Spring is here — and with that comes beautiful flowers, budget presentations, and the Middle States accreditation site visit. I hope that those of you who are able to visit the HSHSL this month will take the opportunity to view the new exhibit on display in the Weise Gallery through May 31, 2025: “Groundbreaking: Spring Botanicals.” The library gallery is one of my favorite spots, and I hope you will enjoy this exhibit and others planned for the future.

I am pleased to share that renovation work continues on the building restrooms. The first two of 12 restrooms will soon be completed on the Lower Level. Renovations include updated stalls and two freestanding sinks in each restroom. While the original trough sinks were innovative in 1998, they continue to experience issues.

Much of my time has recently been set aside to prepare the HSHSL budget for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). I will present our budget to university leadership in early April. Due to the state budget deficit, all University System of Maryland (USM) institutions face budget reductions. I have worked with the HSHSL leadership team to discuss how these budget cuts will impact HSHSL services, collections, and staffing. While we anticipate a very lean FY2026, I am optimistic of strengthening relationships with University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) schools and units, as well as with the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Intuitions (USMAI) consortium, of which HSHSL and the Thurgood Marshall Law Library are active members, to support our funding needs. We are also working closely with UMB development to establish new fundraising opportunities for the HSHSL.

We are actively monitoring the changes at the federal level regarding projects at the HSHSL funded by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). I meet regularly with our contacts at the NLM to discuss these changes. Our HSHSL employees who work on these grant funded projects continue to support the NLM’s mission, providing access to information, funding opportunities, and training support for their network members though the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM), Region 1 and the NNLM Web Services Office.

I am grateful for all of the support as I continue to learn and navigate our changing environments. It has been just over one year since I joined the UMB team, and I look forward to finding new and innovative ways to serve the UMB and Maryland communities, and to position the HSHSL as a flagship health sciences and human services library in the region and beyond.

As of Jan. 1, the HSHSL has negotiated two new agreements that will facilitate open access (OA) publishing at UMB. Known as “Read and Publish Agreements,” these contracts provide UMB authors with the opportunity to make their articles OA in certain journals without paying the article processing fee (APC) that would typically be charged. Our agreements are with Elsevier and Wiley, two large academic publishers.

When a UMB affiliate is the corresponding author for a paper that is accepted by an eligible journal, they will see the option to select this free OA publishing format when completing their copyright and licensing agreements in the journal publisher’s portal. If this option does not appear, the journal is either not eligible for the agreement or we have used our allotment of free publishing credits for that calendar year.

More information about these agreements as well as other publishing guidance is available on our Open Access guide. Contact Steve Douglas with any questions related to the OA agreements. For general publishing questions and guidance, contact publishing@hshsl.umaryland.edu.

March 10-May 31, 2025

The "Groundbreaking: Spring Botanicals" exhibit features illustrations by 18th-century botanists William Woodville and William Curtis from the HSHSL’s Pharmacy Historical Collection. The botanical illustrations were digitally enhanced and enlarged to highlight intricate details and vivid colors.

The images featured in the exhibit come from historical texts that were donated to the HSHSL collections in 1940 from the estate of August Kach, a graduate of the Maryland College of Pharmacy, class of 1882. His donation included 700 volumes, many of which remain in the HSHSL. The HSHSL’s Pharmacy Historical Collection contains influential pharmacy and medical texts dating back to the 17th century.

…

William Woodville, an English physician and botanist, published "Medical Botany: Containing Systematic and General Descriptions, With Plates of All the Medicinal Plants, Indigenous and Exotic, Comprehended in the Catalogues of the Materia Medica, as Published by the Royal Colleges of Physicians of London and Edinburgh," from 1790 to 1794. This four-volume work, illustrated by James Sowerby, served as an important resource for early physicians. The HSHSL holds a two-volume set.

William Curtis, a botanist and entomologist from Alton, Hampshire, England, founded The Botanical Magazine; or, Flower-Garden Displayed in February 1787. The early magazine featured illustrations by Sydenham Edwards and James Sowerby, and continues publication today as Curtis’s Botanical Magazine.

Continue Reading

 

We’re pleased to share that long-awaited restroom renovations are happening at the HSHSL. These updates will bring new sinks, stalls, mirrors, and fresh paint to each restroom, enhancing comfort and accessibility for all.

What to Expect

• Restrooms on each floor will be temporarily closed during renovations.
• Restrooms on other floors will remain open—please use an alternative floor as needed.
• Some construction noise is expected. Complimentary earplugs are available at the Information Services Desk.

