The HSHSL building will be closed on Sunday, April 5, for the Easter holiday.
While our physical spaces will be unavailable, you can still access databases, journals, and guides through the library website.
HSHSL Closed Sunday, April 5 for Easter Holiday
Posted in Building News
Tagged Easter Sunday, holiday, library closed
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Refreshing the Fifth Floor Collection
Over the coming weeks, the HSHSL team will be conducting a weeding and shifting project on the fifth floor. This work is part of our ongoing effort to refresh the physical collection, ensure materials remain relevant, and make it easier for users to navigate the stacks.
During this project, HSHSL librarians will carefully review and remove materials that are no longer a good fit (literally and metaphorically). As space is freed, remaining books will be shifted and redistributed to create space and improve browsing. For a temporary period, shelves may look unusual: some sections may appear partially empty or in transition while this work is underway. While it may be tempting to “spruce up” the shelves when you pass them, please leave everything as-is to allow the weeding team to properly assess the available space.
Access to materials will remain available throughout the project. If you have trouble locating an item or need assistance, members of the HSHSL team are always happy to help at the service desk.
Weeding teams will be mindful of noise as the fifth floor is a quiet space, but please be patient as some conversation is necessary for this project. If you have noise concerns, please stop by the Information Services desk for earplugs or headphones. Or try the third or fourth floors while teams are working on this project.
Thank you for your patience as we work to improve the fifth-floor stacks and create a more usable, welcoming collection for our community.
Posted in Alerts, Building News, News
Tagged books, Collections, Fifth-Floor
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Using Consensus? Share Your Feedback: 2-Minute Survey
The library is currently running a one-year trial of Consensus, an AI-powered research tool that helps users quickly find and understand scholarly evidence.
Have you tried Consensus yet? We would love to hear about your experience. Your feedback will help us better understand how the campus community is using the tool and which features are most valuable.
Share your feedback in the Consensus survey.
To learn more about Consensus, including how it works and tips for getting started, explore the Consensus LibGuide.
Posted in Research Support, Resources
Tagged AI, consensus, feedback
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Inside Connective Issues: March Edition
The March issue of Connective Issues is now available, featuring news and updates from across the library. In this edition, Dean Hurst shares the completed 2025 annual report, highlights progress toward compliance with Title II of the ADA, and previews upcoming improvements to the first floor. You’ll also find information about an NNLM Region 1 training opportunity, a new partnership with USGA to provide free period products, and a look at the latest exhibit in the gallery.
Posted in News
Tagged Connective Issues, March 2026
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Finding Your School’s Librarian
Did you know that each school at UMB has a dedicated librarian? Getting to know your librarian is one of the easiest ways to make your research process smoother.
Your liaison librarian can help with:
- Research and database searching
- Finding and evaluating sources
- Systematic reviews and advanced literature searches
- Citation questions and reference management tools
They also work closely with your program and understand the resources and assignments specific to your field.
You can also stop by the Information Services Desk, and we will be happy to connect you.
Posted in Services
Tagged liaison, REL, research and education librarians
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Orioles Opening Game Day Is…Loud
If you’re hearing music, cheering, or a general festive rumble, it’s not your imagination. It’s Opening Day for the Baltimore Orioles, and the sound is making its way into the building.
We love it, sure, but we know you might not love it for studying.
If you need a little quiet, we’ve got:
- Earplugs
- Headphones (regular and USB-C)
Just ask at the Information Services Desk.
Posted in Services
Tagged Baltimore Orioles, Earplugs, Headphones, noise
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Update: Embase Access Restored
March 24, 2026 Update: The access issues affecting Embase appear to be resolved. If you continue to experience problems, please let us know so we can investigate.
Contact Information Services at hshsl@umaryland.edu or 410-706-7995.
Posted in Alerts, Resource Outage
Tagged Embase, Service Outage
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Steven Waugh: Darkness and Light Opens March 27
The HSHSL Weise Gallery will host “Steven Waugh: Darkness and Light” from March 27 to May 15, 2026.
Waugh, a self-taught Baltimore painter, creates photorealistic black-and-white oil paintings. His recent work explores themes of light and shadow through subjects such as nature, classic cars and portraits of 1920s film stars.
The library will host a reception in May 2026. Details will be announced soon.
Posted in Announcement, Exhibits
Tagged Art Exhibit, Steven Waugh
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Academic Video Online (AVON): Stream Educational Films and Documentaries
The University of Maryland, Baltimore community has access to Academic Video Online (AVON), a large streaming video collection of educational films, documentaries, interviews, and performances. The database includes more than 85,000 streaming titles that support teaching, learning, and research across many disciplines.
Ways to Use AVON
- Find a documentary for a class presentation
- Watch interviews with experts on health policy or public health
- Explore historical footage related to medicine and health care
- Discover educational films that support course topics
What You Can Find
AVON includes titles from respected educational and documentary producers. Topics relevant to UMB programs include:
- Public health and health policy
- Counseling and psychology
- Rehabilitation therapy
- Nursing and clinical practice
- Social determinants of health
- Science and medicine
The collection also includes historical footage, interviews with researchers and clinicians, and documentaries on social and cultural issues related to health care.
Helpful Tools for Teaching and Learning
AVON includes tools that make it easy to use video in coursework.
You can:
- Create clips from longer videos
- Build playlists for classes or study topics
- Embed videos or clips in Blackboard
- Search transcripts to locate specific content
- Stream anywhere with your UMB credentials
Start Exploring
Access Academic Video Online (AVON) to browse the collection or search for videos related to your area of study.
For help getting started, including tips on creating clips, playlists, and embedding videos in Blackboard, visit the AVON subject guide. If you have questions or need support, contact Information Services at hshsl@umaryland.edu or 410-706-7995.
Access to Academic Video Online is provided through the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions (USMAI) library consortium.
Posted in Research Support, Resources
Tagged Academic Video Online, AVON
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Explore AI for Research: Intro to Consensus, March 31
Curious about AI tools for finding and summarizing research? Join us virtually for a 30-minute introduction to Consensus, an AI-powered search engine that synthesizes peer-reviewed literature to highlight areas of agreement and disagreement in the evidence. Explore our Consensus LibGuide for guidance and examples (opens in a new window).
In this session, you will learn:
- How Consensus works and what it searches
- When it can save you time exploring the evidence on a topic
- Its strengths and limitations
- How it compares to traditional databases and other AI tools
Consensus is a powerful accelerator, but it does not replace systematic searching. Join us to learn how to use it responsibly and effectively.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Noon to 12:30 p.m.
Online
Register for the Intro to Consensus workshop (opens in a new window)