Moving into the summer months, this is one of the busiest times on campus. It has been a pleasure to see so many students in the library filling our spaces, preparing for exams and celebrating upcoming graduations with fun photos. I am happy that the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) has been a constant for so many students over the years and proud of the role we play in supporting your success.

As graduation approaches, I know that many students will be moving on to begin their careers. I hope that the experiences you had on campus and at the HSHSL will bring you success. While access to UMB-licensed resources will change after graduation, I encourage you to stay connected to libraries and librarians wherever you go, as they remain valuable partners in your professional growth.

For students, faculty, and staff who are looking forward to vacation, I encourage you to explore the Kinnard Leisure Reading Collection for your next beach read or after-finals break. Lastly, as your careers advance, please consider opportunities to support the HSHSL by becoming a donor. With many options for giving, you can find the right one for you on our Give to the HSHSL page. Donors will receive a beautiful HSHSL calendar each year they contribute, along with invitations to upcoming happenings of interest, such as speaker events and gallery receptions.

Looking ahead, I am excited to share that right after finals the HSHSL will undergo some changes on the first floor. New carpeting will be installed, and some furnishings will be updated. Expect to see more open space and comfortable seating. A minor update to the Kinnard Leisure Reading area will improve its access and visibility. The iSpace footprint will shrink, but its services will remain intact behind the scenes. We will also move our printing and copy stations to make room for a family-friendly study room. Based on student feedback, we determined that a designated space where students can study with their children would offer much needed support to students balancing childcare with coursework.

I close this message with an update I had hoped I would not be making for many years. After careful consideration, I have recently accepted an opportunity to serve as the director of Library Services at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) beginning June 29. This was a very difficult decision, as I greatly value the time and relationships I have built at UMB. This new role will allow me to continue in health sciences library leadership while being closer to aging family members who need my support.

I have been in the Mid-Atlantic area for over a decade. During my time on the East Coast, I have been active with the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Medical Library Association (MAC/MLA). It was during my time in graduate school that I first became aware of the work of the librarians and staff at UMB, HSHSL. Over the years I had the chance to meet and work with many of the librarians from the HSHSL in different capacities. Former HSHSL leaders impacted my career and helped me understand how to bring dynamic ideas to life with the support of diverse perspectives. Former HSHSL leadership inspired me to become a library director, and serving as the dean at the HSHSL was a dream come true.

Over the past two and a half years, I had the great pleasure of working with the team at the HSHSL. Together we made many changes, and I am proud of all the things we accomplished. I know that the team at the HSHSL is strong and will be able to continue to support the vision of a collaborative library that is essential to the success of the university for years to come. I am very sad to leave, but I look forward to learning about the next new things that the future dean will bring to the HSHSL. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this group and your lives. It has made a lasting impact on me, and I am forever grateful for the opportunity. I am pleased to share that Alexa Mayo, assistant dean for Research and Information Services, will return to the role of interim dean upon my departure.

The HSHSL will begin a major first-floor recarpeting project on May 18. Work is expected to continue through June 15.

To prepare for construction, some first-floor services and amenities will begin relocating starting Thursday, May 14. During this transition period, the first floor will remain open, but visitors may notice temporary service changes as equipment and services move to other areas of the building.

Beginning May 18, the entire first floor will be closed to the public as carpeting is replaced in phases, starting in staff spaces and moving toward the library entrance.

How this may affect you

Library services

• From May 18 to June 15, the library building will open at 8 a.m. Early morning access through the Campus Center between 6 and 8 a.m. will be unavailable during the project.
• The Information Services desk will temporarily move to Room 201C on the second floor, directly above its usual location. Visitors may use the stairs or elevator to reach staff.
• Poster printing services will continue from the temporary second-floor location.

Spaces and amenities

• Printing and public computers are available on floors 2 and 4.
• Seating and study space will be available on our upper floors.
• Restrooms will remain open on all other floors, and a gender-neutral restroom is available in the Campus Center.
• A clearly marked, accessible path from the building entrance to elevators and stairwells will remain open throughout the project.

Plan ahead

Directional signage will be posted throughout the building, and library staff will be available to help.

We appreciate your flexibility while we refresh the first floor and look forward to welcoming you back into the updated space soon.

The HSHSL sends its heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class of 2026! As you prepare to take on new challenges, we want to remind you of the support and resources available to you beyond graduation.

• Paid Journals and Databases: Alumni can access HSHSL’s electronic resources off campus for 4 months after graduation. After that time, alumni are still welcome to visit the Library to use the resources onsite.
• Free Journals and Databases: Once your electronic access expires, you will still have access to public databases for literature, drug information, and more. We have compiled a selection of these resources on our Open Access Resources for Health Sciences Research and Practice guide. Additionally, be sure to investigate what resources you have through your new workplace and any professional organizations of which you are a member.