We appreciate your patience as we make these much-needed improvements. Signage and updates will be posted throughout the process. If you have questions, contact us at hshsl@umaryland.edu or 410-706-7995.

Thank you for your support—we can’t wait for you to see the refreshed spaces!

Attention: UMB faculty, instructors, and clinical skills mentors!

• Are you interested in helping your students understand how health literacy practices can improve patient comprehension and health outcomes?
• Would you like to deepen your own understanding of health literacy?
• Are you looking for ways to integrate health literacy into your existing coursework?
  

The newly released online course “Learning and Teaching Health Literacy from an Interprofessional Education and Equity Lens” is designed with you in mind.

This course includes a welcome module and four training modules. Completing the full series and earning a digital certificate takes just 2.5 hours.

To access the course, visit the HSHSL’s Health Literacy Resources subject guide.

Questions? Please email: healthliteracy@umaryland.edu

We appreciate everyone who took the time to share their feedback in our recent library quality survey. We are currently analyzing results and looking at how we can improve the HSHSL. To encourage participation, we pledged to donate $2 per completed survey to the UMB student pantry and held a random drawing for prizes. Thanks to your responses, we are thrilled to donate $610 to support our students!

 Congratulations to our five prize winners: 

• Anne Sawyer, School of Medicine
• Jenna Silverman, Student Counseling Center
• Maclean Panshin, School of Medicine
• Sara Crane, School of Medicine
• Vasumati Eranki, School of Pharmacy 

Thank you again for sharing your feedback to help us improve the HSHSL!

Book It Forward is back! From April 8 through May 19, you’ll find donation containers at the HSHSL and the Campus Center to collect new and gently used children’s books for ages birth through high school.

This year, donated books will support three incredible organizations:

• The Rise Early Learning and Family Support Center – An initiative of the UMSSW Center for Restorative Change that provides free, comprehensive services for children birth to age 3.
• Digital Harbor High School – A technology-focused high school that prepares students for college and careers with industry-level certifications.
• The Maryland Book Bank – A Baltimore nonprofit dedicated to fostering literacy among children in under-resourced communities.

This marks the third year the HSHSL Community Service Committee has hosted Book It Forward, and we’re excited for another successful year—with your help!

Questions about the project? Contact bookdrive@hshsl.umaryland.edu

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is the result of the mergers of several smaller Baltimore colleges and universities. As a result, the histories of those schools are part of UMB’s story. Historical Collections aims to collect and preserve the histories of those constituent schools and to tell their histories alongside UMB’s. Recently, Historical Collections purchased and received through donation a few items relating to the Baltimore Medical College (BMC). These new items shed light on the graduates of that school and its history.

New Baltimore Medical College Items

BMC Football Photograph, ca. 1907

In their academic catalogs, the BMC faculty encouraged students to be active in athletics while earning degrees at the school. According to the BMC entry on the Lost Colleges website, the BMC football team was particularly successful. This photograph, purchased by the HSHSL in January, contains the signature of Dr. Meade E. Hagerty, BMC Class of 1908, on its reverse. Hagerty, from Emlenton, Pa., entered the BMC in 1904 and played left guard for the BMC in 1907.

Howard Martin Kemp, MD, BMC Diploma, 1911

Howard Martin Kemp was born in Colerain, Mass. in 1887. He entered the Baltimore Medical College in 1907 and completed his degree in 1911. Kemp’s diploma, donated by his family in February, is the first BMC diploma to be included in Historical Collections.

BMC Pennant

Unfortunately, little information is known about the BMC pennant purchased by the HSHSL in January. Unlike those appearing in the football photograph, which abbreviate the school as “B.M.C.,” this pennant bears the name “Balto. Medical.” Pennants like this one have appeared in yearbook photographs as well as sports photographs.

The History of the BMC

BMC was founded by Harvey Leonidas Byrd, MD; Benjamin Franklin Leonard, MD, University of Maryland School Of Medicine (UMSOM) 1876; Henry Froehling, MD, College of Physicians and Surgeons (P&S) 1881; Henry Wheaton Clapp, MD, Leonard Roberts Coates, MD, P&S 1990; William Robert Monroe, MD, UMSOM 1849; and Adolph Gustav Hoen, MD, UMSOM 1873, in 1881 as a Christian medical college. While the curriculum did not contain religious coursework, the faculty and board of directors at the school had to affirm their belief in Christianity.

