Director's Desk

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, students, staff, residents, and fellows. I would also like to extend greetings to all returning faculty and students on 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. Or send us an instant message by following the directions at: http://www.gwumc.edu/library/ask/!

A major Library goal for the current academic year is improved access to electronic resources. The transition to a nearly all-electronic journal collection was completed in January 2007. To help our patrons use the collection more effectively, a newly redesigned page debuted in mid-August. Designed to increase ease-of-use, the new page features:

• A cleaner, more attractive design
• Portals of resources specifically designed for Medicine, Health Sciences and Public Health students
• Quick links on the homepage to our most commonly used databases and journals
• Improved, streamlined access to electronic journals, texts, and databases

Be sure to bookmark our new page to use as the starting point for research. If you would like an in-class or departmental demonstration of the new web page and the Library's electronic resources, contact you Library liaison (listed below).

Many thanks to Liz Hall, the library's Web Coordinator and the entire staff who have worked hard over the last few months to provide a more attractive and easier-to-use site. Many thanks also to the faculty, staff and students who have participated in surveys and usability testing on the new site - many of your suggestions have been incorporated into the new design.

Anne Linton, Director,
Library Services