The HSHSL wishes you all the best in your future endeavors! Please contact the Information Services Desk if you have any questions.

The Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) is proud to announce that the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has selected “Preserving UMB Voices: A Community Driven Oral History Initiative” for full funding through the Access & Engagement Innovation Grant program. The project was awarded $7,000 to launch a new, Universitywide effort to document and preserve the lived experiences of UMB students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

Led by Tara Wink, MLS, Historical Collections librarian, and Dennis Nangle, MLS, assistant dean for Resource Development and Access, the initiative will create a sustainable infrastructure for collecting, preserving, and sharing oral histories across UMB. By elevating voices and stories that are not always visible in traditional institutional records, the project aims to broaden and strengthen the historical narrative of the University.

Reviewers praised the proposal for its strong interprofessional collaboration and its focus on centering community perspectives. The project brings together partners from several UMB schools, Student Affairs, the Thurgood Marshall Law Library, the Medical Alumni Association, as well as state-level partners at the Maryland State Archives and Digital Maryland.

Over the coming year, the Oral History Working Group will identify interviewees, develop shared guidelines and training, pilot interviews, and launch a publicly accessible digital collection. The grant will also support a student worker who will assist with logistics, transcription, and metadata creation.

By building the capacity for participatory archiving and fostering connections across units, “Preserving UMB Voices” directly supports the UMB Strategic Plan’s emphasis on belonging, engagement, and a thriving university culture. This initiative ensures that UMB’s living history, including its people, their experiences, and their contributions, will be preserved and shared for generations to come.

We look forward to sharing updates as this exciting project develops.

Temporary access update (May 18–June 15): Due to first-floor recarpeting, the library building will open at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday during this period. Early morning access through the Campus Center between 6 and 8 a.m. will be unavailable.

Regular Semester Hours

Exceptions to Regular Hours

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region and the NNLM Web Services Office (NWSO), have received funding through an administrative supplement that extends our work through April 30, 2027. This continued support allows NNLM Region 1 to sustain and expand training, outreach, and engagement opportunities for members and vested partners across the region. The NNLM Web Services Office will also continue its critical role in supporting NNLM Regional Offices and Centers by maintaining essential web services and digital infrastructure for the network.

As part of this ongoing funding and our training initiatives, we invite you to join us for an upcoming webinar on May 28 at 1 p.m. EST.

Information Safety and Trust

This webinar will examine clinical and institutional definitions of patient safety, explore the critical relationship between safety, trust, and patient health behaviors, and introduce two models for understanding positive safety and information marginalization within healthcare settings.

We look forward to continuing our support of members and partners as we advance our shared work across NNLM Region 1 and the broader NNLM network!

As the spring semester comes to a close and we celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates, the Health Sciences and Human Services Library continues behind‑the‑scenes work to ensure our physical collections are well aligned with current and future needs. One such effort, the fifth floor weeding and shifting project, is now well underway.

This project is part of HSHSL’s broader strategy to refresh the physical collection, improve discoverability, and make the stacks easier to navigate. Over the past several weeks, HSHSL librarians and staff have been carefully reviewing materials on the fifth floor, identifying items that are no longer a good fit for the active collection, and planning responsible next steps for retention, relocation, or withdrawal. As materials are withdrawn, remaining items are shifted and redistributed to create space and improve browsing.

If you’ve noticed shelves that look partially empty or “in transition,” that’s by design. These temporary gaps are a key part of the process, allowing the weeding team to accurately assess available space before final shifts are completed. We appreciate your patience (and your restraint!) in leaving shelves as‑is while this work continues.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project is how collaborative it is. The effort brings together expertise from across HSHSL, including metadata management, collection analysis, stacks management, historical collections, facilities, and subject-matter expertise from the research and education librarians. This cross‑departmental approach ensures that decisions are thoughtful, data‑informed, and responsive to how our community uses the collection.

Importantly, access to materials remains available throughout the project. If you have difficulty locating an item or need assistance, HSHSL staff at the Information Services desk are always happy to help. While teams are mindful that the fifth floor is designated as a quiet space, some conversation is necessary to coordinate work. Ear plugs and headphones are available at the service desk, and floors three and four may offer quieter alternatives during active work periods.

Looking ahead, HSHSL plans to complete the first phase of this weeding project by the end of the summer. Once we reach this milestone, we will evaluate outcomes, plan next steps, and continue shaping a collection that is both welcoming and responsive to the evolving needs of our community.

