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[Note: at points throughout the article, I’ve used the first person singular, rather than the objective outside perspective of most Rotation articles, because throughout I share my own experiences]. 

According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 29% of people in the US (close to 1 in 3) report battling depression in their lifetime, and 18% ( close to 1 in 5) report current treatment for depression (Witters, 2023). Anecdotally, the number may be much higher. But despite the commonality of depression, those suffering it can often feel uniquely alone. October’s Depression Awareness Month – designated by the National Institute of Mental Health in 1994 – is an opportunity to learn about the illness, share your story to reduce stigma, or a chance to reach out to someone you know or suspect is suffering. 

Education:

One of the best ways to observe Depression Awareness Month is to read about it. I recommend Andrew Solomon’s The Noonday Demon: an Atlas of Depression, which remains unparalleled in its depth of insight and reporting from the frontlines of the disorder. 

Depression is always a subjective, personal experience – in part because pain isolates us (we feel our own pain immediately and others remotely), in part because pain shrinks horizons until we cannot see anything else. For this reason, the deeply personal accounts in The Noonday Demon go farther, education wise, than the anodyne, clinical tone of a psychiatric journal. For sufferers of depression, Solomon’s work – which includes his own experience and many interviews with others – can broaden our perspective and maybe even ease our sense of being alone. For relatives, friends, or coworkers of someone with depression, The Noonday Demon yields a rich and harrowing insight into the chasms of pain that can exist in a normal human lifespan.

Fortunately, while The Noonday Demon is a book of 500+ pages, Andrew Solomon has made excerpts, including the 1998 New Yorker article that started the book, freely available. 

For a quick read into the experience of antidepressants, I recommend a short story by David Foster Wallace called “The Planet Trillaphon as it Stands in Relation to the Bad Thing,” which compares using antidepressants to being on another planet. 

Sharing Your Story: 

Another way to honor Depression Awareness Month is to share your story (to whatever degree you feel comfortable with, most likely with a trusted friend). Discussing mental health can reduce the stigma around it and maybe give better expression to something very difficult to express. Talking can also reveal a two-way communication of tips and insights that might not otherwise have happened. 

For example, some things that have worked for me: 

  • Running: an umbrella review published in British Journal of Sports Medicine analyzed 100 meta-reviews of controlled trials comparing exercise to medicine or talk therapy and concluded that exercise was 1.5x effective as either (Singh et al., 2023). Anecdotally speaking, running (in particular) greatly ameliorated my mental state, both by giving me a tangible goal to work towards but also in relief from stress. I lived for a couple years in Germany, for example, and training for a half marathon gave me consistency and dignity amidst the uncertainty and unfamiliarity. 
  • Health Maintenance: just like the earth is an ecosystem with the surface affecting the atmosphere and vice versa, our bodies affect our minds, and our minds affect our bodies. I find it easy to overly philosophize depression, but often, the solution might be as simple as hydrating, sleeping enough, and exercising. If I’m not addressing these bodily concerns, then I personally don’t want to assume too much beyond what I’m feeling. 
  • Addressing Stressors: similarly, while severe depression may persist despite the circumstances, anxiety and depression can often be triggered by stress events. In some cases, anxiety and depression might be the alarm-bells for the problem, not the problem itself. Sitting with a never-ending alarm might ruin someone’s sanity, but if the alarm is responding to a problem, then the alarm is actually useful. 
  • Artistic expression: much of art comes from pain; pain can be the roots that cause us to dig deeper for nutrients. Art can help transfigure directionlessness or pain. Personally, I write fiction and poetry. One of my poems, Circles Around My Circles (published in Ghost City Review), is an example of this transfiguration. 
  • Rest and Meditation: I often find that I’m not truly resting; I organize my free time into personal tasks that need accomplishing, or I’ll succumb to mindless scrolling. But we need mental rest. Sports can be healing because they provide socialization, exercise, and an absorbing task. Meditation can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and refresh us for our tasks at hand. I particularly find time in nature refreshing, like when I kayak. 

Reach Out: 

Lastly, there’s no better way to observe Depression Awareness Month than by reaching out to someone struggling, not necessarily to talk about mental health but just to connect. We are social beings. Left alone, we all go insane. Reaching out might do more good than you’d ever know. 

