Himmelfarb Library congratulates staff members Valerie (Val) Bowles and Ian Roberts on their recent milestone work anniversaries at George Washington University! Val recently celebrated her 35th anniversary at GW, and Ian celebrated his 5th anniversary! To help celebrate these anniversaries, we interviewed Val and Ian to learn more about their careers at Himmelfarb.
When did you start working at GW? What was your first position here?
Val: September, 1989. My first position was the assistant to the since-retired Account Analyst Bozinca Baumuller.
Ian: October, 2019. I was (and remain) the Acquisitions and Resource Sharing Librarian.
What different positions have you held during your time at Himmelfarb?
Val: Executive Assistant to the Account Analyst for the library, Account Analyst for Educational Resources (Biomed, CASS, and Continuing Education) which is no longer, and now I’m the Account Analyst for Himmelfarb Library.
Tell us about your current position and what you do at Himmelfarb.
Val: I am the Account Analyst and am responsible for securing purchase orders, processing invoices, and managing the budget. I also have payroll and facilities responsibilities all with the library. Additionally, I provide accounting responsibilities for the Healing Clinic and the Office of Medical Education.
Ian: I buy books and help make decisions about buying and renewing platforms and databases. I also oversee resource sharing (both Interlibrary Loan and our Consortium Loan Service). In addition to my core title duties, I participate in the Practice of Medicine curriculum, communicate with vendors, manage collection development, run the annual Book Sale, and have helped lead library discussions and research related to artificial intelligence.
Can you tell us how Himmelfarb has changed over your career?
Val: Himmelfarb used to occupy the whole library but now there are at least 3 different departments housed in the library. And we used to have a staff lounge in the basement. Another big change is how I now process invoices. Back in the day (lol), I used to type them up on a payment request form and send them through interoffice envelopes. I also had to write them in a book for tracking purposes and then file them in our file cabinets by the vendor. We also used to be part of the Medical Center, different from now being part of the University.
Ian: I started five months before the pandemic began, so I saw the transition to full remote work and then eventually to the hybrid model we have now. Additionally (and partially informed by the hybrid work environment) I've seen a stark shift from the use of print resources to electronic resources.
What are some of the things you enjoy most about your job and working at Himmelfarb?
Val: I really enjoy working with numbers and ensuring that we stay under budget the most important part of my job. I really enjoy all of the many colleagues I have met and worked with over the years as well.
Ian: I appreciate that there's always room for growth and that I'm encouraged to try new things and find new trainings to take part in. The work is usually interesting because there's always a new project to tackle. And it's also a friendly, welcoming environment with excellent co-workers.
Can you share one or two of your favorite memories of working at Himmelfarb?
Val: The Holiday parties when staff would bring in homemade dishes/treats and some from their home countries, we had a great time.
Ian: The Misinformation project, which led to redesigning a class for first-year students about identifying and confronting misinformation as well as a book chapter that I co-wrote with colleagues. Also attending the Computers in Libraries Conference (which I've done twice now).
From all of us at Himmelfarb Library - congratulations to Val on your 35th anniversary and to Ian on your 5th anniversary at GW! We are so lucky to have you both as part of the Himmelfarb team!
As we move into the holiday season, Himmelfarb Library is excited to announce some changes and growth within our team. We are pleased to introduce our new colleague and to celebrate a well-deserved new role for one of our own.
Please join us in welcoming Joseph McGraw, Serials Librarian to the Himmelfarb Library family. We look forward to working with him. Please take a minute to get to know him.
Share your path to Himmelfarb Library. I’ve been on a journey through a few academic libraries before landing at Himmelfarb. Most recently, I was the Interlibrary Loan Librarian at Fogler Library at the University of Maine. Also at U Maine, I worked in the Research and Instruction Department (confusingly similar to the Shakespeare Library in DC so much that we got their emails sometimes). Before that I was the Student Employee Supervisor and Multimedia Manager at West Virginia University’s Downtown Campus Library, which was my first full-time library job after graduate school. I graduated from the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 2020 and graduated from the University of Virginia in 2014. In between, I managed KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in North Carolina.
Tell us about your position at Himmelfarb and what you do. I am the new Serials Librarian at Himmelfarb, only starting at the beginning of September. I manage the library’s online journal collection, working with other librarians in making decisions on which journal resources to buy as well as troubleshooting any problems that patrons have accessing the material.