Thank you for your patience and support as we invest in the long‑term stewardship of HSHSL’s collections.

Hightlights

Dennis Nangle, MLS, was named as a co-editor of “Developments,” the newsletter for the Collection Development Caucus of the Medical Library Association.

April Wright, MLS, was elected to the Nominating Committee of the Medical Library Association for 2026-2027.

Publications

Emily Gorman, MLIS, Nicole Shelawala, M. Eng., MLIS, and Amy Yarnell, MLS, published “Building an interactive dashboard to visualize institutional open access publishing trends” in the Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA), Vol. 114, No. 2, April 2026.  https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2026.2340

With the summer months approaching and the days getting warmer, sun exposure becomes more common. Even the most diligent will find themselves with a sunburn, and many will reach for aloe to help ease the sting of the burn. The medicinal use of aloe dates back to the fourth millennium BCE. An early record of aloe use dates to circa 2200 BC on a Sumerian hieroglyphic tablet depicting its use as a laxative. Today, aloe—most commonly Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller)— is still used to treat burns, cuts, and bites, as well as digestive problems.

The Genus Aloe

Aloe is a genus of succulent plants that contains over 650 species. Most species are native to southern and western Africa and islands in the Indian Ocean. Aloe plants thrive in regions with low rainfall and warm climates and do not tolerate cold weather, heavy frosts, or snowfall. While Aloe vera is the most well-known species for burn treatment, several other species of aloe have medicinal qualities that soothe burns and treat skin conditions. Aloe is also commonly used in cosmetics, skin care products, and soap. Some species have shown anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antihyperlipidemic qualities in scientific studies, but findings remain inconclusive.

A common attribute of the Aloe species is a circular arrangement of thick, fleshy, and large green leaves with tubular yellow, orange, pink, or red flowers. Plants may grow at ground level or develop stems with a shrub-like appearance. Aloes are commonly cultivated in gardens, pots, and as houseplants.

William Curtis and his Botanical Magazine

Because of its medicinal qualities and stunning, unique flowers, the Aloe genus is commonly featured in historical botanicals, which were used to train early pharmacists in the use of plants for medicines, tonics, and tinctures. Historical Collections at the HSHSL holds issues of The Botanical Magazine, or, Flower-garden Displayed, an influential botanical journal created by William Curtis. First published in London in 1787, the journal continues today under the title Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

The first thirty issues featured copper engraved, hand-colored plates with descriptions of the plant’s history, physical characteristics, cultivation, and scientific classification. Curtis died in 1799, having completed 13 volumes; volume 15 began a new title, Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, which honored its founder. Volumes 1 through 146 (1787-1920) have been digitized through the Biodiversity Heritage Library.

William Curtis (1756-1799) was born in Alton Hampshire, England. He was a pharmacist who developed an interest and reputation for his work in botany and entomology. He was named director and instructor at the Chelsea Physic Garden from 1771 to 1777. The genus Curtisia was named in his honor.

Historical Collections received its holdings of The Botanical Magazine and Curtis’s Botanical Magazine from the estate of Dr. August Kach (Maryland College of Pharmacy Class of 1882). The Maryland College of Pharmacy, founded in 1841, was the predecessor to the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. For over 50 years, Dr. Kach operated a drug store in Baltimore at Fort Avenue and William Street , where he collected over 700 volumes of influential pharmacy texts. His wife, Blanche A. Kach, donated his collection in 1941, forming a core component of the Pharmacy Collection.

The Aloe Species in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine

Botanical plates featuring aloe species appear throughout Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. Ironically, no depictions of the famous Aloe vera species were discovered in the journal while researching this article. The earliest images of aloe in The Botanical Magazine occur in Volume 13 (1799). They are Aloe retusa (plate 455) and Aloe plicatilis (plate 457); however, both were reclassified outside the Aloe genus as Haworthia retusa and Kumara plicatilis, respectively. Both have similar characteristics to those in the Aloe genus and have historically been used to treat skin burns and wounds.

Botanical Plates No. 455 and 457 from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. Scans part of the Biodiversity Heritage Library, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/307. Volume 13, 1799

The earliest depictions that remain classified within the Aloe genus include Aloe humilis (plates 757 and 828) or “spider aloe” and Aloe maculata (plate 765) or “soap” or “zebra aloe”, published in Volumes 20 (1804) and 21 (1805). Spider aloe is reportedly as effective in treating sunburn as the more well-known Aloe vera. While, soap aloe, as the name suggests, is known to make soapy lather when mixed with water; it has demonstrated some antihistamine and anti-cancer properties in scientific studies.