Resources: 

Starry night over the mountains.
Photo by Vadim Babenko on Unsplash

References:

Singh B, Olds T, Curtis R, et al. Effectiveness of physical activity interventions for improving depression, anxiety and distress: an overview of systematic reviews. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2023; 57: 1203-1209. https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/18/1203

Witters, D (2023). U.S. Depression Rates Reach New Highs. Gallup. https://news.gallup.com/poll/505745/depression-rates-reach-new-highs.aspx

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Autumn weather is here and we’re starting to see hints of fall foliage!  In the coming weeks, spend some time outdoors to enjoy the weather and colors, and to capture those amazing photos. 

Enter your best photo with a chance to win a PRIZE. All digital photos submitted will be showcased in the online 2024 Himmelfarb Fall Colors Photo Gallery, and prints will be displayed in Himmelfarb Library.

To get inspired, see our blog posts from past Himmelfarb photo contests.

How to Enter and Contest Rules:

Photo submission dates:  Monday, October 14, 2024 – Friday, November 8, 2024.

  • Who may enter: GW students, faculty and staff affiliated with the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, and School of Nursing.
  • Complete a 2024 Online Contest Submission Form and submit an original photo (JPEG, PDF, PNG files only; file size maximum 10MB). 
  • Limit 1 entry per person.
  • Contest photo must be original and taken by the submitter in 2024.
  • Submitted photos will be displayed in online and print galleries with the photographer's name and photo title.
  • By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the contest.

Judging:

Photo entries will be judged based on creativity, originality, and overall artistic impact. One winner will be chosen by a prior contest winner and members of the Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb Committee.

*Himmelfarb Library reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify rules at its discretion. Himmelfarb Library reserves the right to reject any entrant whose entry appears off-topic or violates the rules.

For questions, contact: Deborah Wassertzug (deborah.wassertzug@gwu.edu)

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A healthcare professional looking at a clipboard

Physician Assistant Week occurs from October 6-12 each year. This is an opportunity to celebrate PAs across the globe and in our own community. The Physician Assistant program at GW was founded in 1972, and the joint PA/MPH degree was launched in 1986. GW’s program was the first joint degree program for PA students in the US, according to program director Bart Gillum.

The PA program, ranked in the top five in the US, lasts 24 months, the PA/MPH program is 36 months. The Washington, DC location of the program makes the PA program an excellent place for PAs in training to take part in an annual leadership and advocacy summit sponsored by the AAPA, and to avail themselves of other opportunities to visit Capitol Hill to advocate on health policy.

When asked about three things that people might not know about the PA profession, Bart Gillum shared the following thoughts:

  1. "We are now "Physician Associates." In 2021 the American Academy of PAs voted to change the name from physician assistant to physician associate. While some states and institutions have already adopted the name, the new title is still in progress. Adopting the new name has been slow due to the requirement of state laws and healthcare institutions to be updated. In the meantime, you might continue to hear physician assistant and physician associate or even just PA  interchangeably."
  2. "Unlike physicians who undergo residency training for a specific specialty, PAs have the unique ability to move between medical specialties without additional formal training. A PA can work in areas such as cardiology, emergency medicine, or dermatology and switch to another field. This provides more flexibility for those who want to work in a variety of settings throughout their career."
  3. "While PAs are most prevalent in the US. PAs or PA-like professionals are present in about 15-20 other countries, including Canada, the UK, Australia, The Netherlands, Germany, South Africa, and New Zealand. Other countries are currently exploring incorporating PAs in their healthcare systems."
Infographic on physician assistants from AAPA.org
Physician Assistants at a glance (https://www.aapa.org/download/80021/)

Himmelfarb Library has many resources available to support PA students, beginning with the Physician Assistants research guide. Here you will find links to textbooks and videos, resources for diagnosis, a guide especially for PA/MPH students on doing a literature review, PANCE prep materials, resources for clerkship, and much more.

Don't forget to thank a physician assistant this week -- their important work expands patient access to healthcare. Tune in to both Good Morning America and the TODAY show on Friday morning, October 11, for a chance to see PAs representing their profession!

