take a study break. We have a collection of coloring books, board games, puzzles, and a chessboard for when you need to unwind and catch a breath.
  • Silent Zone - 2nd Floor: Himmelfarb’s second floor is completely silent and reserved for graduate and advanced degree students. It’s the perfect place when you need no distractions so you can focus on your studies. Librarians enforce silence on this floor; even whispering can bother your fellow students.
  • Quiet Zone - 3rd Floor: The library’s third floor is a quiet (but not silent) study area. Whispering and quiet conversation are acceptable, but please be respectful of other students. For large study groups, the first floor or a study room might be better.
  • Group Study Rooms: Our study rooms are located on the second and third floors, and are great for study groups! Please reserve a room in advance to make sure the room is all yours! However, these rooms aren’t noise-proof, so please keep conversations quiet so you don’t bother others in the Silent and Quiet Zones.

Our Collections

Himmelfarb has extensive collections of online resources, including 120 databases, more than 6,500 e-books, and more than 6,600 journals that you can access anytime, any place, on and off-campus. Our main print collection, located on the basement floor, is available for checkout usually for three weeks, and if you need more time, you can renew the books at the first-floor service desk or from your library account twice.

On the first floor, we also have our Reference Collection and our Humanities and Health Collection. Reference Collection books are handbooks, encyclopedias, and dictionaries that can provide reliable information at your fingertips. Unlike our main collection, Reference books cannot be checked out. Books in our Humanities & Health Collection include fiction and popular non-fiction titles focused on medical or health-related topics. Take a break from textbooks and scholarly articles and enjoy a fun book when you need a break. Humanities and Health Collection items can be checked out for three weeks at a time.

If you can’t find what you need from our collection, we can get it for you from another library! We can borrow physical books from other universities in the DC area with the Consortium Loan Service, and we can get articles and books from the whole country (sometimes the world) using Docs2Go(ILL). Learn which option is best for you on our Borrowing from Other Libraries page. 

Technology Resources

A library is more than just a warehouse for books and journals. We also have a lot of technology and equipment for you to use!

  • Virtual Reality Headsets: Use this awesome technology to explore virtual anatomy as well as healthy living apps. 
  • 3D Printing: We have two 3D Printers that students can use for free. Check out our 3D Printing Guide for more information, as well as databases of 3D Models.
  • BodyViz: This interactive anatomy tool is a great way to explore and learn anatomy in a fun and new way!
  • Statistical Software: We have specialized software installed on some of the computers on the 3rd floor, including ArcGIS, SPSS, SAS, NVivo, and MATLAB. 
  • Recording Equipment: We have digital camcorders, voice recorders, and ring lights for your media-related projects. You can reserve these in advance to make sure you can get them.
  • Medical Equipment: We have suture kits, a blood pressure monitor, an ultrasound machine, an ECG Monitor, an iPhone otoscope, and a fitness tracker available for you. 
  • Tech & Support: We have chargers for your iPhones and MacBooks, USB-C to HDMI OUT and USB-C to USB-A In adapters, HDMI Cables, headphones, and dry-erase markers for you to use. We also have free earplugs at the first-floor desk.

Reference and Research Support

Himmelfarb librarians do more than provide you with resources! We can also help you do research and find what you need for your work, whether you’re looking for just the right article for a class assignment or need help with a literature search or systematic review. We can also help you learn how to use our resources like RefWorks and Covidence. 

Come by the first-floor service desk to get help from our friendly staff in person, or use our Ask a Librarian service to chat virtually. Our chat services are staffed by real Himmelfarb librarians (definitely not AI), so you can be sure you’re getting help from an expert. You can also always email us a question or schedule a meeting with a reference librarian at himmelfarb@gwu.edu. 

Connect with Us!

You can find us online on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube for the latest Himmelfarb news and updates! Subscribe to our blog to make sure you never miss anything from us!

We’re looking forward to helping you in the new year. Cheers to a successful Spring semester!

Published on
MLA Medical Library Association. Better information. Better Decisions. Partner with your medical librarian.

October is National Medical Librarian Month! True to this year’s theme, librarians and staff at Himmelfarb Library can help you find ‘Better Information’ to help you make ‘Better Decisions.’ You might be surprised at the number of resources and services we provide. Whether you’re looking for help performing a literature search, installing clinical apps like Lexidrug or DynaMed, working on a systematic review, or navigating the scholarly publishing landscape, accessing materials at other local academic libraries (and beyond), Himmelfarb can help!

