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Himmelfarb Headlines: Director's Desk

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Director's Desk

Director's Desk, Laura Abate

The end of the spring term means that things get quiet in the library, at least for a few days after graduation. Soon, though, the summer term begins and the new residents and fellows arrive. This year, spring has brought a few changes to Himmelfarb Library.

For several years, Himmelfarb Library has been open for most of the year on a 24/7 operating status. After looking carefully at usage patterns, in particular the low usage during overnight hours, the library shifted its operating hours in mid-May to better reflect in-person usage patterns. Beginning on May 17, Himmelfarb Library’s new operating hours allow for a midnight closing time on most nights, and a 10 p.m. closing time on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Along with changes to the physical library’s operations, Himmelfarb Library and GW Libraries selected the end of May to transition to a new online library access system. For many years, Himmelfarb Library and GW Libraries have provided off-site access via EZproxy in complement to GW’s virtual private network (VPN). These access methods relied on IP-authentication which allowed users access via a fixed set of computer IP addresses. The new online library access system, OpenAthens, better serves GW affiliates who are teaching, studying, and working from locations across the DC area and around the world. Rather than associating GW with a fixed set of IP/computer addresses, OpenAthens authenticates each GW affiliate and then provides access for that individual regardless of their location.

OpenAthens provides seamless access to online information tools and resources, and, because it uses the GW Single Sign-On authentication (as did EZproxy and GW VPN), the change will be seamless to most users. Users can continue to access the libraries’ resources using library websites, catalogs, and research guides. In addition, OpenAthens also offers users the ability to authenticate directly with subscribed resources. Users who access a journal (e.g. JAMA) or an academic publishing platform (e.g. ScienceDirect), can opt to authenticate directly with those resources by selecting George Washington University and then signing in using their GW UserID and password. 

The change to OpenAthens does mean that links to articles, databases, books, and book chapters that are embedded in Blackboard, syllabi, and other course materials will need to be updated. To provide continuous access, all EZproxy links will be forwarded for the next year as we support GW faculty and staff with updating these links. Blackboard links will be updated automatically via a GW LAI project, and instructions for updating individual links are available via Himmelfarb’s Linking to Electronic Resources research guide. This research guide includes a QuickTool for creating OpenAthens links plus information on creating other types of durable links. And, as always, the Himmelfarb Library staff is here to provide assistance and support.  For assistance updating links, please contact himmelfarb@gwu.edu or Ask A Librarian.

While Himmelfarb is experiencing a week of post-graduation quiet as I write this, I know that by the time you read it, we will be back in full swing with the arrival of summer cohorts, our new physician assistant class, and an influx of interns, residents, and fellows. As questions arise from your research or you think of a resource that would help your students or residents, please reach out to us!