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Picture of a woman physical therapist working with an older woman of color. "Happy National Physical Therapy Month."

October is National Physical Therapy Month! This National Physical Therapy (PT) Month, we want to celebrate and acknowledge the fantastic work of Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs), and PT educators. Himmelfarb Library is proud to provide resources to support PT research and learning to help further education and understanding within the field. Here are some great physical therapy resources provided by Himmelfarb Library:

Journals

Our journal collection includes some great PT titles! Here are just a few of what we offer:

  • American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation: This journal publishes cutting-edge basic and clinical research, clinical case reports, and in-depth topical reviews of interest to rehabilitation professionals.
  • Current Sports Medicine Reports: The official clinical journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), this journal focuses entirely on clinical sports medicine, including aspects of physical therapy such as training, prevention, and rehabilitation, and sport-specific illness and injury.
  • Journal of Physical Therapy Education: This journal publishes works of discovery, application, and integration and enriches academic and clinical PT education with evidence-based decision-making processes to prepare learners, support faculty and clinicians, and inform administrators.
  • Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Journal (PTJ): This leading journal for research in PT and related fields publishes content for clinicians and scientists using a variety of interactive approaches to improve patient care.

Textbooks

We also have a great selection of textbooks on PT-related topics including human anatomy and mechanics, rehabilitation, evidence-based practice, exercise therapy, and patient care planning. 

Here’s a sample of textbooks from each of these topics:

Databases

Databases can be a great way to find journal articles, practice guidelines, and reviews! The following databases are great for physical therapy-related searches:

  • PEDro: Physiotherapy Evidence Database: Physiotherapy randomized trials, systematic reviews, and clinical practice guidelines.
  • DiTA, Diagnostic Test Accuracy: PT database includes primary studies and systematic reviews evaluating diagnostic tests used by physical therapists.
  • CINAHL: Authoritative coverage of nursing and allied health literature.
  • PubMed: Health sciences articles including clinical, basic sciences, and public health information.
  • Scopus: Interdisciplinary citation and abstract database.

Software & Tech Tools

Our PT collection is much more than just a collection of journals, databases, and books. We also have some great software, apps, and other digital resources to support PT teaching and learning! 

  • BodyViz: Interactive 3D anatomy visualization tool that includes over 1,000 data sets from human and animal models in healthy and pathological states at different developmental stages.
  • Acland’s Video Atlas of Human Anatomy: 300+ videos of real human anatomic specimens in their natural colors.
  • NetAnatomy: Review basic concepts and study gross anatomy, radiographic anatomy, and cross-sectional anatomy.
  • Visible Body Human Anatomy Atlas: View specific structures and layers from head to toe in this online anatomy atlas.
  • Bates Visual Guide to Physical Examination: Content and clinical skills videos covering head-to-toe and systems-based physical examination techniques.

Find more great PT resources on Himmelfarb’s Physical Therapy Research Guide! 

With Humanities Highlights, Himmelfarb staff aims to spotlight useful books from our Humanities collection. This week, we’re showcasing “Stiff: the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers,” by Mary Roach. 
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With Humanities Highlights, Himmelfarb staff aims to spotlight useful books from our Humanities collection. This week, we’re showcasing “Stiff: the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers,” by Mary Roach. 

A copy of "Stiff" by Mary Roach sits on a shelf.

About the Book: The book that launched Mary Roach's science-writing career, "Stiff" investigates the contribution of human cadavers to science [with studies ranging from humane to grisly to wacky; from crash safety to the physics of crucifixion], as well as human burial practices [including alternatives to burial or cremation]. Written with humor and respect – and without sacrificing the ethical questions – Roach follows her journalistic interest while guiding readers along the various labs, morgues, and fields of rotting corpses in the industry.

Reasons to Read: If you like books that make you say "dang" a lot (or your preferred utterance), if you want to take a steady (but never overly macabre) look at death (and maybe get a party fact about Victorian medicine along the way), or if you want to understand the reality of cadaver testing for you or your loved one.

Reasons to Avoid: If you like your books to be focused [Roach encompasses the history of anatomy, organ donation, crash and ballistics testing, embalming techniques, funeral practices, and more.], or if you'd rather dial down the wisecracks in books about death.