General Himmelfarb Statistics

To give you an idea of the wide variety of resources and services Himmelfarb Library offers, here’s an overview of some general Himmelfarb statistics from the last academic year:

General InformationUse
In-Person Library Visits141,680
Library Catalog Searches1,229,787
Research Guide Views1,501,277
CollectionsTotals
Physical Volumes Owned70,703
Unique Book Titles29,479
Journal Titles6,600
Databases120
Borrowing & UsageUse
Journal Usage1,211,421
Database Usage269,835
Physical Items Borrowed3,280

It’s clear from the above data that Himmelfarb users are visiting our physical space and using our physical collections, electronic journals, databases, and research guides. 

Himmelfarb Services

Himmelfarb librarians and staff provided valuable services to support education, research, and clinical care. From answering reference questions through our Ask a Librarian service, providing in-depth reference consultations, processing 3D printing requests, and borrowing books and articles from other libraries for our users, we’ve been busy! Here’s a look at what we’ve done in these areas during the last academic year:

ServicesUse
Reference Questions Answered1,661
Reference Consultations441
3D Printing Jobs Completed100
Docs2Go & CLS Items Borrowed1,839

Health Sciences Research Commons

Himmelfarb’s institutional repository, the Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC), also had a busy year. The HSRC is where you can archive your scholarly works, including articles, conference papers, poster presentations, working papers, datasets, and other scholarly works. Works archived in the HSRC are indexed in Google Scholar, which can help your work get noticed. Just take a look at the number of times works archived in the HSRC have been downloaded below:

Health Sciences Research CommonsTotals
Total Works Archived50,821
Total Works Downloaded1,866,330
Works Archived (24-25 Academic Year)2,744
Works Downloaded (24-25 Academic Year)462,161

Thank You, Himmelfarb Librarians & Staff!

In honor of National Medical Librarians Month, we’d like to say thank you to every Himmelfarb staff member for all of the hard work and dedication they put into every single day! Without our amazing staff and librarians, we wouldn’t be able to provide our students, faculty, and staff with the services and resources they need to pursue their educational, research, and clinical care goals every day. 

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.
Published on

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.

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. 
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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.

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From all of us at Himmelfarb Library, we’d like to welcome all of the new residents, fellows, students, faculty, and staff who joined the GW SMHS, GWSPH, and GW Nursing community this month! We are thrilled that you’re here and we look forward to serving you during your time at GW! We know that the start of any new endeavor can be daunting, so we’d like to make it easier for you to get to know Himmelfarb Library.

To help you get the lay of the land, watch this short, video tour of the library with Himmelfarb’s Library Director, Laura Abate:

Himmelfarb Hours 

Our physical space, accessible through Ross Hall, is open the following hours:

Monday - Thursday: 7:30 am - Midnight

Friday: 7:30 am - 10:00 pm

Saturday: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

Sunday: 8:00 am - Midnight

Our current hours of operation are available on our website and include exceptions to normal hours (i.e. holiday closures). If you can’t make it to the library in person, you can get help from our librarians and staff via chat or phone (202-994-2850), or email himmelfarb@gwu.edu. Our databases, journals, and e-books are available 24/7, so even when our building is closed, you can access our electronic resources from anywhere.

Himmelfarb Resources and Collections

Himmelfarb’s collection is much larger than just the books in our stacks. We have 125 databases to search, including PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL. The search bar towards the top of our library homepage, known as Health Information @ Himmelfarb, can be used to search for physical and electronic books, journals, articles, dissertations, and more all in just a single search box! 

You can also browse and access our collection of journals from our e-journals page, or by using BrowZine. You can use BrowZine directly from your internet browser, or download the app to your IOS or Android device. BrowZine allows you to create a personalized bookshelf of journal titles, follow your favorite journals, and create alerts for new issues and tables of contents.

Here’s another pro tip: installing the LibKey Nomad browser extension on your favorite browser will provide easy access to full text when searching PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO databases, Google Scholar, Amazon, publisher sites, and more. With LibKey Nomad, you’ll be alerted when the full-text articles and e-books are available from Himmelfarb, and be able to get the PDF with a single click in most cases.

We also provide a wide range of e-books from AccessMedicine, ClinicalKey, EBSCOhost, and R2 Digital Library. You can browse our e-book collections, view our special collections in Health Information @ Himmelfarb, or search for any book via the Health Information @ Himmelfarb search tool on our homepage. We also have print books on the basement level of Himmelfarb. Most print books can be borrowed for three weeks with an additional two renewals. If we don’t have a book or article that you need, we can get it for you through our Consortium Loan Service or Documents2Go services. 

