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Category: Library Facilities

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Published on Leave a comment on 2025 Fall Semester Wrap-Up!
Picture of high-top desks at Himmelfarb Library.

It’s hard to believe that it’s already December and that the Fall semester is almost over. Congratulations on completing the semester! As the semester draws to a close and your well-deserved Winter Break approaches, we’d like to share some end-of-semester tips to help make this month as stress-free as possible during this busy time. This post includes information for students about studying at Himmelfarb, returning and renewing library materials, faculty end-of-semester tips, and Himmelfarb's Winter Break hours.

Studying at Himmelfarb Library

Himmelfarb Library is a great place to study and prepare for exams! We recognize that study preferences and needs vary from person to person. Himmelfarb has space for all noise level preferences! Here’s an overview of where you can find the perfect study space to suit your needs:

Silent Study Space: 

Silence is golden on Himmelfarb’s second floor. This silent floor, reserved for graduate and advanced degree students, is the ideal location for those seeking absolute silence while they study. Our new table dividers will help you resist the urge to talk or whisper with others at your table. The second floor also has both open and closed study carrels to meet your silent study needs. 

Quiet Study Space: 

The main portion of Himmelfarb’s third floor is a quiet study area where quiet collaboration is accepted. This floor is generally quiet, but does not have the pristine silence of the second floor.

Collaborative Group Study: 

If you’re looking for a place to study with friends, Himmelfarb’s first floor or group study rooms are a great option for you! The first floor is an ideal space to study with friends. It’s not a quiet floor, and it has a range of furniture options, including four-person tables, high-top tables that can serve as standing desks, and comfy couches. 

Himmelfarb’s 28 group study rooms are another great option! Reserving a study room during peak exam periods will guarantee you’ve got the perfect space for your group. Forgot to reserve a room in advance? No problem! Scan the QR code outside an available study room, and make the reservation when you arrive. Study rooms can be booked a week in advance and reserved for up to four hours at a time. Most study rooms can accommodate up to four people, and have large computer screens and dry-erase boards. Dry-erase markers and erasers are available for checkout at the service desk located on the first floor. Study rooms are located on the second and third floors, which are silent or quiet. Please keep conversations at a low volume as study rooms are not noise-proof.

Picture of a 2nd-floor Himmelfarb study room.
One of Himmelfarb's 2nd-floor study rooms.

Study Break Space: 

When it’s time to take a well-deserved study break, check out our Healthy Living Collection located on the first floor near the sofas. You can unwind and relax on the comfortable couches, help finish whatever the current puzzle is on the puzzle table, get in some movement with our hula hoops, yoga mats, and light weights, play a friendly game of chess or another board game with friends, or destress with some adult coloring.

Picture of Himmelfarb's Healthy Living area with puzzle table, hula hoops, and board games.
Picture of Himmelfarb's healthy living area with board games, adult coloring, and yoga mats.

Helpful Study Supplies & Technology

Himmelfarb has a variety of study supplies and technology that can be checked out from the service desk on the first floor, including:

  • Dry-erase markers and erasers
  • Remote controls (for study room monitors)
  • HDMI, VGA, and VGA to HDMI adaptors
  • MacBook, iPhone, and Android Chargers
  • Headphones

Earplugs and scrap paper are also available at the first-floor service desk.

Returning or Renewing Library Materials

Before leaving campus for Winter Break, check your library account to check due dates for any items you have checked out. If you’d like to renew items, log in to your library account, stop by the first-floor service desk, or call (202)994-2962. If you have materials borrowed through Interlibrary Loan, check your Docs2Go account for due dates, and return items on time so we can ship them back to their home library.

Faculty End-of-Semester Tips

Embedded Librarian Service

If you’ll be teaching in the Spring 2026 semester and want a Himmelfarb Librarian to be embedded in your Blackboard course, email us at himmelfarb@gwu.edu to make arrangements!

Course Reserves

Don’t forget to submit your Course Reserves Requests for the Spring 2026 semester!

Linking to Electronic Resources

When finalizing your course syllabi or linking to resources in Blackboard, remember to create durable links for Himmelfarb resources (i.e., journal articles, books, streaming videos, etc.) to ensure your students have seamless access to these resources. Using Himmelfarb’s Quick Tool to generate durable links is an easy and efficient way to get durable links. For help with creating durable links, contact himmelfarb@gwu.edu.