Further Reading: 

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Two jack of lantern pumpkins shine in darkness

With October upon us, comes celebration of spooky season. The classic signs of Halloween approaching are here: theaters show scary movie marathons for those who want thrills and frights, skeleton and ghost decor begins to grace front yards and debate over what to wear for the event itself reaches a fever pitch. But witches, ghosts, and ghouls weren’t always reserved for just Halloween. In fact, some legends were born out of explanations for very real phenomena that used to strike terror across villages.  

One particular example comes to mind. The year is 1788. Your friend has fallen ill recently. She’s lost a lot of weight, she has a fever, and her skin is growing paler by the day. She has even started coughing up blood. Even worse, these symptoms mimic that of her late brother, who died a few months previously.  Thankfully, a neighbor has identified the culprit and knows the solution: dig up her brother’s corpse, cut out his heart, and burn it. 

Wait, what? As strange as it sounds, this was a real series of events that happened in New England. Before the Germ Theory of disease, people needed explanations for the spread of disease. While bad air (Miasma Theory) or the four humors were potential explanations, when it came to the disease known as tuberculosis, vampires were offered as a potential explanation (1). 

The original legend was brought over by immigrants from European countries (2). While the exact way vampires worked depended on the region, the general idea was that those who died came back to drain life from the living, often their family members. Given how tuberculosis spreads, family members did become ill, especially given members of one family might share the same bed. Digging up the corpse of the deceased family member was seen as a way to stop the illness and put it to bed at last. Given the cold winters in the region, sometimes bodies would be well preserved when they were dug up, further playing into the idea that the dead were feasting on the living. While the burning of organs didn’t actually do anything, in the face of an invisible illness, it provided those afraid with a feeling of some agency. 

The vampire legend doesn’t arise solely from tuberculosis, but some hallmarks of the blood suckers can be traced to the pathogen: the pallor vampires are known for, along with sleeping in coffins. Other aspects of the mythical monster are hypothesized to come from other illnesses. Vampire’s aversion to light (photophobia), running water and biting others may all originate from rabies cases. Those afflicted with rabies can showcase these symptoms, and those who wrote early vampire stories may have drawn inspiration from the deadly disease (3). Symptoms of the genetic disease porphyria have also been attributed to perhaps inspiring the myth as it also causes issues with being in the sun (4).

Thankfully, we eventually figured out the real culprit behind tuberculosis wasn’t the walking dead, but a bacterium, and that we could defeat it with antibiotics, not wooden stakes. But it’s important not to judge those who believed in the vampire theory too harshly. They had figured out the contagious part of the disease. They only misattributed the vector. 

So this October, remember where part of the fear of vampirism comes from. It’s not fangs, or gothic mansions, or poor book adaptations. Instead, think of those who latched onto the legend as an explanation, who knew something deadly was spreading, but didn’t know where to look or where it would strike next. 

1. Blanding M. Vampire panic gripped New England in the 1800s. the real evil was in the air. Boston Globe (Online). Oct 27 2023. Available from: https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/vampire-panic-gripped-new-england-1800s-real-evil/docview/2882529806/se-2. 

2. Groom N. UNEARTHING THE DEAD: Medicine and Detection, Body and Mind. In: The Vampire. A New History. Yale University Press; 2018:23-40. doi:10.2307/j.ctv6gqxp2.9

3. Gómez-Alonso J. Rabies: a possible explanation for the vampire legend. Neurology. 1998;51(3):856-859. doi:10.1212/wnl.51.3.856

4. McGrath J. Are vampires real? scientists have linked diseases and decomposition to all the historical tropes of nosferatu. Business Insider. Oct 21, 2023. Available from: https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/are-vampires-real-scientists-have-linked-diseases/docview/2879550637/se-2. 

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Decorative images for October Study Break Guide

Paint n' Sip - Camp Wellbeing
Date: Tues, October 1, 2024 6pm – 8pm
Location: “The Vern” at GW’s Mount Vernon campus
Cost: Free for GW students

Come join us on at the Vern to sip a house mocktails while painting with all your besties. Come decompress! Just bring yourself, all supplies will be provided for free. This event is part of Camp Wellbeing.