Clinical Resources

Himmelfarb provides specialized apps and information services to support those of you who provide patient care. DynaMed and Lexidrug are our go-to resources for easy access to clinical care resources. If you want resources available on your smartphone or other mobile device, check out our App Shelf to download apps to selected resources. Learn more about resources available to residents on our Residents and Fellows Guide!

Research Support

Himmelfarb is more than just a physical space with lots of study space and great databases, journals, books, and e-books! Our librarians and staff can support you in your research by helping with literature searches, conducting systematic reviews, and organizing sources with RefWorks or Covidence. We can also help guide you through the constantly evolving scholarly publishing landscape through our author services. 

Get help with your research from our knowledgeable reference librarians and staff. Stop by our circulation desk to get your questions answered in person, or use our Ask a Librarian service to chat with a reference librarian 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! We also have a wealth of research guides that can connect you with resources on a variety of topics. 

Connect with Us!

Connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for the latest Himmelfarb news and updates! Subscribe to our blog to make sure you never miss a post!

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

Published on
Image with callout text We want your feedback! and Share your satisfaction with our recent library catalog change.

In January we changed the default search scope for Health Information @ Himmelfarb, the library catalog, to automatically include print materials at other Washington Research Library Consortium Libraries. Including this content can improve your search results when searching for books and topics beyond clinical medicine. Print materials can be borrowed for free from the other consortium libraries and delivered to Himmelfarb or the VSTC Library though the Consortium Loan Service. You can read more about the change in our previous Library News article.  

The change is temporary as we gather feedback about it from users. You can provide your feedback to us through the form that is linked at the top of Health Information @ Himmelfarb or directly here. 

Screenshot of library catalog search box with arrow pointing at link to feedback form.

We are particularly interested in your satisfaction with search results using the new default scope. If you report issues with other functions through the form we will reach out to you to find a resolution if you supply your email, or you can get immediate help during business hours using our chat service. 

In addition to feedback form input, we plan to hold a focus group for more insights into how you use Health Information @ Himmelfarb and the impact of the scope change. If you would be willing to participate in a focus group, respond on the feedback form and be sure to include your email address. Participants will be entered into a raffle for a $10 Starbucks gift card.

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Earlier this week we launched a change to Health Information @ Himmelfarb, the library catalog. The default search scope is now “Articles + GW & Consortium Catalog”. This includes physical materials, primarily print books, from other academic libraries in the Washington Research Library Consortium (including Gelman and other GW Libraries) as well as Himmelfarb’s content (books, journal articles, videos, and more) in your search results.

There are many instances when including this content will improve your search results. Searches for books and topics beyond clinical medicine will frequently be enhanced by inclusion of the holdings of these libraries. The consortium content will be included in your search results automatically now. You’ll be able to see where items retrieved are available when you click through to the full record from search results:

Health Information @ Himmelfarb search results screen with consortium book result
Consortium book full record screen in Health Information @ Himmelfarb with holding libraries listed.

The Consortium Loan Service (CLS) allows you to request these items and have them delivered directly to Himmelfarb Library or the VSTC Library. You will see the option for the CLS Request form when you are signed into Health Information @ Himmelfarb with your GW UserID. Items borrowed on CLS typically arrive within a week of request. There are no charges or limits on how many CLS requests you can make.

Consortium loan service request form in Health Information @ Himmelfarb

If you prefer to use the original default search scope which includes Himmelfarb collections and subscription content only, you can still find it by clicking the down arrow in the search box and selecting the Articles + Himmelfarb Catalog scope.

Health Information @ Himmelfarb search box on home page with Articles + Himmelfarb Catalog scope selected

The change in default search scopes will continue through the Spring 2024 semester and then we will assess whether to make it permanent or revert back. Please provide feedback on the change by clicking on the link in the banner at the top of Health Information @ Himmelfarb pages.

Banner at top of Health Information @ Himmelfarb notifying about scope change and with link to feedback form

Your feedback will help us make the decision that is most helpful to you, our users. GW SMHS, SON and SPH students, faculty and staff who would be willing to participate in a brief focus group about the change can include contact information in the feedback form and will be entered in a raffle for Starbucks $10 gift cards.

