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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.
To use the search again, click on your name at the top right and select My Favorites.
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.
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.
Or check the box at the top of the results to save the results on the first page or top 50 results.
The results can then be sorted, organized with labels, and output from My Favorites.
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.
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.
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.
We’d like to welcome everyone joining the SMHS, GW Nursing and GWSPH communities this month! Himmelfarb Library has a wealth of resources and services to meet your patient care, education, and research needs and you don’t need to visit the building to take advantage of most of what we offer. Our electronic collections are available 24/7 from anywhere, on campus or off campus when using VPN or web authentication services.
Himmelfarb Resources and Collections
Himmelfarb has 125 databases to search, including PubMed, Scopus, and our library discovery service Health Information @ Himmelfarb. Health Information @ Himmelfarb enables users to search physical and electronic books, journals, articles, dissertations, and more from one search box.
To browse and access our collection of e-journals we recommend using BrowZine. BrowZine can be accessed on a browser or you can download the app to your IOS or Android device. You can assemble a personalized bookshelf of journal titles, follow your favorite journals, and be alerted to new issues with a table of contents.
We also recommend installing LibKey Nomad on your favorite browser for easy access to full-text when searching PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO databases, Google Scholar, Amazon, publisher sites, and more. Nomad will alert you to the full-text availability of articles and e-books from Himmelfarb and in many cases deliver a PDF with one click.
If we don’t have what you need, we can get it for you through the Consortium Loan Service or Documents2Go. Consortium Loan Service provides free loans of materials from most of the academic libraries in the DC metro area. Documents2Go provides scanned article and chapter copies or physical book loans with up to 30 free requests for Himmelfarb users a year.
Clinical Tools and Applications
For those providing patient care, Himmelfarb has specialized apps and information services to support you. DynaMed, Lexicomp, and others are available to be downloaded as apps for easy access from your device. Check our App Shelf to browse for tools.
For residents specifically, we offer NEJM Resident 360. This resource contains interactive cases, videos, rotation prep materials, clinical pearls, morning reports, and more! To learn more about NEJM Resident 360 and our many resources for residents, check out our Residents and Fellows Research Guide.
For most of the academic year, the Himmelfarb Library facility is open 24/7. We will be observing shorter hours during the month of July - but will still be open nightly until midnight. Note that from June 12 to July 26, 2023 entry to both Himmelfarb Library and Ross Hall will be through the Himmelfarb courtyard entrance doors from 7pm to 7am Monday through Friday and on weekends. You need your GWorld badge to enter the library. There is space for quiet conversation and group work on the first floor and quieter spaces for study on the second floor. Reserve our study rooms in advance.
Can’t come to the library? Our librarians can assist you via chat or phone (202-994-2850) during business hours or email us anytime at himmelfarb@gwu.edu. We look forward to seeing you in the library or assisting you remotely!
Image from Women of Color in Tech stock images on Flickr (CC by 2.0)
The volume of new research being released can be overwhelming. You may need to keep up with new findings, developments, or guidelines to deliver quality patient care, pursue research, or teach and you may have multiple, disparate topics to follow. Scanning table of contents from your favorite journals won’t do the job. Twitter, ResearchGate and LinkedIn can help if you’re plugged into the right networks. We have some other tools to recommend to bring the latest relevant research to your attention.
Last spring Himmelfarb became an institutional member of Read by QxMD. Read is a personal awareness service for health sciences professionals. You can choose to follow curated collections or put in keywords to deliver relevant articles to your feed. The more you read, like, and save on Read, the more tailored your feed becomes. Check our article on Read to learn how to set up your free account and link directly to full-text articles. The Read app is available for Apple and Android devices and can be accessed via a web browser.
Browzine is a journal browsing and reading app that allows you to follow publications and receive alerts when new articles are published. You can set up a personal library of titles or search by subject. The Browzine mobile app allows you to download articles and read them offline. Set up a free account by accessing Browzine and selecting My Bookshelf.
Additionally, Health Information @ Himmelfarb, the library’s search box, allows users to save searches that can be re-run later. After you’ve run your search, Sign In with your University UserID and password:
Then use the Save Query button to save your search.
You can access the saved search later under My Favorites while signed in by clicking your name at upper right.
