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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! 

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.

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:

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!

Over the Thanksgiving break the library will be operating on a modified schedule. On Wednesday, November 22, 2023the library will close at 8:00 pm.

We will resume normal 24/7 hours after re-opening on Sunday, November 26, 2023.

DayDateHours
WednesdayNovember 22, 2023Closing at 8:00pm
ThursdayNovember 23, 2023CLOSED
FridayNovember 24, 2023CLOSED
SaturdayNovember 25, 20239:00am - 8:00pm
SundayNovember 26, 2023Opening at 9:00am
Have A Happy Thanksgiving!

We're closed for Winter Break! Our e-resources are always available at https://himmelfarb.gwu.edu

We’ll be taking a break from new blog posts this week. New blog posts will return on January 2, 2023. 

Our building will reopen on Monday, January 2, 2023, at 12 Noon and close at 8:00pm. On Tuesday, January 3, 2023, we will open at 7:30am and resume 24-hour operations. To see our complete hours, take a look at our website. And don't forget that our electronic resources (databases, e-books, and e-journals) are always available from anywhere!

If you’ll miss being in the library while we’re closed, here’s some library ambiance to tide you over:

https://youtu.be/ItSSbtHXGK0

The Library's holiday hours are as follows:

Date Time
Friday, December 23, 2022 Closing at 6:00pm
Saturday, December 24, 2022 Closed
Sunday, December 25, 2022 Closed
Monday, December 26, 2022 Closed
Tuesday, December 27, 2022 Closed
Wednesday, December 28, 2022 Closed
Thursday, December 29, 2022 Closed
Friday, December 30, 2022 Closed
Saturday, December 31, 2022 Closed
Sunday, January 1, 2023 Closed
Monday, January 2, 2023 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Tuesday, January 3, 2023 Opens 7:30 am and resumes 24/7 hours
Library holiday hours

...continue reading "Himmelfarb Library Winter Holiday Hours"

Graphic listing holiday hours. Same hours are listed in blog post.

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

DateDayHours
November 23, 2022WednesdayClosing at 8:00pm
November 24, 2022ThursdayClosed
November 25, 2022FridayClosed
November 26, 2022Saturday9:00am - 8:00pm
November 27, 2022SundayOpening at 9:00am

We will resume normal 24/7 hours after re-opening on Sunday, November 27, 2022.

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!

Image source: unsplash.com

We hope you all had a safe and relaxing Winter Break. We look forward to seeing you in the spring semester. Our current access policy and hours of operation are the same as Fall 2021.  Please see below for more information and also for descriptions of and links to our core resources and services.

Onsite Access

We look forward to seeing you if you plan to visit Himmelfarb onsite! But first, please check that you are in compliance with the library’s entry requirements:

  1. All affiliates must present a valid GWorld card upon Himmelfarb Library entry.
  2. All affiliates must have the required COVID vaccine documentation uploaded into the health portal
  3. All affiliates must follow GW's current testing schedule.

Library hours

Visit the Himmelfarb Library website for our current hours of operation. Our daily hours are always posted and updated on the Himmelfarb Library website. Presently we are open:

Mondays - Thursdays: 8am - 11pm

Fridays: 8am - 8pm

Saturdays: 12pm - 8pm

Sundays: 12pm - 11pm 

We hope to return to 24/7 hours of operation on Wednesday, January 19. Please continue to check our website for updated information.

Circulation Desk

Can’t find the book you need on the shelf? Do you want to know if we own a particular book title? The staff at the first floor Circulation Desk are here to help! The Circulation Desk is staffed during all hours of operation. For questions about our services, please email mlbcir@gwu.edu or call us at (202) 994-2962.

Reference Services

Need help with formatting citations, searching databases, or finding information? Himmelfarb Library provides reference assistance Mondays – Fridays from 8am to 5pm. Stop by the first floor Reference Desk for a consultation, use our Chat service to message with Reference staff, or visit our web page to discover the additional ways you can reach a Reference librarian, whether you are on- or off-campus.

Classes

We can demystify APA citation format for you! We’ll introduce you to the systematic review process! Explore Himmelfarb’s listing of online classes that can help you with your research —  and, registration is free!

Consortium Loan Service and Interlibrary Loan

Would you like to borrow books or order articles that we don’t have in our collection? No problem! We offer two ways to bring those items to you.

Through our Consortium Loan Service, you may request books from other academic libraries in the DC Metro area, including Gelman Library. All requested books are delivered to Himmelfarb within a few days. You will be notified when books have been delivered, and then you can come to our Circulation Desk to check them out. (We will also return the books for you when you bring them back.) If you live out-of-town and require shipping, we can accommodate you.

If no local consortium libraries have what you’re looking for, or you need a journal article that's not in our collections, then our Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service will find it for you! Students receive up to 15 free ILL requests (books or articles) per semester. Requested articles usually take 2-3 days to arrive in your inbox, and books usually take 7-10 days to be shipped to Himmelfarb for checkout.

GW Writing Center

Great news for you if you’d like a little help with the papers you’re writing. GW’s Writing Center will begin offering weekly in-person consultations at Himmelfarb later this month. You’ll soon be able to schedule appointments to meet with a member of the Writing Center team. Stay tuned for further details!

Study Room Reservations

We have plenty of study rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors (and a few on the B1 level!). Remember to make an online reservation prior to using a study room.

3D Printing

We invite you to explore our 3D printing services, Find a model you’d like and we’ll print it for you at a cost of ten cents per gram, with a $1 minimum charge. (If you’re interested in printing scientific models, the NID 3D Print Exchange is a great place to explore.)