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The Library Search Box, also known as Health Information @ Himmelfarb, searches the library’s physical and electronic collections simultaneously. Here are some tips for looking for a specific item, doing a complex search, and saving results.

Searching for Identifiers or Citations

We know that many of you use the search box to retrieve a specific article or other publication with a DOI or citation information. While putting a DOI directly into the search box will frequently retrieve the work, using the Find Item feature provides more options and a better chance of finding what you’re looking for.

To use Find Item go to go.gwu.edu/himmefarbfindit or from the Health Information @ Himmelfarb landing page select Find Item from the menu at the top of the page. Then use the buttons at the top of the Find Item tool to select the type of item you want to search - article, book, or journal. 

Find Item Citation Linker tool in Health Information at Himmelfarb

Input the identifier you have in the appropriate field and click Submit. For articles you can use a DOI or PMID. ISBN or ISSN values can be used for books and journals. Put in just the numeric value (ex. 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.02.018 for a DOI). You can search on both 13 and 10-digit ISBN values.

Doing Complex Searches

The Health Information @ Himmelfarb default search box is designed to do keyword searches. Using quote marks or nesting terms with parentheses or inputting symbols like & in the search box will not retrieve good results. To do a more complex search using boolean concepts or specifying fields to search, use Advanced Search. The Advanced Search button appears to the right of the search box:

Health Information at Himmelfarb search box with Advanced Search button at right circled

Advanced search allows multiple concepts to be entered by adding lines to the search. You can also designate what field you want to search (text, title, author, etc.), the material type being searched for, and the date range:

Advanced search screen in Health Information at Himmelfarb with search for health disparities in kidney transplant

Saving Searches and Results

After spending time setting up a search, you may want to save the search strategy to use again in the future. In order to save a search, you need to be logged into Health Information @ Himmelfarb. Use the Sign In button at the top right and input your GW UserID and password when prompted. If you’re already authenticated on your browser, the login will be automatic.

Sign in button above and to right of searchbox in Health Information at Himmelfarb circled

Once logged in, use the Save Query button at the top of the search results page to save the search. This will also save any filters applied.

Save query button highlighted above search results in Health Information at Himmelfarb

To use the search again, click on your name at the top right and select My Favorites.

Sign in drop down menu in Health Information at Himmelfarb with My Favorites option highlighted

If you’ve saved search results, you’ll also see them here. Select the Saved Searches tab to see and re-run saved searches. To the right are options to generate an RSS feed for the search, set up alerts when the search produces new results, or delete the search. 

Saved search screen in Health Information at Himmelfarb with RSS, alert and delete options highlighted

As mentioned previously, search results can also be saved to My Favorites. Use the pushpin next to the record in search results to save an individual record.

Search results screen in Health Information at Himmelfarb with My Favorites pushpin highlighted

Or check the box at the top of the results to save the results on the first page or top 50 results.

Search results screen in Health Information at Himmelfarb with Save page results box at the top highlighted

The results can then be sorted, organized with labels, and output from My Favorites.

Check the Health Information @ Himmelfarb FAQ for more tips and instructions on searching and managing your results.

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The staff at Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library would like to extend a warm welcome to the incoming Medical Student class of 2027! Over the coming days and weeks, you will grow familiar with the George Washington University campus and begin your medical school coursework. To help you learn more about Himmelfarb Library and the services available to you as students, this article will serve as a primer for everything you should know about the library. 

Himmelfarb Library is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Reference services are available Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am-8:00 pm, Fridays from 8:00 am- 4:00 pm and Sundays from 4:00 pm- 8:00 pm. 

The library has a collection of physical and electronic media including books, audiovisual media, scholarly journals, and databases. There are several special collections within the library, including the MD Program: Required Books & Information Resources, Himmelfarb Library New Books, and Humanities & Health Collection. Please see our full list of special collections for access to these and other special collections.

Our physical collection is spread across the library’s four floors with most books shelved on the basement level. If you are unsure of an item’s location, a staff member at the circulation desk will assist you. The collection catalog is located on the homepage at himmelfarb.gwu.edu. The search box’s default setting is ‘Articles + Himmelfarb Catalog.’ and will display results within our collection. If you would like a more in-depth overview of the library search box, read Tips for Using Himmelfarb’s Library Search Box. 

Himmelfarb has several interactive pieces of technology in its collection. There are two 3D printers in the library and faculty, students, and staff members are able to submit print job requests online. There is no charge for most print requests and pricing will be clearly communicated before printing begins. Our 3D Printing at Himmelfarb guide contains more information about the 3D printing program and explains Himmelfarb’s 3D printing policies. 

