The new year offers us the opportunity to reflect on all that we’ve accomplished over the past year. In that spirit, here are some highlights from Himmelfarb’s 2023!
Last year, we acquired new resources and updated our current collection to provide the latest in health sciences research and support. The Bloedorn Technology Center received new 3-D printed anatomical models. Thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Seymour Perlin and Ruth Perlin, the library now hosts the Suicide and Suicidology Collection. Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee was hard at work: in the spring, the committee released an Anti-Racism in Healthcare research guide, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy was published in the fall.
The library also held a number of engaging events. In January, we enjoyed hosting the National Library of Medicine’s traveling exhibit Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine in Harry Potter’s World. In March, we held a basketball shootout fundraiser for the GW Healing Clinic. The library had its inaugural springtime Cherry Blossom Photo Contest, followed by the first Fall Colors Photo Contest. The 35th Annual Art Show was held in May (keep an eye out for information on the 36th!).
We also celebrated the arrival of three new staff members: Deborah Wassertzug and Rebecca Kyser joined the Reference and Instruction team, and Randy Plym joined us as our Evening/Weekend Circulation Supervisor. Ruth Bueter was promoted to Associate Director for Library Operations. Himmelfarb Library staff had several works published, including JoLinda Thompson and Sara Hoover’s chapter “Discoverability Within the Library” in the book Discoverability in Digital Repositories: Systems, Perspectives, and Users Studies, and Rachel Brill’s article on her Disorder in the Court series.
Read more of the library’s 2023 highlights in our blog post! We can’t wait to see what 2024 brings.