On March 18th, the Health Sciences Library hosted thirty-five students from the University of Virginia Architecture School. Under the guidance of their course instructors, these students will be developing design plans to assist in the space planning efforts at the Health Sciences Library.  The event included a presentation of space planning survey results over the past year and a tour of the library's 2nd floor space, which is the scope of the project. Plenty of food and refreshments were available to show the library's appreciation for the students.

On April 8th and 10th, the students will showcase their original drawings at the Health Sciences Library.  This event will provide library patrons the opportunity to provide feedback.  The final drawings will be presented on Aprill 24th and 29th.  These final drawings, along with the insights gained from patron feedback, will play an important role in guiding the library's strategic planning team's decisions regarding space utilization at the Health Sciences Library.

Pictured below are the Architecture students, their course instructor, Dr. Elgin Cleckley, Kyle Bowman, HSL Administration Manager and chair of the HSL Strategic Planning Space Arc, and Tricia Roche, HSL Access Services Manager and the event organizer.

The Claude Moore Health Sciences Library is offering a trial of the Trip Medical Database through April 1, 2025. 

The Trip Medical Database is a clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find and use high-quality research evidence to support their practice and/or care.

Please use this link to access the database: 

https://proxy1.library.virginia.edu/login?url=https://www.tripdatabase.com/

Introductory videos can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/c/TripDatabaseVideos

If you have any questions, please contact Lewis Savarese, Electronic Resources Librarian, at LMS9QW@virginia.edu.

The Health Sciences Library is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its services and workshops, and now offers a range of workshops, each focusing on different aspects of Generative AI (GenAI) and its applications in various fields.

One of the workshops, "Exploring How GenAI Fits into Your Work," is an interactive in-person event that provides an overview of popular Generative AI (GenAI) tools. Through small group discussions, participants will explore the application of these tools in their professional work, share ideas, discover new possibilities, and address any questions or concerns they may have.

Another workshop, "Intro to GenAI and Coding," focuses on how GenAI can aid in data analysis tasks. The workshop is divided into two parts: the first half offers practical tips for using GenAI in coding, and the second half features a live demonstration of Copilot Chat for debugging R scripts. Participants receive prompts to follow along and practice during the session. This workshop is designed to provide practical skills and insights applicable to data analysis, accommodating both beginners in GenAI and R programming.

The workshop "Intro to GenAI and Literature Searching" is dedicated to exploring how GenAI can enhance scholarly literature searches. It covers the strengths and limitations of common GenAI tools, specifically those designed to find citations. Additionally, the workshop reviews tasks for which GenAI tools are appropriate or inappropriate in the literature search process. Included is a discussion about other AI approaches, such as machine learning, and how they are incorporated into tools like Covidence for systematic reviews, assisting with the literature review process.

The "Intro to GenAI and Prompting" workshop is designed to help participants discover how to utilize UVA licensed GenAI tools in their work. In this workshop, participants delve into the basics of GenAI and best practices, then explore the art of prompt engineering.  They leave with a solid understanding of GenAI concepts and practical guidance on crafting effective prompts, using Copilot Chat to demonstrate real-world applications.

Visit the library's events page to see availability of these workshops or contact the library for a customized session for your department.

The UVA Health Sciences Library once relied on a traditional reference desk for patron inquiries. This worked well for simple inquires but often fell short for subject-specific questions, as the person at the desk might not be a subject specialist.  In addition, the complexity of the questions were increasing, requiring reference librarians to analyze an ever-expanding amount of knowledge, which was nearly impossible in a reference desk setting.  As a result, the Health Sciences Library gradually replaced the reference desk with a consultation model beginning in 2009. 

This new service model fit well with the next major service enhancement that occurred in 2017 when the library invested in greater support of UVA Health researchers by hiring data specialists. Services that data specialist provide are inherently intricate and frequently necessitate multiple consultations. 

The consultation model works by having patrons use the Ask Us form available on the library's website. When filing out the form, patrons specify the nature of their inquiry, such as data, information, technology, or room reservation assistance. This categorization ensures that the inquiry reaches the most qualified specialist.

Upon submission, librarians and data specialists receive the request via email and will respond within one business day. While some inquiries can be resolved through email or a phone call, more complex issues may require in-depth consultations. These consultations can be conducted either in the library or via Zoom, depending on the patron's preference and the nature of the inquiry.