…

In its first year, the college operated out of the YMCA building on the corner of Saratoga and Charles Streets with Dr. William Robert Monroe serving as dean. The curriculum offered the traditional medical and surgical courses of Anatomy, Chemistry, Physiology, Materia Medica and Therapeutics, Principles and Practice of Medicine, Principles and Practice of Surgery (including eye and ear), and Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children, as well as dental coursework including, Operative Dentistry, Dental Histology and Dental Pathology, Mechanical Dentistry and Metallurgy. The course catalog boasted a longer annual session of 7.5 months compared to other medical schools, claiming students could graduate after two courses of instruction, which differed from the three required at other institutions. The cost for attendance was a $5 matriculation fee, $120 for lecture and laboratory tickets for one session, $10 for a dissection ticket, and a $30 graduation fee: all adding up to $165 ($5,138.80 in 2025 dollars) for a year of medical education. In the first year of operation, the BMC graduated seventeen students, including one woman. From 1881 to 1883, BMC was one of few schools in Baltimore that allowed woman students to attend; however, after 1883, women were no longer admitted.

During the 1882-83 academic year the BMC moved to 93 N. Paca Street. That same year, it offered daily clinical instruction at a free dispensary. By 1885, the Maryland General Hospital became part of the school, offering students more clinical instruction and internship opportunities. Soon after its partnership with the BMC, the Maryland General Hospital was given $3750 annually by the state to treat indigent patients free of charge. In 1888, the BMC moved once again to a building on North Howard Street. The Maryland General Hospital Training School for Nurses opened in 1891, offering a three-year training program.

By 1892, the BMC was doing well enough to build a new five-story $75,000 building on the northeast corner of Howard Street and Linden Avenue. The new building included a dispensary with six private exam rooms and separate drug room, an accident ward, lecture halls, a 500-seat amphitheater, and separate laboratories for histological, pathological, anatomical, and chemical instruction. The college building was connected to the Maryland General Hospital. In addition, in 1892 the American Medical College Association required schools to lengthen the course of instruction to three-years course before graduation. 1895 brought additional changes to the school when it established a separate dental department. A year later, a second college building was under construction at a cost of $60,000. In the fall of 1904, the Baltimore Law School became affiliated with the BMC. The law school moved to 802 N. Howard Street and offered evening lectures so students could work full-time jobs during the day. The law school was a three-year program offering the degree of LL.B and had a yearly cost of $60 with an additional $20 diploma fee at graduation.

All signs point to a thriving medical school; however, in March 1909 Abraham Flexner visited the school and in 1910 he released a scathing report of the BMC in his bulletin titled Medical education in the United States and Canada: a report to the Carnegie Foundation for the advancement of teaching. Flexner called the BMC “one of the weakest of the seven medical schools in Maryland.” He found fault with the school’s low entrance requirements, claiming new students could enter the BMC having less than a four-year high school education. Flexner also asserted that the BMC frequently gave high-level standing (i.e., second- or third-year status) to students that had failed out of other (better) medical schools.

As a result, the BMC made some changes in admission requirements for students. By 1912 students entering the school were required to have a medical student’s certificate, a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, as well as a diploma from an accredited high school, normal school, or academy. Unfortunately, the BMC never really recovered from the scathing Flexner report.

In January 1913, a meeting was held to discuss the merger of the BMC with the UMSOM. The following resolutions were adopted, and the BMC, its students and faculty became part of UMSOM:

Resolution 1 – The rights of the BMC in the Maryland General Hospital were transferred to the UMSOM.

Resolution 2 – All lab & teaching equipment in the building on N. Howard Street was turned over to UMSOM. The building itself remained separate from the UMSOM.

Resolution 3 – The faculty members at the BMC were elected full professors at UMSOM and three were elected to Board of Regents.

Resolution 4 – The BMC dental department would continue to operate until June 1914.

Resolution 5 – The titles of faculty of the BMC would remain when transferred to UMSOM.

Continue Reading

 

Gail Betz, MSLIS, research education and outreach librarian for the School of Social Work, received a JEDI Award from the School of Social Work on March 13, 2025.

Betz was honored with the Judith Heumann Staff Award, which recognizes individuals who advocate for both individual and systemic change. Colleagues and students alike commend her deep commitment to accessibility and disability justice.

She has served on the school’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and its accessibility advisory group, advised students through the Office of Student Services, and played a key role in implementing universal design training for all faculty.