Irresistible: The Global Patterns of Ikat
Date: Tues-Saturday, 10am to 5pm through December 21
Location: The George Washington Museum and the Textile Museum,
701 21st St. NW, Washington, DC 20052
Cost: Free

Prized worldwide for producing vivid patterns and colors, the ancient resist-dyeing technique of ikat developed independently in communities across Asia, Africa, and the Americas. This exhibition explores the global phenomenon of ikat textiles through examples from countries as diverse as Chile, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan.

The Book of Everything (Play)
Date: October 3-5 7:30 pm + October 5-2 p.m.
Location: Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre, 800 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052
Cost: Students $10, Non-Students $20

Who sees tropical fish thriving in the Amsterdam canals, trumpeting sparrows and even a hailstorm of frogs? Thomas! But he also has negative visions: the unhappiness of his family, the violence in his father, and the damage that lingers long after the war is over. And he writes it all down, ugly and beautiful in his powerful Book of Everything.  Play by Richard Tulloch, and based on the book by Guus Kuije.

A Speakeasy Evening
Date: October 10, 7:00pm to 10:30pm
Location: National Museum of African American History and Culture,
1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001
United States
Cost: Free

Inspired by the speakeasy clubs of the Harlem Renaissance, which were welcoming and inclusive places for all, the Museum invites you into a space that welcomes LGBTQIA community, African Americans (and allies) of all gender identities and orientations.  

Now in year six, this program will examine the role of discos as a safe space for everyone to dance together and be their authentic selves. The evening will feature a panel discussion about disco, art making, a musical performance, dancing and light fare.

The Peace Trail on the National Mall
Date: Any day with walking weather
Location: Start at United States Institute of Peace, 2301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20037
Cost: Free

The Northwest corner of the National Mall could be considered the "War and Peace Corner" of our nation's capital. It is home to this country's most famous veterans memorials, which draw tens of millions of visitors each year. In 2017, the U.S. Institute of Peace launched the Peace Trail on the National Mall to further enhance the experience of visiting our nation's capital. Anchored at USIP and tracing a path to a dozen other key sites in the vicinity, the reference guide highlights peace themes, elevating examples of key figures, institutions and moments in history that demonstrate America's enduring commitment to peace. Download Peace Trail Reference Guide, Activity Book, or Mobile App from the website.

Sessa
Date: Saturday, October 19-6 p.m.
Location: Kennedy Center, Millennium Stage
Cost: Free (Online advance reservations for a given performance date will open on a rolling basis, opening every Wednesday two weeks out from the date.)

Sessa, the São Paulo musician known for his enchanting 2019 debut album Grandeza, returns with an expansive collection of songs built with reverence for the deep historical traditions of Brazilian music.

Gordon Parks: Camera Portraits from the Corcoran Collection
Date: Daily through January 12, 2025
Location: National Gallery of Art, 4th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20565
Cost: Free

This exhibition, drawn primarily from the Corcoran Collection, presents some 25 portraits Parks made between 1941 and 1970. Explore Parks's innovations in portraiture through some of his best-known photographs. Learn how his portraits speak to larger stories of the civil rights movement, the African American experience, and American culture.

Día de los Muertos Family Day
Date: Saturday, October 26 11:30am - 3:00 pm
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G St. NW, Washington, DC 20004
Cost: Free

Celebrate Día de los Muertos with the Smithsonian American Art Museum! Bring the whole family to see exciting live performances, including traditional Mexican folk dance by Corazon Folklorico, a mariachi performance by Mariachi Aguila DC, and a showcase of different Latin American music genres and dances with Sol y Rumba.

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Graphic of books with the text Himmelfarb 2024 booksale

Are your bookshelves looking a little empty? Do you have an interest in having a physical copy of some textbooks or study guides? Want a piece of medical history to call your own? The Himmelfarb Annual Book Sale has all of this and more.

From October 8th to October 11th, Himmelfarb will sell books in the first-floor alcove. The cost of hardback books is $4 and the cost of paperbacks is $2. All payments must be made by card. The sale is open from 8:00am to 8:00pm Tuesday to Thursday, and from 8:00am to Noon on Friday.