Himmelfarb’s Winter Break Hours

Himmelfarb Library will close for the Winter Break, starting at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Our building will be closed from December 23, 2025, through January 3, 2025. Visit our hours page to view our full hours and holiday closures.

While our building is closed over the break, our databases, journals, and e-books are available from anywhere through our website!

Five blocks spell out "study" in front of some textbooks
Published on
Five cubes that spell out "study" are shown in front of some textbooks

Finals season getting to you? Feeling anxious about exams? Are you considering locking yourself in the library until you memorize your textbooks? Before you go to drastic measures, consider trying out some of the following tips and tricks to make studying for finals go smoothly. 

  1. Try making some practice exams: Reviewing class notes is a great way to study but after a second or third pass, it can feel like you’re just skimming through the information, rather than taking it in. If you want your studying method to be more active, consider making a practice exam to see if your notes are actually sticking in your memory. If you take questions from old exams, study guides, and assignments, you can make a practice exam that not only covers important concepts but forces you to review your notes as you make it more in-depth. Want to take this tip to the next level? Rope in a friend to make their own practice test and swap with one another. 
  2. Flip through some flashcards: Flashcards are a tried and tested method for a reason. If you don’t want to make your own flashcards, Access Medicine provides plenty of flashcards for all sorts of medical topics. 
  3. Review pre-printed textbooks and guides: Himmelfarb has plenty of study material in our collection, including guides on various medical topics. Materials are available both digitally and physically, so make sure to pick one that suits your preferred studying style.
  4. Find the right environment: Need a quiet place to study? Have trouble staying on task at home? Try the library! Study better as a group? Our first floor has plenty of space for folks to gather to discuss in teams. Need a quieter environment? If you’re one of our Graduate students, try Himmelfarb’s second floor is for silent study, and our third floor is for quiet study. If you want to go even quieter, feel free to take some of the complementary earplugs at the front desk. 

Finals can be stressful but hopefully, with these study tips, you’ll be ready for exams with as little stress as possible!

Published on

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

Studying for Exams:

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

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

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

Picture of puzzle table with puzzle and adult coloring pages.

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

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

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

Group Study Rooms

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

Helpful Study Supplies & Technology

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

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

Earplugs are also available at the Circulation Desk.

Returning Library Materials

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

Himmelfarb’s Winter Break Hours

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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

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

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

1st Floor: The Not Quiet Floor

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

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

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

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

2nd Floor: The Silent Floor!

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

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

3rd Floor: The Quiet Study Floor

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

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

Group Study Rooms

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

Published on
Network Maintenance: 7/13 No WiFi!

GW IT has scheduled network maintenance on the Foggy Bottom Campus on Saturday, July 13th from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. Impacts to Himmelfarb Library, Ross Hall, and the Milken Institute School of Public Health include disruption of Wifi, network connections, and anything relying on network services will be unavailable. More information can be found at GW IT's Network Maintenance Schedule & Impacts.

Despite the loss of Wifi and network connections at Himmelfarb Library, the Library's website (https://himmelfarb.gwu.edu/) should remain accessible from other locations.

Published on
The image is a blue, buff, and white sign with the text "Have a safe WINTER BREAK!" There are snowflakes in the background.

Winter break is here! 

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.

Himmelfarb Winter Break Hours: Text in image is duplicated in post

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:

Published on
The image contains text that says "Happy Thanksgiving" and "Himmelfarb Holiday Hours." The background contains leaves and acorns.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Himmelfarb Library!

The library will be closed during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Our hours during this time are as follows:

https://go.gwu.edu/himmelfarbhours Happy Thanksgiving Himmelfarb Thanksgiving Hours: Nov. 22 (Wed)....Closing at 8pm Nov. 23 (Thurs)...CLOSED! Nov. 24 (Fri)....CLOSED! Nov. 25 (Sat)...9am - 8pm Nov. 26 (Sun)...Opening at 9am, Resume 24/7 hours

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.

Have a great Thanksgiving break!

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