What do you enjoy most about your position? I love being part of the academic life of a library at such a great university. Universities like this is where I feel at home. Since I’m so new to the position, I’m not sure what’s my favorite part of the job yet, but I’m looking forward to digging into projects at the library and becoming more familiar with the serials collection and all my great new coworkers.
What do you like to do in your time away from work? I play a lot of Dungeons and Dragons, at least twice a week. I’ve also gotten back into golf this summer and I’ve been trying to play at least weekly this summer. I’m also a big sports fan and I could talk about the Celtics or Arsenal all day, if you let me.
Where are you from originally, and what brought you to the DC area? Originally, I am from Tazewell, Virginia which is in very far Southwest Virginia along the border with West Virginia and close to Kentucky. I’ve moved around a fair bit, living in North Carolina, West Virginia, and Maine. I moved to the DC area in summer 2023 after my partner got a job in the area and I really love it so far!
In addition to welcoming new members, we are proud to announce that Brittany Smith has moved in to the position of Scholarly Communications and Metadata Librarian. Let’s sit down and chat with Brittany.
Congratulations on your new position! What would you say has been the best part of your experience in the transition to Scholarly Communications and MetadataLibrarian? Thank you so much! I think the best and also challenging part of the transition has been delving deeper with the library systems and programs that we use. In my previous position, I primarily used our systems to label and process new books or equipment. I worked with our institutional repository to import new monthly publications. But now I’m learning about other features that will help me as a librarian as I tackle complex cataloging and scholarly communications projects. It’s exciting and I enjoy changes to my normal responsibilities, but it is also a lot to learn and remember.
Have there been any hurdles in adjusting to the role? No, I would say it has been a seamless transition. Fortunately, I worked closely with Sara Hoover, the librarian who previously filled this position, for close to five years. In that time, Sara gradually trained me in more complex librarian-adjacent tasks and I learned a lot by asking questions, doing self-learning in my downtime or shadowing Sara and the other Himmelfarb librarians. There are some skills I hope to improve over the years, but I feel that I had an easy time moving from my previous position into this new role.
What is your favorite service that the library has to offer? The 3D printer! I recently submitted a print job for a piece of equipment to replace a broken piece at home. My mom had a difficult time finding a replacement part in stores and I thought the 3D printer at the library may be able to help. I haven’t tested our printer yet, but it is nice to know that I can print obscure pieces that may be difficult to purchase online. And I would love to use the printer for other jobs in the future.
What has been your favorite project to work on at Himmelfarb? I would say my favorite project so far was acquiring a button maker machine to make our own pronoun buttons for the library. This was a project that the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Committee worked on for a while and finally revealed at orientation this year. Right now we use the machine to refill our pronoun buttons stock at the circulation desk. The students at orientation seemed to enjoy the button maker machine; some even asked if they could make their own buttons during orientation. The machine and our supply of buttons are a simple way to encourage others to be mindful of a person’s pronouns. Plus, it’s fun using the actual machine; it breaks up the work day and it’s a good upper body workout!
Do you have any favorite hobbies that you like to do when you have downtime? In the spring and summer, I tend to hike a lot. I mostly stick to trails and parks in Virginia but I have explored a few in DC and Maryland. Roosevelt Island is a short, no elevation circuit trail that I enjoy. Great Falls is another good hiking spot around here; it was one of the first parks I visited when I started hiking. I also keep a vegetable and herb garden. I tend to grow tomatoes, eggplants, kale and lavender. When the cooler weather starts (like now), I stick to indoor activities. Unsurprisingly, I read a lot. My first masters degree is in Creative Writing and I spend a lot of time writing mostly fantasy and science fiction stories; recently I also decided to write personal essays. I play video games and I have a monthly table-top role-playing game night with some friends. Last but not least, wWhat is your favorite book and why? This is a tough question and I’m going to cheat a bit by giving more than one book. It’s a close tie between The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin and A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. A runner-up would be Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb. All three books are genuinely some of the best fiction I’ve ever read and these authors are brilliant storytellers that inspire me when I’m telling my own stories. These books all belong to a series and I think it’s worth reading the full series if possible, especially the Jemisin one. Last, there is a twist in The Fifth Season that I believe every sci-fi/fantasy reader should experience and enjoy.