We hope to see you there!

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White background with pink scrabble tiles that spell cancer.
Photo by Anna Tarazevich

September is a big month for cancer awareness - it’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Awareness Month, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month! Rather than trying to highlight each of these different types of cancers, we’ll highlight some of Himmelfarb’s cancer resources in this post.

Himmelfarb Library provides clinical, evidence-based medicine resources including DynaMed and epocrates+ which provide information to support cancer care. DynaMed is a point-of-care tool designed to facilitate efficient and evidence-based patient care information including drug and disease information. DynaMed provides information including background, history and physical, diagnosis, disease management, prognosis, prevention, and screening information on medical conditions. DynaMed’s easy-to-read topic pages cover a wide range of conditions and diseases, including cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma in children as seen in the screenshot below.  

Screenshot of DynaMed entry for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

epocrates+ is Himmelfarb’s other evidence-based point-of-care database that provides disease and drug information. epocrates+ provides a step-by-step approach, covering prevention, risk factors, history and exam, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Like DynaMed, epocrates+ covers coverage of a wide range of medical conditions, including cancers. Epcorates also offers a quick reference area that covers the basics of a condition, as seen in the cervical cancer quick reference screenshot below.

Screenshot of epocrates+ Quick Reference entry for Cervical Cancer.

If you’re looking for the latest in cancer research, Himmelfarb provides access to many cancer journals! The following list is just a sample of the cancer-related titles you can access through Himmelfarb’s journal collection:

  • Cancer: An American Cancer Society journal that started publication in 1948, Cancer is one of the oldest peer-reviewed oncology journals. This journal focuses on highly relevant, timely information on the etiology, course, and treatment of human cancer.
  • JAMA Oncology: This definitive oncology journal publishes important clinical research, major cancer breakthroughs, actionable discoveries, and innovative cancer treatments.
  • Nature Reviews: Clinical Oncology: This journal publishes in-depth reviews on the entire spectrum of clinical oncology.
  • Cancer Cell: This journal provides access to major advances in cancer research including clinical investigations that establish new paradigms in treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of cancers.
  • Gynecologic Oncology: This journal publishes clinical and investigative articles about tumors of the female reproductive tract and the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of female cancers.
  • Journal of the National Cancer Institute: This journal publishes significant cancer research findings focused on clinical, epidemiologic, behavioral, and health outcomes studies.
  • Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network: JNCCN publishes the latest information on clinical practices, oncology health services research, and translational medicine, as well as updates to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

If you’re interested in finding health statistics about cancer, we have information on that too! Check out our Health Statistics: Cancer Guide. This guide provides links to resources to find general cancer statistics, as well as breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. Resources to find cancer mortality maps and graphs are also included.

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What do librarians do anyway? If you want to find out, check out the comic below!

