Join us on April 8th and 10th, 3:30pm to 4:45pm, as the School of Architecture students present their redesigns for the 2nd floor spaces of the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library. The students have generated two options per space and will be presenting over two days in the respective spaces.

The 2nd floor of the library will be divided into the following 4 spaces:

1.    The lobby

2.    The 24 hour space - frontmost large open area 

3.    The 24 hour space - middle area with HIT computers

4.    The 24 hour space - backmost area

HSL and the School of Architecture students will be soliciting library user feedback via in-person Q&A. We encourage library users to drop-in any time between 3:30pm and 4:45pm on April 8th and 10th.

Snacks will be provided by HSL.

If you have any questions or cannot attend either event, please email Kyle Bowman, Administrative Manager, KLB9U@virginia.edu.
 

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.

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."