If you’ve spent any time using Himmelfarb Library’s website, you’ve probably seen our Ask Us Chat. This chat reference service is one of the more popular ways Himmelfarb users get answers to their questions. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it’s natural to wonder if you’re actually speaking to a real person or just a chatbot when you interact with chat services online.
Himmelfarb’s Ask Us Chat service is staffed by real people Monday through Thursday from 8am to 8pm, and on Friday from 8am to 5pm. You’re not only chatting with a real person, but you’re chatting with a member of Himmelfarb’s dedicated reference department who are trained and skilled at finding answers to your toughest reference questions! You’ve probably even seen the person you’re chatting with around the library, or leading a webinar or tutorial you’ve watched. They might even be embedded in one of your classes!
We thought it was time that we introduce ourselves, so you can get to know some of the folks on the other side of the chat who are answering your questions. Without further ado, we’d like you to meet three of our amazing Reference Librarians: Rachel, Tom, and Deborah!
Rachel Brill
Rachel joined Himmelfarb’s reference and instruction department about two years ago, and has been a vital part of the Himmelfarb team ever since! When asked what her favorite part of working reference at Himmelfarb was, she said “It’s a really special feeling when someone’s been struggling to find that piece of information they need, and I’m able to locate it for them.” When Rachel isn’t at work, she likes to play with her cat and listen to show tunes.
Rachel wants our library users to know that “there are no ‘stupid’ questions that you can ask us - the Himmelfarb librarians are passionate about helping you learn, so ask away!”
Tom Harrod
Tom has been with Himmelfarb for about 13 and a half years and is one of the longest-serving reference librarians on staff. He now oversees the Reference and Instruction and Circulation departments at Himmelfarb as Associate Director of Reference, Instruction, and Access.
Tom’s favorite part of working reference is: “the feeling of knowing you’ve helped someone do something that had previously been a source of anxiety or uncertainty for them.” Tom gave the example of being able to help a student who wants to do a systematic review but doesn’t know what that entails. He enjoys “being able to talk them through the process, breaking it down into discrete steps they can take, and eventually, they have a growing feeling of comfort with the project because they now have a direction to go.”
Tom explained that there’s such a variety of chat questions - some quick questions that can be answered in 30 seconds or less, and other, more complex questions that can go on for multiple hours! Tom shared that “after having answered many chat questions over the years, there’s always something new you’ve never heard before that presents a challenge.”
When asked about his hobbies outside of work, Tom said “I used to have hobbies but instead, I now have a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old child. I am currently able to make some time for reading and last summer I embraced the typical ‘dad’ activity of becoming enthusiastic about BBQing/smoking food on the grill.”
Tom wants our users to know that “though we do our best to answer every question that comes in via chat, we’re also happy to set up a phone, in-person, or virtual meeting to handle more complicated, in-depth consultations.” Reach out to us via email (himmelfarb@gwu.edu) to schedule a meeting!
Deborah Wassertzug
Deborah has been a valued member of our reference team since December 2022. Her favorite part of working reference at Himmelfarb is all of the people she comes into contact with, whether online or in person.
When asked about a memorable chat interaction, she had two to share:
“When I worked at another university, someone signed onto library chat and demanded to know whether I was a human being or a bot. I assured them I was human."
“At GW, my favorite chat interactions turn into consultations! Sometimes there is a quick answer, but other times it is the tip of an iceberg -- it is always fun to get to delve more in-depth with a research project someone is just starting on.”
Outside of work, Deborah enjoys going to a lot of concerts, mostly classical and indie rock. She also writes poetry. Deborah wants our users to know that “Everyone who works at Himmelfarb is truly dedicated to providing the best possible library service and the strongest support for researchers.”
Ask Us! Real People are Waiting to Answer Your Questions!
So now you’ve met some of the real people who answer your Ask Us chat questions every day! Please reach out via chat, email (himmelfarb@gwu.edu), or call us at 202-994-2850 with your questions. Regardless of your preferred method of communication, you’ll be connected to a real person who can answer your questions. And rest assured, we’ll always work to find answers to your toughest questions.
"I do not know that answer right now - but I will do everything in my power to get that information for you. Please hold..."
We are very happy to welcome Rebecca Kyser to the Himmelfarb Library staff! Rebecca started work here as a Reference and Instruction Librarian in early October. She joins us from Otterbein University in Ohio where she was an Information Literacy Librarian. Rebecca has a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois where she won the Health Science Information Management Award and a Bachelor’s degree in English and Digital Studies from the University of Wisconsin. Here’s some things to know about Rebecca!