Panel 1: Narration: When people think of librarians, they often picture the following: an older woman with glasses and a cardigan. Image: A librarian, who looks as the narration described, shushes the audience. Panel 2: Narration: Who mainly spends her time shushing people, reading and sitting at a desk. Image:The same librarian from the first panel sits at a desk with a sign that says “silence is mandatory”
Panel 3: Narration: Like all stereotypes, some folks do fit the mold demographically, the realities of the job are much different than what folks expect. Image: Rebecca, a librarian with brown curly hair and glasses, shrugs and says “honestly, I can’t remember the last time I shushed anyone.”
Panel 4: The tools librarians use might look different in the digital age, but the basic goal of ensuring information is accessible and discoverable remains the same. Image: A stack of books is placed next to a laptop.
Panel 5: To achieve this goal, along with other library functions, there’s actually a wide variety of types of librarians. Image: A librarian building is held up by the silhouettes of five people of various body types and skin colors.
Panel 6: Let’s take a closer look at some of the variety out there… Image: There are eight boxes, each featuring a different person. The box labeled Circulation contains a heavy set pale blonde man with glasses. The Acquisition box contains a lean person of older age with gray hair, brown skin and wrinkles. The box labeled Serials contains a man with dark skin and dreads, wearing a red suit. The box labeled Scholarly Communication, has a medium sized woman with tan skin and black hair. The box labeled childrens has a heavy set black woman with her hair in two buns, smiling. The box labeled Specialists, features a lean tan man with a goatee and wrinkles with graying hair. The box labeled archivists features a pal skinned red headed woman with glasses. The last box contains Rebecca, and is labeled reference.
The circulation librarian sits at a desk, facing the audience. He says “Circulation doesn’t just check out books, but things like chargers, electronics or even dry erase markers.”
Panel 8: Like circulation acquisitions can also be a team effort. Acquisitions involves ordering and acquiring new material for the library. Image: The acquisitions librarian sits behind a stack of books, saying “an acquisitions librarian works with vendors and publishers to acquire material”
Image: A laptop is open on a desk and on the screen is the serials librarian. He says “these days many serial publications can be found digitally.”
Panel 10: In academic libraries, scholarly communication librarians help students and faculty alike publish their work. This can be by helping journals to publish in or managing an institutional repository. Image: The scholarly communications librarian is in a sailor’s outfit on a tiny boat, where a shark swims. She says “when it comes to avoiding predatory publishers, we can help.”
Panel 11: Children’s librarians work with children and young adults. They help select material for different age groups and organize events and outreach for patrons. Storytime for young kids is a good example of an event they run. Image: The children’s librarian sits in front of a group of children with a picture book she is reading out loud. Behind her is a teddy bear and books.
Panel 12: Specialists librarians work in special libraries where the often specialize in a topic or field. Law librarians and medical librarians fall into this category. Image: The specialist librarian stands in front of a cabinet with a scale on it. He says “around one-third of law librarians have a law degree”
Panel 13: Archivists aren’t the same as librarians but they often have the same masters degree. They are specialists in preserving material and helping people access it. Image: The archivist reads a book in front of a desk and several file cabinets
Panel 14: Reference librarians, like myself, help people do research and find materials. They may also specialize in a topic or subject area. Image: Rebecca stands in a hedge maze, with a torch. She says “There’s so much material to look through it can feel like a maze. Our job in reference is to help people navigate that maze.”
Panel 15: There are other types of librarians not mentioned here, such as library directors, as well as library jobs that are done by staff. Both librarians and library staff are essential to keeping the library running. Image: a puzzle in the shape of a library is shown Panel 16: TThe things that tie libraries together are our commitment to some shared ideals.The American Library association has a whole list of professional standards and guidelines on its website. Image: The ALA logo is shown
Panel 17: There are initiatives to recruit librarians from underrepresented groups and organizations dedicated to supporting these groups. Image: Rebecca is shown, saying “there are efforts to also recruit librarians from underrepresented groups.”
Panel 17: Libraries seek to protect intellectual freedom and preserve privacy. The American library association opposed the Patriot Act and in 2006. Four connecticut librarians went to court regarding gag orders. Image: Uncle Sam stands in front of an American flag, saying “I wasn’t trying to spy on patron records…I just wanted…uh. Book recommendations.”
Panel 18: Libraries also promise literacy and not just for books. Image: Different types of images are shown next to types of literacy: a computer with computer literacy, a stethoscope next to health literacy, a dollar next to financial literacy, a ballot box next to civic literacy and a phone next to media literacy.
Panel 19: Teaching, instruction, budget management, programming, research: all of these skills are needed to keep libraries going. Image: two shelves are shown with different kind of hats on them. The hats are labeled with different kinds of library skills.
Panel 20: And only one of them, on rare occasions, is to shush people. END Image: Rebecca stands in front of two shelves and a reminder to keep quiet on the second floor. She winks as she says “shush”
  1. Acquisitions | ALA. American Library Association. May 5, 2009. Accessed September 16, 2024. https://www.ala.org/tools/topics/atoz/profresourcesacquisitions/acquisitions
  2. Serials | ALA. American Library Association. April 29, 2010. Accessed September 16, 2024. https://www.ala.org/tools/atoz/Serials/serials
  3. Education. American Association of Law Librarians. Accessed September 24, 2024. https://www.aallnet.org/careers/about-the-profession/education
  4. What’s an Archivist? National Archives. June 7, 2022. Accessed September 19, 2024. https://www.archives.gov/about/info/whats-an-archivist.html
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