The BodyViz virtual anatomy software suite located in Himmelfarb 305 is an interactive software that lets you examine and manipulate anatomical models. There are over 1,000 data sets loaded onto the BodyViz software. To reserve the BodyViz suite, please use the online reservation system. The library also has two Quest VR headsets available for checkout. Both headsets are loaded with the Medicalholodeck Medical Virtual Reality platform and may be used to explore anatomical models. To check out the VR headsets, visit the circulation desk. 

There are multiple ways to contact a librarian if you need assistance. The Ask A Librarian service is available through our website. You may send an instant message to a member of the reference staff via the chat feature on our homepage or call the desk at (202) 994-2962. You may also send an email to himmelfarb@gwu.edu or stop by the circulation desk to speak with someone from the Himmelfarb team. 

In addition to our electronic and physical media, the library maintains general and subject-specific research guides to help you complete your coursework or engage in the research process. Some guides that may be useful as you start your time at GWU are the AMA Citation Style, APA Citation Style, Borrow from Himmelfarb, Borrow from Other Libraries, Library Tutorials, and Study Design 101 guides. There are also subject-specific research guides that provide links to readings, tutorials, databases, journals, and other resources related to the specific health sciences subject. Visit our homepage or our dedicated Research Guides page to see the current list of research guides. 

Study spaces are located on each floor of the library. Some spaces, such as the tables located on the first floor, are on a first-come, first-served basis. The study rooms on the basement, 2nd and 3rd levels must be reserved. If you are using a room without a reservation, you may be asked to move to honor a pre-existing reservation. To reserve a study room, visit our online reservation system. To learn about the quiet level zones in the library, please see our Studying at Himmelfarb? Know Our Zones article. 

Follow Himmelfarb Library’s Facebook and Instagram accounts to learn more about future events or changes to our collection. We look forward to working with you during your time at the George Washington University.

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Himmelfarb Library has an extensive collection of online books, journal articles, and multimedia materials. These resources can be accessed from both on- and off-campus locations. To ensure consistent access to e-resources from off-campus locations, a durable link may be required. Durable links provide consistent access to electronic journals, articles, books and other materials by ensuring that GW users are recognized and can access library collections. If you are a faculty member preparing for the start of a new semester, Himmelfarb Library’s Durable Link Service can assist you with embedding durable links into your syllabus and other course materials which will provide your students with reliable access to course materials. 

Durable links are URLs that directly connect users with Himmelfarb Library’s electronic resources. These links are reliable and allow faculty members to share resources with students and avoid copyright violations. 

There are four ways to create durable links:

  • Attach a proxy prefix
  • Use a permalink
  • Link by PMID, DOI, ISBN or ISSN
  • Link to databases

 You can attach a proxy prefix to a resource’s URL which will route the link through GW’s systems and authenticate users as needed. Himmelfarb’s proxy prefix quick tool will automatically generate a link with the required proxy prefix. The tool also allows you to test the link prior to adding it to your syllabus or Blackboard course so you are confident that the URL works. 

Himmelfarb’s catalog records have an option to create a permalink for a resource. Search for the resource in the catalog and select the ‘Permalink’ button under ‘Send to.’

This option will direct your students to the resource in the catalog where they can open the item’s full text. Databases such as EBSCO, Ovid and Proquest also have ‘Permalink’ features that can be given to students. 

If you have the PMID, DOI, ISBN or other unique identifier for a resource, you may use this to create a durable link. For example, if you have the DOI for a journal article, you may append it to http://himmelfarb.gwu.edu/doi/ to link directly to the article (e.g. http://himmelfarb.gwu.edu/doi/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.11.035). For more examples please see the ‘Link by PMID, DOI, ISBN or ISSN’ section on our Linking to Electronic Resources: Creating Durable Links guide. 

Last, you may link directly to databases. Visit the A-Z List: Databases page, search for the specific database and click the connected dots symbol to the right. A small window will open with a durable link which will connect users to the database’s homepage. 

If you have questions about durable links or if you would like assistance with creating links, Himmelfarb Library is here to help! Our Linking to Electronic Resources: Creating Durable Links guide provides examples and additional information about durable links. Additionally, library staff members will check for broken links, generate new links and embed them onto your syllabus or Blackboard course. Send your syllabus or question to himmelfarb@gwu.edu and a staff member will provide more information.

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