Tell us about your studies and work before Himmelfarb and how you got here.
Before Himmelfarb, I was a Visiting Information Literacy Librarian at a liberal arts college in central Ohio. It was a blast working there: I got to teach my own course during spring semester, and I had a lot of fun working with students. While I was in grad school, I worked as a research assistant studying Covid-19 misinformation, along with other types of health misinformation. I continue to do that research to this day; I find it somewhat amusing that I only have a TikTok account for research purposes.
What are you doing in your new position at Himmelfarb?
My position here is to serve in Reference and Instruction. Along with my colleagues, I’ll be working at the reference desk, monitoring the online reference chat, and doing some instruction in the Practice of Medicine courses. I hope to bring my specialized knowledge into the library more: medical misinformation has always existed but social media has really amplified it. My hope is that I can provide resources to better help students prepare for encountering it in practice.
What have you most enjoyed about working here so far?
I’m really excited to work in an actual medical library. It’s super interesting to see what students are working on, and how we approach medical education in the digital age. My Mom worked as a nurse in the old GW Hospital, so it’s really fun to compare her stories to how things are today.
What if anything has surprised you?
I don’t think I’m surprised by much, as I have worked in both medicine and librarianship before, but I will say I am adjusting from going from the Midwest to the East Coast. The fact that train service is so abundant here has been delightful: I don’t miss the amount of driving I had to do, that’s for sure.
What do you like to do in your time away from work?
I’m a pretty avid knitter, so my hands are often busy with my latest project. I’m also a huge fan of board games and trivia, so if anyone needs help on learning the board game Pandemic (we have it on the first floor), I would be happy to help.
October is National Medical Librarians month. Started by the Medical Library Association in 2001, it is “an annual observance that recognizes and appreciates the critical role that health information professionals play in healthcare, research, and education.“
This year’s theme is Yes, We Do That! Librarians and library staff at Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library do everything from literature searching and systematic review service and consultation, to providing support for virtual anatomy and 3D printing. Here are some of the things Himmelfarb librarians and library staff did over the last academic year:
Answered 2,188 reference questions through chat, email and at the Himmelfarb service desk, including 574 in-depth consultations for literature searches, systematic reviews, predatory journal consultations and for other reference and research support services.
Taught 725 education sessions to 7,422 attendees.
Ran 1863D print jobs for users.
Loaned over 3,800 books and other materials to users.
Borrowed 372 consortium loan service books for users and provided over 1,500 articles, chapters, and books through interlibrary loan services to users.
Purchased and processed 400+ new print books for Himmelfarb collections and 9 new anatomy models for the Bloedorn lab on the third floor - stop by and check them out!
Licensed and activated 619 new ebooks for users.
Provided service for 1.2 million links to full-text electronic resources.
Added 2,307 records representing GW SMHS, GW School of Public Health, and GW School of Nursing scholarly output to the Health Sciences Research Commons (HSRC). 192,814 items were downloaded from HSRC by researchers at 7,704 institutions in 216 countries!
Published 16 instructional videos to the Himmelfarb YouTube channel representing over 2 hours of original content, with high-quality closed captioning edited manually by library staff. Our new videos were viewed 465 times (13.27 total hours of watch time), out of 23,227 views (1,292 hours) for all content on our channel.
Created 9 and maintained 341 Research Guideson topics including APA Citation format, library tutorials, guides to databases, and resource guides by subject. Research Guides had over 2 million page views by users at GW and beyond.
Himmelfarb library staff members are here to support your research, education, and clinical information needs. Reach out to us through our chat service (always staffed by a Himmelfarb librarian or reference specialist), email at himmelfarb@gwu.edu, phone at 202-994-2850, or stop by our service desk.
Himmelfarb Library congratulates Catherine Sluder on her 40th anniversary working at The George Washington University! Catherine has been a member of Himmelfarb’s staff since May of 1985, and we are lucky to have had her as part of our team for the past 38 years!
We interviewed Catherine to learn more about her amazing career at Himmelfarb, the changes she’s seen in her time here, and why she enjoys working at Himmelfarb.
When did you start working at GW? What was your first position here?