Her impact extends far beyond these roles, strengthening inclusivity and support across the School of Social Work through numerous initiatives.

Congratulations Gail!

Hiring News

Christine Hilsop, MSLIS, accepted the position of data services librarian in the Research and Information Services Division, Data and Bioinformation Services Department, effective January 2025.

Christine joined the HSHSL in 2022 as the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 1 data education librarian, where she had been an active and collaborative colleague.

We are excited that she is bringing her expertise in data literacy, research data management, and other data-related topics to her new role.

Amy Lubinski, MLIS, digital content specialist, joined the Resource Development and Access Division in January 2025. Amy has been working closely with the UMB Digital Archive, identifying, documenting, and submitting records. She earned her MLIS from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Emilie Ludeman, MSLIS, was named head of Research and Education Services in March 2025, having served in that position on an interim basis since December 2023.

Emilie began her career at the HSHSL in 2008 as a reference technician in the (then) Reference Department. In 2011, she joined the Research, Education, and Outreach Services team as liaison librarian to the School of Nursing and later to the School of Graduate Studies.

She brings deep subject knowledge, creative ideas, and strong leadership skills to this role.

---

Promotions and Permanent Status

Emily Gorman, MLIS, research and education librarian to the School of Pharmacy was promoted to Librarian III.

Tara Wink, MLS, historical collections librarian was promoted to Librarian III.

Amy Yarnell, MLS, head, Data and Bioinformation Services, obtained permanent status.

---

Presentations

Everly Brown, MLIS, presented “Your Library, Your Resources: HSHSL for Staff” at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Environmental Services Winter Town Hall on Feb. 26, 2025.

Emily Gorman, MLIS, was an invited panelist for the Medical Library Association’s Pharmacy and Drug Information Caucus discussion “Drug Information Tools Demystified: A Panel Discussion With Pharmacy Librarians and Pharmacists” on March 18, 2025.

Emily Hurst, MSLS, and Everly Brown, MLIS, presented “Marketing Approaches: Health Sciences Libraries” at the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries New and Interim Directors Symposium, held virtually on Jan. 23, 2025.

---

Recognition

Three outstanding HSHSL employees were honored for their dedicated service to UMB during an employee recognition luncheon March 20 at Westminster Hall. Brad Gerhart, web developer, and Michele Nance, research information specialist, celebrated 25 years at UMB, while Charlene Matthews, library services technician, marked an impressive milestone of 40 years at the university.

 

After just over 10 months on the job, I continue to be amazed by the wonderful people at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and in the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL). During the fall months, I have had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with the student representatives of the newly launched Student Advisory Board. Their enthusiasm and interest in library services, resources, and spaces has inspired me to seek new and better ways to serve our student community. To this end, I recently met with leaders from the Office of Student Affairs, and I have encouraged them to work with the HSHSL to ensure better outcomes for students during the finals period. Part of my vision is to increase student engagement in library spaces. I am pleased that we have partnered with URecFit and Wellness to host some “Stressbuster” events, including a tech-free wellness cafe, therapy dogs onsite during finals, and breakfast for dinner. We will also be hosting a Student Counseling Center tabling event, Feb. 3, 2025, at 4 p.m. in the Weise Gallery.

In this season of thanks and gratitude, I am thankful for the employees of HSHSL. They bring forward new perspectives and ideas through their work, and as Dean I am supportive of opportunities that engage our employees in meaningful ways. At a recent all-employee meeting in November, I was moved as HSHSL staff presented updates about their work — because they not only spoke about their projects but also thanked all the team members who helped to accomplish the work. I am proud to work with a team that values one another’s contributions!

Looking ahead, I know that the HSHSL will continue to advance, and through collaboration we will find more opportunities for engagement with each other, UMB, and the Baltimore community in the new year. I wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season and new year.

The HSHSL calendar is back for a fourth year. The theme for 2025 — “home grown” — highlights botanicals native to Maryland. Native plants are those that have evolved naturally within a region over thousands of years. These natives support the area’s natural balance and wildlife and are a more sustainable alternative in your garden.

The botanicals in “Home Grown” were selected from Bentley and Trimen’s Medicinal Plants, Curtis’ “The Botanical Magazine” and “Lectures on Botany,” and Woodville’s Medicinal Botany. These volumes are part of the HSHSL’s Historical Collections’ Pharmacy Collection, which includes influential pharmacy and medical texts, dispensatories, pharmacopoeias, botanicals, and herbals from around the world.