Meanwhile, the library continues to provide onsite services through its Service Desk and IT teams.  These services are tailored to meet the needs of patrons using the library during the busiest times, 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.  Service Desk staff capture non-identifiable patron encounters and use that data to ensure consistency in service and to look for service trends.  By leveraging these data, the library can better anticipate the needs of our patrons and implement proactive solutions that enhance their overall experience at the library.

Leveraging data is playing a major role in the library’s current pursuit of its next service model transition, spearheaded by Dr. David Martin, Innovation and Data Strategy Lead. Dr. Martin and other library staff are exploring how to integrate AI tools and services into library operations. This forward-thinking initiative is set to significantly accelerate the evolution of the library's service model, paving the way for an unprecedented level of creativity and efficiency. The library of tomorrow is being crafted today; a future where AI-powered assistance will likely enhance all facets of library services.

History of the Health Sciences Lecture with the Medical Center Hour

Featuring Professor Richard McKinley Mizelle Jr.

“Diabetes and the Politics of Difference”

Wednesday February 19, 2025

12-1pm EST

UPDATE 2/17/2025

The talk will be held virtually only, due to inclement weather. 

Zoom Link (no registration required): https://virginia.zoom.us/j/92323689923?pwd=GoIxKjMIoR8jMcm372w8bo8I30FGz6.1

Professor Richard Mizelle’s talk connects medical science, racial politics, and health activism to make comprehensible the many faces of diabetes. Diabetes is an evolving disease with twists, turns, and unknowns leading to notions of multiple origins and identities. Diabetes is different from other chronic diseases because of the ways in which measurements of control are often placed directly in the hands of sufferers.  Those with diabetes must manage the disease on an individual level, and managing this complicated illness contains elements of self-actualization, self-containment, and self-discipline, in addition to questions of medical access, surveillance, and power. The typology of diabetes evolved over the long twentieth century and has led many to advocate for a separate disease identity. Through it all, the othering of Black bodies and other groups have remained constant.

The work of historians is to reshape heterogeneous strains of dense statistics, ideas, anecdotes, and stories to make usable for scholars and the broader public. This talk makes intelligible the reasons so many dogged misconceptions about diabetes persist. An important step for seeking justice is making the incomprehensible and irrational visible for everyone to see, including highlighting for healthcare professionals, patients, and the public the process of exclusion that continues to impact the quality and nature of diabetes care today.  

Richard Mizelle is Associate Professor of History at the University of Houston and Co-Editor of the Environmental History’s Futures Series at the University of Oklahoma Press. His research, writing, and lecturing focuses on the history of race and healthcare politics, chronic disease, environmental health, and the historical connections between gender, identity, and ethnicity in medicine. Mizelle is the author of Backwater Blues: The Mississippi Flood of 1927 in the African American Imagination (University of Minnesota Press, 2014) and co-editor of Resilience and Opportunity: Lessons from the U.S. Gulf Coast after Katrina and Rita (Brookings Institution Press, 2011). His work has appeared in a wide range of academic journals and publications including The Lancet, ISIS, Journal of African American History, The New England Journal of Medicine, History Compass, Open Rivers Journal, Los Angeles Review of Books, and the American Historian Magazine. His research has also been quoted in the Washington Post, ProPublica, Kaiser Health News, New York Times, New Yorker Magazine, and he has appeared and consulted on numerous local and national podcasts including NPR’s Throughline and Floodlines, an award-winning podcast on Hurricane Katrina produced by the Atlantic Magazine.

This lecture is sponsored by Historical Collections at the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library and The Center for Health Humanities and Ethics at the UVA School of Medicine.

We are pleased to announce that the Health Sciences Library now has two Emergency Management Kiosks available for patrons. These kiosks run the UVA Ready app and are designed to help anyone report a safety concern for themselves or others at UVA. They are especially useful for those who do not have the mobile app installed on their phone or prefer to report anonymously. You can find the kiosks conveniently located on the first floor in the MILL and on the second floor in the large quiet study area.

The UVA Ready app is the official safety app of the University of Virginia, designed to help students, faculty, staff, and the public prepare for emergencies on Grounds. Here are some key features:

1. Emergency Notifications: Receive alerts targeted to your geographic location.
2. Report Concerns: Submit non-emergency safety concerns or tips directly to UVA Police.
3. "I'm Ok!" Feature: Send a message and your location to friends and loved ones during an emergency.
4. Friend Walk: Invite friends to virtually walk with you and set a timer for your arrival.
5. Call 911
6. Parking & Transportation: Access information provided by UVA Parking & Transportation.
7. Emergency Procedures: Access a list of procedures for different emergency situations.
8. Resource Locator: Find safety resources and contact information for on and off Grounds.