I worked one summer in the early 1980s for the Pathology Department. My father, Frank Miller, was still teaching Pathology at GW, and he hired me to organize the department’s collection of stored specimens and slides.
When did you start working at GW? What was your first position here?
I worked one summer in the early 1980s for the Pathology Department. My father, Frank Miller, was still teaching Pathology at GW, and he hired me to organize the department’s collection of stored specimens and slides.
Image: Catherine standing next to the portrait of her father, Frank Miller. Catherine gets to walk past this portrait every day on her way to her office on the 3rd floor of the library.
When did you start working at Himmelfarb? What was your first position at Himmelfarb?
I started working at Himmelfarb in May of 1985. I worked at the Audiovisual (AV) Study Center (now the Bloedorn Technology Center). All lectures were recorded on cassette tapes, which we made copies of for the students on high-speed tape duplicators. We checked out boxes of 35mm Pathology slides and did lots of equipment troubleshooting.
What different positions have you held during your time at Himmelfarb?
In 1991, I became assistant manager of the AV Study Center, and later became manager of the renamed Bloedorn Technology Center. For many years, I have also worked with the Circulation Department, and have coordinated onsite access to Himmelfarb.
Tell us about your current position and what you do at Himmelfarb.
I still manage the Bloedorn Technology Center and oversee physical access to Himmelfarb. And I’m part of the Circulation Department team. I recently became the library’s current 3D printing liaison. And I have the privilege of being a library instructor in CIS small groups. Getting to know, work with, and learn from our medical students has been more rewarding than anything else I’ve done at Himmelfarb.
Can you tell us about how Himmelfarb has changed over your career?
The biggest change I experienced was the transition from physical media to digital. The old AV Study Center was stocked with 35mm slide projectors, VHS and U-Matic video players, and x-ray view boxes.
Years later, we offer VR anatomy programs to our students and are building a collection of streaming media titles in the health sciences and public health. Our assortment of anatomical models, articulated skeletons, and bone boxes, however, have never gone out of fashion. In fact, we are currently expanding our collection of anatomical models.
What are some of the things you enjoy most about your job and working at Himmelfarb?
I have always loved the people I work with (I can’t imagine working without them). And I love that our administration has continually encouraged staff to grow and to master new skills. And if you’re passionate about something that you’d like to pursue, however outside the boundaries of your traditional job description, supervisors and administrators will help you to nurture that passion in a way that benefits both you and the library.
Can you share one or two of your favorite memories of working at Himmelfarb?
When my boss at the time (and forever friend) Lynn Povanda managed the AV Study Center, we used to celebrate AV staff birthdays at work with champagne and white chocolate cake from the Watergate Bakery. We’d invite a few folks from the first floor to join us if we knew that they liked the bubbly (and wouldn’t snitch on us).
Also, in the festive vein, Himmelfarb staff have always thrown terrific winter holiday parties. The older parties were lavish potluck affairs. We’d decorate every square foot of Room B103, and then we’d indulge in all the amazing food that our co-workers had prepared.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I came to Himmelfarb Library as an avowed technophobe. With the encouragement and support of many colleagues over the years, I have learned to face my fears and to adapt to the challenge of new technologies in ways that would have surprised my older self.
And I hope that my father would be proud of my role, however tiny, in continuing to share knowledge with our medical students.
Catherine has certainly seen many changes in her time working here. We are appreciative that she has documented so many of these changes by being our unofficial photographer for Himmelfarb events. Even though she spends a lot of time behind the camera, we’re lucky to have captured some pretty great pictures of Catherine through the years.
Catherine (sitting) and former staff member Anne (standing) in the old computer lab.Catherine (right) posing with Josh (left) and Himmelfarb’s old Mickey Mouse painting.Catherine (2nd from left) with former staff members Lynn, Anne, and Lance (left to right).Catherine (2nd from left) posing with other “Crowned Heads of State” Himmelfarb staff members. Catherine (right) attending a service awards event with Barabara and Lynn (left to right).Catherine and George, former Acquisitions Librarian.Catherine (left) & current Himmelfarb Librarians Sara, Ruth, & Laura (left to right) at the GW Give a Gift present drop-off.Catherine (2nd from right), with former Himmelfarb staff members Anne, Truman, and Aytan (left to right).Catherine and Himmelfarb staff circa 2019.Catherine received the SMHS Dean’s Excellence in Service Award in March 2022 from Dean Bass.Catherine (middle) with Himmelfarb staff (Ruth, Laura, Kathy, & Tom - left to right) after receiving the SMHS Dean’s Excellence in Service Award in March 2022.