The calendar was designed by Thom Pinho, lead instructional technology specialist, while the content was written and provided by Tara Wink, historical collections librarian and archivist with help from Summer 2024 YouthWorks intern Anisah Allen.

A limited number of calendars will be for sale on our website for $10. They make fantastic gifts!

Monday – Thursday	6 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Friday	6 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday	8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Exceptions to Regular Hours

Monday, Dec. 23	6 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Wednesday, Jan. 1	CLOSED

The inaugural cohort of the HSHSL Student Advisory Board (SAB) held three productive meetings during the fall semester. These sessions began with introductions and relationship-building, creating a strong foundation for meaningful collaboration.

The board engaged in thoughtful discussions on topics such as how the Library communicates with students and the impact of library spaces on the student experience. Student representatives provided insightful feedback and actionable recommendations for the Library to consider in the coming semesters.

Throughout these meetings, SAB members brought positivity and enthusiasm to every conversation, inspiring the library team with their dedication to improving the student experience. Thank you to all SAB members for their leadership and commitment to shaping the future of the HSHSL!

Students, your well-being matters to the HSHSL. To keep you moving even during study marathons, we’ve added two treadmills to the first floor of the Library. Whether you’re up for a leisurely stroll or a light jog, these treadmills can speed up to a comfortable 3.8 mph — perfect for boosting your energy.

Feeling stiff after hours of desk work? Want a fun way to connect with a friend? Or maybe you’re just looking to binge-watch your favorite Netflix series while staying active? Our treadmills have you covered. Each one is equipped with a sturdy desk that can hold your smartphone, tablet, or laptop.

The treadmills include secure handles and a red safety clip that attaches to your clothing. If you slip, the machine automatically stops. Simple instructions are posted nearby. Activate using the provided remote control, lace up a pair of comfy shoes, and you’re ready to roll.

Dec. 9, 2024 – Jan. 18, 2025

The HSHSL is proud to host the National Library of Medicine (NLM) exhibit "Graphic Medicine: Ill-Conceived & Well-Drawn." The exhibit’s authors describe "graphic medicine" as "the use of comics to tell personal stories of illness and health." Explore the exhibit to see how words, symbols, data, and art combine to explain complex medical topics and share the authors’ personal experiences. Visit the "Graphic Medicine: Ill-Conceived & Well-Drawn” online exhibit to learn more about graphic medicine. You can also create your own with an assortment of blank comic panels and markers scattered around the exhibition.

The HSHSL will host a reception for the exhibit on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the second floor.

The reception will feature a presentation by Benjamin Canha, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the Universities at Shady Grove. Dr. Canha is the author and illustrator of "Recovery Cartoons: The 12 Steps," an engaging and relatable graphic novel that explores each step on the path to sobriety. More information about Dr. Canha’s work is available via the Recovery Cartoons website.

The National Library of Medicine produced this exhibition and its companion website.

Oct. 30, 2024 – Jan. 17, 2025

The Mother Mary Lange (MML) Catholic School teamed up with the HSHSL to present an exhibit exploring mental health, self-expression, and Halloween-inspired storytelling. We invite you to experience the creativity and insight of young artists from West Baltimore as they share their perspectives through art.

Mental Health

Through sequential art (or comics), students address complex topics like depression, anxiety, and trauma. Alongside their comics, students designed impactful posters that promote mental health awareness, encouraging open conversations about these important issues.

Inner and Outer Self

How does the self we show the world differ from the self within? To explore this question, MML students created split self-portraits—one side depicting their outward appearance, the other side revealing thoughts and feelings that are often hidden. These portraits are powerful reflections of inner identity.

Halloween

Embracing the spirit of Halloween, MML students created comics set on this spooky night. The stories range from eerie and suspenseful to heartwarming and funny, each offering a unique take on Halloween’s magic.

This exhibit is a window into the minds and imaginations of young people and offers an opportunity to connect with their stories and reflections. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating their artistry and insights.

The Racial Equity Consciousness Institute (RECI), hosted by Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 1 in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh Center on Race and Social Problems, is a series of eight virtual events and a supplemental online course that provides an empowering environment to learn about and discuss issues related to racial equity, and to reflect on what you can do to advance racial equity in your institutions and communities.

Course content is presented through eight live webinars occurring on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon EST starting Jan. 21 through March 11. Capacity is limited to 100, and learners are asked to commit to attending at least six out of eight live sessions (sessions will not be recorded). Registration will remain open until Friday, Jan. 10 or until all seats are filled.