The app ensures your information is secure and your location is only shared when you request assistance. It's a comprehensive tool to enhance safety and preparedness at UVA. 

We encourage everyone to take advantage of this valuable resource to ensure a safer environment for all.

The Health Sciences Library has been recertified as a VisitAble advocate, which underscores the library’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility for all visitors and employees.

As part of the recertification process, every member of the staff completed a comprehensive training module designed to ensure that they are fully prepared to serve, welcome, and accommodate individuals with disabilities. In addition to the training, the Health Sciences Library took further steps to enhance accessibility within the library, including the installation of automated doors that provide easy access from the lobby to the quiet study area. 

The director of the library, Bart Ragon, shared his thoughts on this achievement: "We are honored to receive the VisitAble recertification. It reflects our continuous efforts to create a space where everyone feels welcome and supported. The new automated doors are just one example of how we are enhancing accessibility for all our visitors." 

Kimberley Barker, Librarian for Belonging & Community Engagement, added: "Accessibility lies at the heart of libraries- access to collections, access to services and assistance, and access to the physical space. We embrace our VisitAble certification as it not only ensures that accessibility remains at the forefront of our plans but also signals to our users that their ability to use the library digitally and physically is very important to us." 

On Friday, December 6th, there was a significant turnout at the annual Health Sciences Library Holiday Study Break, which offered UVA Health students a much-needed respite during their demanding exam schedule. The event included pizza, various snacks, coloring pages from Historical Collections, and notably, therapy dogs who provided comfort and joy to all attendees.

Special thanks to Allison Cruise, our SOM Liaison Librarian, for coordinating the event, as well as to all library staff who provided support.  And a very special thank you to all who participated and for making this event memorable.

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Health Sciences Library!

This post was edited on Thursday, December 5th to show a change in start date from Thursday, December 5th to Friday, December 6th.

The Health Sciences Library will implement enhanced security measures from Friday, December 6th to Tuesday, December 17th to ensure a safe and secure environment during final examinations.

What to Expect

During the specified periods mentioned below, RMC personnel will be verifying UVA Health IDs at the front entrance. Individuals without a UVA Health ID will not be permitted entry. We kindly request that all patrons using the library during these hours carry their UVA Health ID at all times. This measure will streamline the security process and ensure an efficient experience for everyone.

Weekends (Saturday and Sunday): 9 AM to 9 PM
Weekdays (Monday to Friday): 4:30 PM to 9 PM

Thank you for your cooperation. Please contact me for any questions or feedback.

Dan Wilson, MLS
dtw2t@virginia.edu
Deputy Director

For 24 years, Kyle Bowman has been a dedicated member of the university community, with the last six years spent enriching the Health Sciences Library as a member of the library’s executive team. His journey, however, began long before his tenure at the university, rooted in growing up in New York City and his military service from 1992 to 1999 following his high school graduation.

Kyle joined the military as Operation Desert Storm was concluding. After completing boot camp, he was stationed in Germany and Italy, where he gained invaluable experiences that have shaped his professional ethos. Reflecting on his military service, Kyle emphasizes the importance of allowing subordinates the freedom to explore and develop beyond their job descriptions. He believes that failure can be a powerful learning tool and stresses the significance of supporting and defending team members externally, while addressing any issues privately.

One of the most profound lessons Kyle carried with him throughout his life is the value of diversity. Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Kyle has always embraced diverse cultures and perspectives. His military service further reinforced this appreciation, as he worked alongside and reported to a wide array of individuals from different backgrounds.  “Getting diverse views and perspectives when it comes to problem-solving comes natural to me and something I always seek out,” Kyle said.

Kyle’s understanding of the challenges veterans face in the workforce is personal. As a member of the executive committee for the UVA Military Veterans Employee Group, he is committed to providing ongoing support to veterans. The group’s initiatives extend beyond Veterans Day, including sponsoring breakfasts around Grounds and discussing ideas such as development of a mentoring program. In addition, the Group has discussed veteran support ideas, such as assisting veterans in translating their military skills into a civilian resume.

The Health Sciences Library takes great pride in Kyle’s service and contributions. His leadership and dedication have made a significant impact, and the library is honored to be his workplace home. Kyle Bowman’s story is a testament to the enduring value of military service and the positive influence veterans can have in the civilian workforce.