Catherine has long been a valued colleague to the staff she’s worked with through the years. So we thought it only fitting that we give current Himmelfarb staff an opportunity to express their congratulations and share their thoughts about working with Catherine on this momentous occasion. Here’s what they had to say:
“Catherine exemplifies what we strive for at Himmelfarb. She is a detail-oriented problem solver who focuses on providing consistent and high-quality services for our users. Catherine's thorough understanding of library systems, services, and processes, is demonstrated as she looks for ways to make improvements to support users and library staff alike. I'm most impressed with Catherine's work as a library instructor over the past few years as she took on a new challenge and systematically sought to learn a new type of library work, asking questions, clarifying her understanding, and asking for feedback along the way - demonstrating her commitment to serving Himmelfarb's users as she learned and expanded her skill set.” ~ Laura Abate
“Working with Catherine has always been an absolute pleasure. Not only has she always been so helpful, and always in a fantastic mood, Catherine also never seems to mind it when I flood her inbox with cat pictures. Happy 40th Catherine! Himmelfarb is lucky to have you!” ~ Andy Puro
“Cat Sluder is one cool cat!” ~ Temitayo Wolff
"Congratulations on 40 years at Himmelfarb, Catherine! What an amazing accomplishment!" ~ Rachel Brill
“When I started working at Himmelfarb, I wasn't necessarily expecting to find colleagues to talk about fairly obscure music with. I was so happy to discover that in Catherine! She is also one of the most positive people I know. I am always smiling after a chat with Catherine.” ~ Deborah Wassertzug
“Catherine is a kind-hearted, creative, and wonderful colleague. She has a great personality and is always willing to extend a helping hand. Catherine is usually one of the first people I see every morning and she is always upbeat and energetic, even at 8am. I love the work she does when it comes to celebrating staff birthdays and she has incredible Photoshop, video editing, and graphic design skills! I am so grateful that I get to work alongside Catherine!” ~ Brittany Smith
“Working with Catherine is one of my favorite things about working at Himmelfarb. Catherine is creative, curious, fun, and above all, kind. She has an incredible institutional memory that we will never be able to replace, while always keeping up with the changes in service and technology over the years. Catherine keeps me sane when things get crazy! She always provides a laugh or a virtual hug when most needed.” ~ JoLinda Thompson
“Catherine has always been a joy to work with. I appreciate how she always has everyone's back. She is always ready to lend a helping hand to staff, students, and faculty. Her patience and smile are legendary. Congratulations Catherine on 40 years at GW!” ~ Velda Jones
“Congratulations Catherine - thank you for all you do to make Himmelfarb a welcoming place for patrons!" ~ Tom Harrod
“Catherine is by far the most humane and empathic person I know. Her capacity to connect with the pains of others is without boundaries! One day I had the misfortune of having to dispose of a trapped mouse, captured in the Library. The unique way in which the mouse was trapped didn't lead to its' demise, but a very painful outcome that involved a hind leg and genitals. So in a very Catherine kind of way, she pressed me to release the mouse outside of the campus to give it an opportunity to live. I was compelled to do just that! All because it was Catherine asking! Congratulations my friend on your 40th Work Anniversary!” ~ Lonnie Williams
“Catherine's energy and positivity are an inspiration. She is a font of ideas that make Himmelfarb a better place to work and study. Congrats to her on 40 outstanding years!” ~ Ian Roberts
“Catherine is an absolute joy to work with and I feel so lucky to call her a colleague and a friend. Catherine can always be counted on to help with projects and provide valuable advice, and words of encouragement. Her sense of humor always brightens my workday. Although Catherine has seen a lot of staff come and go in her time here, she always welcomes everyone with open arms and has an uncanny ability to not only see the best in people but to bring out the best in people! Congratulations on 40 years at GW, Catherine! I’m honored to have shared some of those years with you.” ~ Ruth Bueter
“Congratulations Catherine on this amazing milestone of 40 years at GW! It has been a pleasure to work with you over the many years. The birthday collages have to be the best idea you have created. You are always so helpful here at the library and doing what needs to be done. Again, Congratulations!!!” ~ Val Bowles
“Every organization needs at least one person holding things together and I'm so happy that Himmelfarb has you! Wishing I were talented enough to make you a special slideshow like the ones we all have come to love for our birthdays each year. I know there must be a perfect song out there somewhere to celebrate such a wonderful achievement. Congratulations and thanks for all you do!” ~ Sara Hoover
From all of us at Himmelfarb Library - Congratulations, Catherine on your 40-year anniversary at GW! It is truly an honor to work with you every day, and we are lucky to have you as part of our team!