For questions about RECI 2025, please contact April Wright or Tiffany Chavis.

Awards

Emily Gorman, MLIS, won two research awards at the annual meeting of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic chapters of the Medical Library Association. Gorman and two co-presenters received first place for their research paper, “Availability and Use of Scholarly Resources Among Practicing U.S. Pharmacists.” Gorman also won second place for her research poster, “Systematic Review Service by the Numbers: A 10-Year Analysis.”

---

Presentations

Gail Betz, MLIS, co-presented a workshop titled “Implementing the Accessibility and Universal Design Framework for Social Work” and a panel titled “Embodied Leadership: Women Leaders in Social Work Education Navigating Disability Identities” at the Annual Meeting for the Council on Social Work Education on Oct. 24.

Tiffany N. Chavis, MSW, MLIS, co-presented “Activating and Amplifying Indigenous Knowledge: Collaborative Efforts in Community-Based Research and Archival Practices” at the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research at the American Philosophical Society on Oct. 11.

Emily Hurst, MSLS, served as a panelist for the Navigating the Path of Leadership discussion at the Southern and Mid-Atlantic Chapters of the Medical Library Association meeting in October.

Sarah Weirich, MLIS, presented “Customize and Compromise: Migrating Reports From a Specialized Database to a University’s Digital Repository” at the NASIG Autumn 2024 Conference on Oct. 16.

Tara Wink, MLS, and Jordan Heustis presented, “Mrs. Doctor’s Wife: Re-Identifying Women in the Archives” at the Fall 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference on Nov. 15.

Colette Beaulieu, office manager for the Regional Medical Library (RML), will retire on Dec. 20, 2024, after an extraordinary 38-year career. Since joining Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) in 1986, Colette has made an enduring impact through her dedication and many roles, including RML assistant to the executive director (1986–2006), web developer (2006–2013), and office manager (2013–present).

A passionate advocate for shared governance, Colette served as president of the Staff Senate for five terms and held executive committee roles for 19 years. She also represented the Library on the Council of University System Staff for 18 years, serving three terms as vice chair.

Within HSHSL and NNLM, Colette contributed to numerous committees, including Community Outreach, Sustainability, and the Website Committee. She played a key role in the NNLM Web Working Group and organized a COVID-19 support group for NNLM staff.

Colette’s legacy of excellence, compassion, and innovation will continue to inspire us. We celebrate her remarkable career and wish her the best in retirement. Thank you, Colette, for your countless contributions!

---

Maria Pinkas, MLS, retired on Nov. 22, 2024 after 17 years at the HSHSL. She began her career as a cataloging librarian and became a metadata management Librarian in 2011.

Maria made significant contributions to the HSHSL Resources division, to the HSHSL, and beyond. She provided leadership in developing and implementing metadata strategies that enhanced discovery and curation of library resources, including the library catalog, the UMB Digital Archive, and the UMB Data Catalog. At the consortial level, she collaborated with metadata librarians in the USMAI system to improve the library catalog and recently contributed to the implementation of the new library discovery service.

Maria’s dedication extended to mentoring staff and interns, serving on HSHSL committees, chairing continuing education committees through a division of the American Library Association, and organizing resource gatherings. Her commitment to the library profession and her colleagues will be greatly missed. Resources gatherings won’t be the same without her.

Nancy Patterson, MLS, will be leaving the NNLM after an impressive 19-year career to pursue new opportunities. Her last day will be Jan. 3, 2025. Since joining the HSHSL in 2006 as head of Resource Sharing, Nancy has showcased her dedication, creativity, and expertise. In 2009, she transitioned to the NNLM, where she served as community outreach coordinator, excelling in outreach, education, grants management, network administration, and membership oversight.

During her tenure, Nancy made significant contributions. She streamlined resource-sharing workflows, presented the RML’s first bilingual health literacy poster, and spearheaded the NNLM’s first national, cross-regional collaboration with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Her efforts brought monthly health literacy training to public housing staff and residents nationwide. Additionally, she taught over 100 outreach classes annually, developed a train-the-trainer guide for sustainable community education, and played a key role in securing NNLM cooperative agreement funding.

Nancy’s work has left a lasting impact on the NNLM and the communities it serves. Please join us in celebrating her remarkable career and thanking her for 19 years of service, leadership, and dedication. Best wishes, Nancy, as you embark on this next chapter!