Botanical Plates No. 757, 765, and 828 from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. Scans part of the Biodiversity Heritage Library, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/307. Volumes 20-21, 1804-1805

The final two Aloe illustrations in Historical Collection’s holdings of Curtis’s Botanical Magazine are Aloe marlothit (plate 8484) in Volume 139 (1913) and Aloe arborescens (plate 8663) in Volume 142 (1916). Aloe marlothit is known as “mountain aloe” and is a large plant with leaves growing as long as 5 feet. It can be used to promote skin health. Aloe arborescens or “candelabra aloe” can grow up to 10 feet tall. Studies have shown that candelabra aloe can help pain, allergies and asthma, fight infections and fugus, and may help fight cancer.

Botanical Plates No. 8484 and 8663 from Curtis’s Botanical Magazine. Scans part of the Biodiversity Heritage Library, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/307 . Volume 139, 1913, and Volume 142, 1916.

As summer approaches and aloe remains a common remedy for sunburn, these plants reflect a long history of medicinal use documented through centuries of botanical scholarship. Beyond Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, the Historical Collections houses numerous botanical works, including volumes from Dr. Kach’s estate. For additional information or to view these materials, please contact the Historical Collections Librarian and Archivist, Tara Wink.

As spring approaches, the HSHSL employees are looking forward to a busy and exciting time of year. The HSHSL building will be buzzing with activity this spring as we host a number of exciting events and programs. Behind the scenes, I am meeting regularly with both HSHSL teams and campus leaders on a variety of ongoing projects, several of which I highlight below.

Over the last quarter, I have had the pleasure of speaking with deans across campus about the HSHSL Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report, which is now available online. The report includes photos and stories recapping fiscal year 2025. I am very proud that the report has become such a collaborative effort, one that showcases the rich engagement, collaborations, and activities the HSHSL is involved in. I encourage you to review the report and reach out to me if you have any questions.

Title II, a major federal requirement that will impact the way the HSHSL provides access to services for the public and students, will go into effect at the end of April 2026. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that all content shared with students and the public meets accessibility standards. This requirement will impact materials posted on the HSHSL website as well as content that the HSHSL may provide to instructors for use in class. Title II holds everyone accountable for creating accessible materials for the public and student audiences. Since January, Christina Cestone, PhD, assistant vice provost for Faculty Affairs, and I have served as co-chairs of the UMB Title II Task Force, through which UMB has developed resources and made recommendations for adopting Title II principles across campus. The HSHSL leadership team also charged an HSHSL Title II Task Force to review current practices and recommend changes to ensure the HSHSL is compliant with Title II. The HSHSL Title II Task Force has worked with the HSHSL Accessibility Committee to develop trainings and host drop-in sessions to ensure all HSHSL employees gain the knowledge and skills to ensure that all materials created for or shared with students and the public are accessible. Across the HSHSL, we are committed to creating an accessible environment and ensuring all students and members of the public can access the materials and services they need to be successful. We are also excited that by embracing Title II standards, we will ensure that our content is broadly accessible to the widest public audience.  

The HSHSL is a member of the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions (USMAI) Library Consortium, an important consortium that helps connect USM library resources and enables reduced cost consortial access for popular databases and other essential resources. I look forward to welcoming the directors of the other 16 USMAI libraries to the HSHSL in May for our annual strategic planning retreat, where we will discuss potential collaborations, and purchase decisions.

I am pleased to share that after many months of planning and selection decisions our HSHSL leadership team has finished reviewing feedback from the HSHSL First Floor Update Task Force and consulting with vendors. The plan to replace carpeting on the first floor is slated to begin right after finals, in mid-May 2026. This major first-floor overhaul will include rearranging furniture and existing spaces as well as launching some new concepts. Photos and more will be shared in the next edition of Connective Issues. You can expect to see improvements to the Kinnard Leisure Reading area, a downsizing of the Innovation Space, and a new, family-friendly study room.

Earlier this month, I was invited to join the UMB Office of Philanthropy on their annual alumni events in Florida. It was a pleasure to meet with alumni from across disciplines and hear their HSHSL memories. Most were happy to learn about the HSHSL building’s 30th anniversary in 2028 and our anticipated relaunch of events, programming, and engagement to support fundraising goals.

In February, the HSHSL hosted its second annual employee appreciation event and meeting. The event included an opportunity to connect with colleagues, an employee kudos video with messages of peer-to-peer recognition and support, a presentation on LibQual+ findings (detailed in the annual report), and updates from the dean.

Consensus is an “AI-powered search engine for scientific research papers.” It uses large language models to search, analyze, and summarize findings from the scholarly literature, helping users explore topics, compare studies, and quickly understand the current state of evidence.