You may have noticed a new face at the Circulation Desk in the past few months. Himmelfarb Library is happy to welcome Randy Plym to our staff. Randy is Himmelfarb’s new Evening/Weekend Circulation Supervisor. We are thrilled to have him as part of the Himmelfarb team! Here are some more things to know about Randy:
Share your path to Himmelfarb Library.
I studied English literature during undergrad and after a brief stint in an education company, I found myself working in the Chesapeake Public Library, which proved to be a formative environment. I savored the blend of working with people, ideas, and data, and it gave me the freedom (and platform) to pursue projects like escape rooms. I took a year to travel to Europe and finish a novel, and when I returned, I wanted to explore the possibility of working in a university library. I’ve edited dissertations for a long time, and I figured that the university setting would combine my experience in libraries and my time working with students. When I saw the Himmelfarb opening, I jumped at it, and so far, it’s been great.
Tell us about your position at Himmelfarb and what you do.
I’m the Evening/Weekend supervisor, so I staff the circulation desk, help the circulation assistants, maintain Himmelfarb’s physical collection, and assist with our 3D printer. Additionally, I help Library Operations fulfill ILL (interlibrary loans).
What has been the best part of working at Himmelfarb?
It’s been ennobling knowing that all the people I help (even in a small way) will one day be doctors or working in the medical field. I’ve also enjoyed getting to know the Himmelfarb staff and having many interesting conversations. They’ve been very hospitable and willing to teach me anything I need.
What do you like to do in your time away from work?
The lion’s share of my time goes to reading, writing, and trying to publish my writing, but I also like playing video games and tennis with friends (a welcome reprieve from fictional people), hiking, running, and traveling. I have a 160gb iPod that I’ve been cultivating for over a decade.
Where are you from originally, and what brought you to the DC area?
I’m originally from South Jersey but spent about ten years in Virginia Beach and a year and a half in Frankfurt, Germany. I have a few great friends in NOVA, so when I moved back to the US in January, I figured I would try living in a new place with a different job market. I’m glad I did!
This week in April is National Library Week. Are you a big fan of libraries? Now might be a fantastic opportunity to ask yourself: what are some of my favorite library experiences? Maybe you found a favorite book series or a quiet study place for an important exam. One couple in Texas even had a beautiful Library themed wedding!
Some accomplishments that we are proud of: Staff Updates:
Following Anne Linton’s many years of incredible service, Laura Abate accepted her promotion to Director of Himmelfarb Library in July 2022!
Former Serials Librarian Ruth Bueter was promoted to Associate Director of Library Operations in early March 2023. Thank you to JoLinda Thompson for her great work as Interim Associate Director of Library Operations!
Himmelfarb welcomed new staff: Our reference team has grown over the past year with the addition of Rachel Brill (Reference and Instruction Librarian), Deborah Wassertzug (Reference and Instruction Librarian), and Temitayo Wolff (Reference Specialist).
Our Metadata Specialist, Brittany Smith is relentlessly working on her Master of Library Science at the University of North Carolina - Greensboro.
Catherine Sluder, BloedornTechnology Center Manager, received the 2022 SMHS Dean's Excellence in Service Award. Bravo!
Himmelfarb Librarians have been busy publishing in the last year too! Several Himmelfarb Librarians and staff have upcoming publications, conference posters, and presentations just around the corner.
If you aren’t yet in the library spirit, we challenge you to read a book this season! Reading has been shown to reduce stress, muscle tension and to slow your heart rate. At Himmelfarb Library, we continue to be honored to serve such a diverse, talented, and intellectual group of students, staff, and faculty members here at GW. Raise High!
You may have noticed a new face at the Reference Desk in the past few weeks. Himmelfarb Library is happy to welcome Deborah Wassertzug to our staff! Deborah is Himmelfarb’s newest Reference and Instructional Librarian. She’ll be helping answer your reference questions, assisting in systematic reviews, and will be involved in teaching informatics to Practice of Medicine students. Here are some more things to know about Deborah:
What are you enjoying most about your experience at Himmelfarb Library so far?
