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Himmelfarb Library Special Collections : Home

A guide to Himmelfarb Library's Special Collections and resource lists.

About Himmelfarb Library's Special Collections

Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library collections support the educational, clinical and research needs of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Nursing and Milken Institute School of Public Health. Himmelfarb has some special collections to fill specific needs and areas of interest ranging from historical, leisure reading, health and wellness, and resource lists supporting specific populations. Some collections are mostly physical and located in specific shelf space in the library, while others are electronic. All collections and titles can be accessed through the library's Special Collections Gallery.  

Humanities & Health Collection

Description: Literary accounts of illness can teach healthcare providers concrete and powerful lessons about the lives of sick people. Just as important, great works of fiction about medicine enable those in healthcare to recognize the power and implications of what they do. Himmelfarb Library has always selectively acquired books classified in the Literature in Medicine genre and made them available through the Humanities & Health Collection.

Himmelfarb invites anyone who wants to honor or remember a loved one to make a donation to the Humanities and Health Collection in addition to their regular contributions to the educational, clinical and research programs of SMHS, SON, and GWSPH.

To make a donation contact Himmelfarb's Acquisitions Librarian, Ian Roberts, at 202-994-3685 or email imroberts@gwu.edu.

Location: The print collection is located in the nook on the first floor.

Browse the Humanities & Health Collection.

New Titles:

Diversity in Dermatology

Description: Dermatology resources representing the full spectrum of human skin tones. Includes atlases and dermatology texts in both print and electronic format.

Location: Print texts are shelved in basement level stacks in the dermatology section (call number WR).

Browse the Diversity in Dermatology Collection.

Sample Titles:

Himmelfarb Library Streaming Video Collection

Description: Himmelfarb's collection of streaming videos, featuring documentaries related to public health and health policy. If there are any videos you'd like to see added to the collection, please contact Ian Roberts at imroberts@gwu.edu.

Location: All videos can be accessed online and are available to GW faculty, staff and students.

Browse the Streaming Video Collection.

Sample Titles:

Other Himmelfarb Special Collections

Historical Collection

Description: Himmelfarb Library has a limited Historical Collection including titles from the Classics of Medicine Library series and some archival materials from the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Classics of Medicine titles are facsimile reproductions of historical titles including Osler's Aequanimitas and Galen's On the Usefulness of the Parts of the Body.

Location: Items in the collection can be used in Himmelfarb on request. Contact the Circulation Desk at 202-994-2962 or email mlbcir@gwu.edu. Contact the Reference Desk at 202-994-2850 or himmelfarb@gwu.edu for more information about the Historical Collection at Himmelfarb.

Browse the Historical Collection.

Sample Titles:

Diversity and Disparities in Health Care

Description: Resources addressing issues of disparity and representation of minority communities in health care. Includes titles on social justice and racial disparities, LGBTQ healthcare issues, and cultural competence.

Location: Print titles in this collection are shelved in Himmelfarb's book stacks in the basement level. 

Browse the Diversity and Disparities in Health Care Collection.

New Titles:

Healthy Living Collection

Description: The Healthy Living Collection includes books that support physical and mental health and a variety of other items for exercise and leisure. Find everything from recipe books, to hula hoops and board games in this eclectic collection.  See our Health Living Guide for more information on this collection and other resources supporting health and wellness.

Location: Items are shelved on the first floor in front of the library elevator.

Browse the Healthy Living Collection.

Sample Titles:

Himmelfarb Library News

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