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.

“Library Involvement and Librarian Roles in DNP Education: Supporting Information Needs of Nursing Practice Doctoral Programs” by Amanda Datesman, MLIS, RN, AHIIP

Amanda Datesman, who serves as the library's liaison to the School of Nursing, recently presented her research at the Mid-Atlantic and Southern chapters of the Medical Library Association in Charleston, South Carolina. Her study examined the crucial role of libraries and librarians in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) education, highlighting opportunities to incorporate library resources into the curriculum, enhance information literacy, and support evidence-based practice. The presentation encouraged collaboration between librarians and nursing educators and discussed innovative methods to utilize library services to meet DNP program requirements.

Her presentation garnered significant interest, as demonstrated by the numerous questions she received during the Q&A session. To reach Amanda, please email her at arg5g@virginia.edu.

Recent technology upgrades have been made to two classrooms at the Health Sciences Library. David Moody, the library’s IT director, explains the changes.

What's new in the classrooms? We've installed a Zoom conferencing system in our Carter and Tolleson classrooms to make hybrid teaching easier. There are now two cameras: one for the presenter and one for the students, which allows remote participants to see both the lecturer and participants in the room. Plus, we've added a new microphone system to ensure clear audio. 

Why did you choose a Zoom conferencing system? One of the main challenges was meeting the varied needs of our users. The solution had to work for in-person training, hybrid meetings on non-Zoom platforms, and include versatile screen sharing for non-classroom purposes. We chose the Zoom system because it's centrally supported, which means better support and ease of use. While using a consumer product means sticking to its design and giving up some control, the benefits of extended support, versatility, and the ability to grow the solution outweigh these limitations.

Does it have any AI features? AI Companion is built into the system to take notes and summarize meetings. 

How can patrons reserve the space, and is support available? To reserve Carter and Tolleson, please use the self-service Resource Scheduler, the library’s Ask Us form, or contact the Service Desk at 434-924-5444, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

If someone is unfamiliar with the equipment, it is recommended to schedule a meeting with our IT team before the class begins, ideally the day before. A team member will go over the system and ensure compatibility with any equipment the user plans to bring.  Classroom support is available from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday to Friday. 

Finally, please note that each classroom has a resident PC, so bringing a laptop is optional. The PCs don't require login for basic functions, but clinical tools need hospital login credentials.

For additional information, please contact David Moody, CMHSL IT director, at dam8u@virginia.edu.

Wednesday Nov 13, 2024, 12-1pm EST

Historical Collections Reading Room 

Basement Level

Claude Moore Health Sciences Library

We have reached maximum capacity for in-person attendance. 

Hybrid Zoom Link (no registration required): https://virginia.zoom.us/j/93317112561?pwd=b8aEUc4MROJGhL4XqvTEiHumuzxLiY.1

Many of us have been told at some point in our lives to stand or sit up straight—and usually, with a sense of guilt or embarrassment, we unthinkingly comply. That good posture is beneficial and important to one’s health is a truism that we rarely examine or question. To critically analyze this belief, Dr. Beth Linker explores the historical origins of the posture sciences in the early twentieth century. Dr. Linker explains how, despite a lack of physical evidence, upright posture became a widely accepted indicator of health and failures of form a sign of future disability and disease.

Beth Linker is the Samuel H. Preston Endowed Term Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of the History and Sociology of Science. Her research and teaching interests include the history of science and medicine, disability, health care policy, and gender. She is the author of War’s Waste: Rehabilitation in World War I America (Chicago, 2011) and co-editor of Civil Disabilities: Citizenship, Membership, and Belonging (Penn Press, 2014). Her most recent book, Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America (Princeton University Press, 2024), is a historical consideration of how poor posture became a feared pathology in the United States throughout much of the twentieth century. For this project, Linker received grants from The American Council of Learned Societies, The National Endowment for the Humanities, The National Institutes of Health, and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. 

This Medical Center Hour session 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.

On Wednesday, October 23rd, the Health Sciences Library hosted an Open Access and Research Symposium, which included a Research Resource fair and a panel discussion on Open Access, Federal Funder Requirements, and the Changing Nature of Science. The resource fair featured a variety of participants, including the Center for Open Science, Clinical Trial Office, Health Sciences Library, Integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia (iTHRIV), Office of Sponsored Programs, Public Health Sciences, Research Computing, School of Medicine Office of Grants and Contracts, School of Medicine Research Core Administration, University Libraries, Vice President for Research Office, Office of Graduate & Postdoctoral Affairs, and UVA Licensing & Ventures Group.

The open access panel featured the following panelists:

• Souad Benloukil, CCRC, Senior Program Manager, UVA School of Nursing, Office for Nursing Research
• Andrea H. Denton, MILS, Research & Data Services Manager, UVA Claude Moore Health Sciences Library
• David Kashatus, PhD, Assistant Dean for Research, Associate Professor, Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, UVA School of Medicine
• David Mellor, PhD, Director of Policy, Center for Open Science
• Sarah Ratcliffe, PhD, Associate Chair for Research, Director of the Division of Biostatistics, UVA Public Health Sciences Department
• Kristen Schwendinger, JD, MPA, Director of Research Integrity and Ethics, UVA Office of the Vice President for Research

Following the presentations from the panelists, the Q&A session highlighted challenges such as handling and sharing large experimental data, cost negotiations, and publishing complexities.  Several librarians from other University libraries and the manager of UVA's repository, Libra, spoke during the Q&A session. They are actively supporting their researchers and exploring long-term storage solutions for researchers through Libra.

As for the Health Sciences Library, Andrea Denton, Research & Data Services Manager at the Health Sciences Library, discussed the library’s support, which includes:

• Assisting researchers in navigating open access options, including help with drafting data management plans and deposits to suitable repositories. 
  

• Continuously assessing how the OSTP Public Access Memo (aka Nelson Memo) will impact researchers across the institution.

• Promoting awareness of available resources, such as grants for creating open access journals and textbooks.

Bart Ragon, the director of the Health Sciences Library and host of the panel discussion, stated that the event accomplished its purpose, which was to bring together the research community across Grounds to discuss the challenges of navigating the evolving academic research landscape. He expressed his hope that this event will become an annual tradition, supporting the International Open Access Week celebration and continuing to provide valuable insights and resources to the academic community.

Drop by the HSL lobby on Wednesday, October 30, from 10am to 12pm, for our Historical Collections and Services expo! Meet our staff and learn more about the services they offer. Explore a selection of our most popular medical artifacts and enjoy some candy and swag.

Questions? Please email Meggan Cashwell, Curator for Historical Collections, at mfc9n@virginia.edu or Amanda Greenwood, Archivist, at qkv8sr@virginia.edu.