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Himmelfarb Headlines: Director's Desk

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Director's Desk

Director's Desk, Laura Abate

As the seasons and academic year change, Himmelfarb Library continues to evolve as well.  In May 2024, the library ended 24/7 operations due to lower usage during the overnight hours.  After working with students to better understand their needs and alternative study spaces available, Himmelfarb’s hours will shift again later this fall to allow for an earlier (6 a.m.) opening Monday through Friday, as well as a later closing (midnight on Fridays and Saturdays).  We’re hopeful these hours will support our students and residents who use Himmelfarb for study and research.  

While most think of spring as the time for renewal, for libraries that season is fall as that’s when we renew most of our journals and databases. Unfortunately, this year’s materials budget was reduced so we are making some challenging decisions regarding renewals.  In making renewal decisions, we look carefully at prior usage and cost, and also integrate information regarding titles that are important to specific departments.   We are unlikely to make it through this process without losing titles that are important to users - and will continue to do our best to provide fast interlibrary loan delivery for titles that are no longer in our collection.  And, even in the face of cuts, we welcome feedback from faculty to try to maintain a collection that is valuable and useful to our community.

While Himmelfarb exists as both physical and online spaces for study, research, and collaboration , the library also exists as a community of users.  This Fall, Healthy Living @ Himmelfarb invites all members of our community - GW students, faculty and staff affiliated with the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Milken Institute School of Public Health, and School of Nursing - to submit a photo for the annual Fall Colors photo contest.  Details about the contest and how to submit are available online, and all submissions will be displayed in a digital gallery as well as on the 1st floor of the library.  Please submit a photo to bring some beautiful outdoor scenery into Himmelfarb Library!

Many thanks,


Laura Abate