The Library Search Box, also known as Health Information @ Himmelfarb, searches the library’s physical and electronic collections simultaneously. It can also search the holdings of GW’s Gelman Library and Jacob Burns Law Library, and all the libraries in the Washington Research Library Consortium! Here are some tips for getting the most out of your search experience.
Refine Your Results
Health Information @ Himmelfarb searches millions of records and searches frequently return very large results sets. The service uses relevancy ranking to bring the best content to the top of results. You can use Refine Results to further narrow the results group to the best matches for your search. Refine options are listed on the left side of the results page.
You can refine by date, content type, subject or availability. Under Availability there are filters for open access and peer reviewed content.
Conversely, you can widen your search to include items outside of Himmelfarb’s collections by using the Expand My Results option at the top of Refine Results.
The Search Box Can Fetch!
Want to quickly retrieve an item with just one or a few pieces of information? Use the Find Item Citation Linker. Select Find Item from the top menu, select your item type (Article, Book or Journal) and input as many pieces of information as you know. If you have a PMID, DOI, or ISBN, that’s all you need.
Use Shortcuts to Full-text
Records for journal articles in the results list frequently include links to Download PDF or View Issue Contents.
These links use the LibKey service to provide shortcuts directly to full-text or to view the full journal issue in Browzine. To learn about other Browzine features, check our Research Guide. LibKey offers a browser extension called Nomad to get to full text faster in PubMed, CINAHL Complete, and Scopus. See this article for more on how to download and use Nomad.
Search and Request Items from Other Libraries
Use the drop down menu next to the magnifying glass on the search box to change the content from just Himmelfarb resources to content from the Washington Research Library Consortium. This will include content from the other GW libraries.
Once you find your item, you can request it from another library in the consortium by signing in with your GW User ID.
Then select the Consortium Loan Service Request.
Your email and the book data should automatically populate the form. Select your pickup library (Himmelfarb or Virginia Science and Technology Campus Library) and indicate if there is a date you no longer need the item after. You will receive an email notice when the item is available for pickup.
When you search Health Information @ Himmelfarb, the library’s search box, you will now be alerted to retracted content in the search results. This service is courtesy of Third Iron’s LibKey which provides the PDF and View Issue Contents buttons in article records. When an article is retracted, the PDF button is replaced with a Retracted Article button as illustrated below.
Clicking on the Retracted Article button opens a window that displays the retraction details (why the article was retracted) and PDF link if you still want to read or download the article.
Retraction notices are now available in other Third Iron products. For example, if you use the Browzine app to read e-journals from Himmelfarb, alerts to retracted articles will appear there. LibKey Nomad can be installed as an extension to your Chrome, Edge, or Firefox browser to provide PDF buttons in databases like PubMed. Nomad will now display Retracted Article buttons in those databases.
Need help searching for articles or other resources? Contact our reference team at himmelfarb@gwu.edu or through our chat service.
The Himmelfarb Library search box includes content ranging from books and book chapters, to dissertations, scientific reports, newspaper articles, and journals. If you’re looking for journal literature specifically, there are several methods you can use.
The first method is to use the Articles search scope. This will automatically limit all search retrieval to just article content. To activate this scope, click the down arrow next to the microphone icon to see all the search scope options and select Articles:
Articles scope includes articles from a variety of journal, magazine, and newspaper sources.You may need to use further limits, including selecting particular content types or limiting to peer review journals with the Availability filter on the left side of results.
These same limits can be used if you start in the default search scope and later want to limit your retrieval to a particular content type.
If you’re looking for content from a particular journal, use the Journal Search option. You can then search either the journal title or ISSN if you have it and can click through to the journal contents from the retrieved record.
To get to full-text of a retrieved article, use the Available Online link that appears in brief results or click the Download PDF link if present.
To see all supplier options for getting to full-text, click the article title in brief results to open the full record, then see the View Online area to click through to full-text from a particular supplier.
If there are no full-text options, use the Documents2Go link under How to Get It to order the article via interlibrary loan. You can login to Documents2Go with your GW NetID username and password.
A scanned or electronic version of the document will be sent to you. It may take several days to a week to process.
If you need assistance with searching the library search box or other databases, contact reference staff via Himmelfarb Library chat. For assistance with document delivery services, contact mlbdoc@gwu.edu.