Hands down, all of the staff. I've felt so warmly welcomed and am really enjoying getting to know everyone!
What has surprised you?
While I knew that reference and instruction librarians at Himmelfarb are directly involved with a number of courses, learning the extent to which we are has been very exciting for me. I can't wait to observe my colleagues teaching… and then take part myself.
Tell us a bit about your background.
My career in academic libraries began some time ago, and my jobs have tended to support social science disciplines. Due to various life changes, I haven't worked in an academic library full-time in a few years. I'm so happy to be back in a very familiar environment, but also to be immersed in a subject area – health sciences – which is new for me.
During my years away from librarianship, I freelanced as a translator from Italian and Spanish to English. My work has appeared in print and on screen and has ranged from interviews with people who manufacture high-performance automobiles to essays on critically acclaimed films, to documentaries on pasta making (to name just a few). My skills as a librarian served me well as a translator, and my translation skills have been useful as I do a deep dive into health sciences terminology.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my family. We're all big music fans, both as listeners and performers. I gravitate toward obscure books and films. Occasionally I make jewelry. A very recent thing I am doing in my free time is chairing a committee at my synagogue which has planned two semesters a year of adult education classes for the past 45 years. Our group handles finding instructors and topics, marketing the classes, and sending out surveys at the end of the term. When the pandemic began, our classes shifted to Zoom, which made it possible for us to hire instructors from around the world. I never quite knew I had an aptitude for this type of work, but I've had a great time working on our schedule for Spring 2023!
Nat Curtin at left and Temitayo Wolff at right are new staff at Himmelfarb
Have you noticed some new faces at our first floor service desks? Nat Curtin and Temitayo Wolff both joined the Himmelfarb Library team in November.
Nat Curtin is the Evening and Weekend Library Assistant. She comes to us from Abrakadoodle where she was an art teacher. You’ll find Nat working at the circulation desk assisting our student workers and managing services in the late afternoon and evening hours and on Sundays. She can help you with library facilities issues, locating library materials, loans and renewals, and our 3D printing service. You can reach Nat at natalie.curtin@gwu.edu. Here are some more things to know about Nat.
What are you enjoying most about your experience at Himmelfarb Library so far?
I’ve really enjoyed getting to know all the staff- everyone has been so welcoming! I’ve also enjoyed learning more about Circulation and the different roles at Himmelfarb.
What has surprised you?
Seeing the Cage in the basement (thanks for the tour Lonnie!)
Tell us a bit about your background.
I graduated from Northeastern University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and criminal justice and moved to the DMV area two years ago. I hope to pursue a degree in library sciences in the future.
What do you like to do in your free time?
If I could, I would spend all my time with my adorable cats: Clementine, Kuzco, and Tiny. I also like to read and listen to music in my free time.
Temitayo Wolff is the Daytime Reference Specialist. She worked in University art and special collections and for AmeriCorp before coming to Himmelfarb. Temitayo helps staff the first floor information desk and our library chat services during business hours. Temitayo assists with use of our collections and resources, helps users with answers to a variety of questions, and provides referral services to librarians for in-depth research questions and systematic reviews. You can reach Temitayo at temitayo.wolff@gwu.edu. Here are some more things to know about Temitayo.
What are you enjoying most about your experience at Himmelfarb Library so far?
I have been enjoying learning from other members of the Himmelfarb staff and faculty. I appreciate that everyone is so generous with their time and expertise.
What has surprised you?
I have been pleasantly surprised to find so many fellow cat lovers at Himmelfarb. I am always eager to hear about people’s cat companions and to talk about my own.
Tell us a bit about your background.
I was born and raised in DC. I got my bachelor’s degree in classical languages and literature with a concentration in linguistics from Grinnell College, where I worked in the college’s art collection and the library’s special collections and archives.
I have spent the last two years in New Orleans, where most recently I worked in the art collection at Xavier University of Louisiana. This past summer I got married and moved with my wife from her hometown back to mine.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy puzzling—crossword, jigsaw, etc.—trying out new vegan recipes, and of course lounging around with my cats, Kermit Thee Frog (as in the muppet and the rapper) and Mister Butters.
