Director's Desk - Welcome Address

Welcome to a New Academic Year!

On behalf of the entire Himmelfarb Library staff, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all new Medical Center faculty, staff, and students. I would also like to extend greetings to all returning faculty and students at the start of a new academic year.

The Library staff looks forward to meeting your information needs in the upcoming months. We also welcome your input! You may contact me at 202-994-1826 or mlbaml@gwumc.edu. The Library’s e-mail address is library@gwumc.edu. The telephone number for the reference desk is 202-994-2850.

Last year more students entered the Library than in previous years to borrow books, attend seminars, work on group projects, and study. Faculty, staff, and students utilized our electronic resources from their desktops and off-site locations at rapidly increasing rates. With the move to a collection that is overwhelmingly electronic, Library staff used the summer months to reorganize the first floor to provide a less cluttered appearance and enhance quiet study and computer space. The reorganized space provides the following:

• Increased seating capacity due to the removal of three-double-sided stacks, the transfer of older print indexes to storage, and the consolidation of the collection along wall shelving.
• A quiet reading area and a quiet computer work area carved out of the space freed up by the closure of the separate reference desk.
• Full suite of Microsoft OfficeTM software on first-floor computers including word processing, spreadsheets, and slideshow preparation.
• Browsing collection of important journals retained in print.
• Improved services to patrons through one point of contact for all types of questions at a combined circulation/reference/information desk.
• Improved coordination between Reference and Circulation Staff.

The newly revamped first floor includes a User Services area for circulation, reference, and reserves, the Reference Collection of book materials, a Browsing Collection of high-quality print journals, comfortable seating, photocopiers, printing services and computers. We hope that you enjoy the new look! Please note that, with the exception of Browsing Collection titles, both current/unbound and bound journals are now located on the second floor. If you have any questions about how to access a print or electronic version of a journal, ask at reference or call 202-994-2850.

We look forward to another busy year in AY05/06. As activities for the upcoming year gear up, we ask patrons to remember a few rules that smooth the inevitable rough edges of a busy, multipurpose building. Please observe the Library’s food and drink policy as outlined on page 3. Please hold conversations to a minimum in the study areas of the second and third floors. These spaces are designated as quiet study areas. Please be especially mindful of cell phone rings and extended conversations. Answer your phone on the first ring or set it to mute. Step outside of the Library to take an extended call. Remember that the Library is often very crowded and many others can hear your private conversations!

Best wishes for a successful year!
Anne Linton, Director, Library Services