The HSHSL is currently running a trial of Consensus Pro through 2026. Visit the HSHSL’s Consensus guide to learn more about the tool and how to access the trial.

As a library, we not only provide access to emerging tools but also evaluate how they support research and scholarly work. We welcome your feedback during the trial as we assess whether Consensus adds meaningful value to UMB’s research ecosystem. If you’ve tried Consensus, please complete the Consensus Feedback Form to let us know what you think.

Need a quick study tool or device accessory? The HSHSL offers a range of items to help you stay focused, organized, and connected. Whether you are settling in for a long study session or just need a quick fix, these tools are easy to access and ready when you are.

Self-Serve Items

Pick these up from the bins at the front desk to use in the HSHSL. No checkout needed.

Study Tools

• Whiteboards
• Laptop stands
• Keyboards
• Computer mice

Focus Essentials

• Headphones
• Earplugs

Items Available at the Desk

Staff will check these out for you.

Study Tools

• Dry Erase Markers
• Erasers

Stay Powered Up and Connected

• Common charging and display cables (USB-C, HDMI, Lightning, Mini DisplayPort)
• Portable DVD drive
• External floppy disk drive

Accessibility Items

• Wireless ergonomic mice
• Large-print, backlit keyboard
• LED magnifier
• Ergonomic laptop stands

Need Something Else?

Just ask. We are here to help you find what you need to work comfortably and effectively.

The seventh annual Love Data Week was held February 9 to 13.  To celebrate this year’s theme – “Where’s the Data?” – the HSHSL hosted two virtual sessions focused on data resources available to the UMB community. Guest speakers included Dr. Eberechukwu Onukwugha of the School of Pharmacy, Wanda Hill from the UMB Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR), and Dessi Kirilova from the Qualitative Data Repository. The recordings of these sessions, along with previous Love Data Week events, can be found on the HSHSL Love Data Week YouTube Playlist.

In addition, HSHSL visitors were encouraged to add creative captions to charts and graphs hanging up in various spots throughout the building. To wrap up the week, more than 100 people stopped by our Data and Donuts table for some seasonal Dunkin Donuts treats, library swag, and information about the HSHSL Data and Bioinformation Services department.

The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Region 1 and the NNLM Web Services Office (NWSO) are planning to enter an extended Year 5 period through April 2027. To support this continuation, NNLM Region 1 and the NWSO have applied for an administrative supplement that would extend our work beyond the current April 30, 2026, end date.

If approved, this extension will allow NNLM Region 1 to continue providing training, outreach, and engagement opportunities for members and stakeholders throughout the region. The NNLM Web Services Office will also continue supporting NNLM Regional Offices and Centers by maintaining key web services and digital infrastructure for the network.

As part of these ongoing efforts, NNLM Region 1 will host an upcoming webinar in April, often recognized as Earth Month:

Introduction to APHA’s Climate & Health Youth Education Toolkit for Programming, Engagement, and Education April 14, 1:00 PM (ET)

This webinar will introduce participants to the American Public Health Association’s Climate & Health Youth Education Toolkit and explore ways it can be used for programming, community engagement, and educational initiatives. Participants can earn one continuing education credit for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES) awarded by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

We look forward to continuing the work of the NNLM and supporting our members and partners through 2027!

The Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) celebrated the completion of its building-wide Restroom Renovation Project with a tissue cutting ceremony on Dec. 9, 2025, marking the culmination of a yearlong effort to enhance facilities throughout the Library.

The project, which included renovations to all restrooms in the building, was completed on time and under budget. The upgrades reflect HSHSL’s ongoing commitment to maintaining modern, welcoming, and functional spaces that support the University of Maryland, Baltimore community.

Dean Emily Hurst gave special recognition to UMB Facilities Operations & Maintenance project managers Daren Lewis and Lucas Noppenberger for their leadership and coordination throughout the project. Dean Hurst also acknowledged the work of Linda Wise, assistant dean for Administration & Operations, Jerry Anthony, facilities & operations specialist and Patrick Williams, facilities & operations coordinator, who led the effort on behalf of the Library.

The ceremony provided an opportunity to thank the many individuals whose collaboration and dedication made this important improvement possible.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL), in partnership with the University Student Government Association (USGA), is pleased to announce the availability of free period products for students at the HSHSL.

Funding for this initiative is shared between HSHSL and USGA, reflecting a collaborative commitment to advancing student wellness and campus inclusion. Beginning this month, period products will be available at no cost in the following locations:

• First floor women’s restroom
• Fifth floor women’s restroom
• First floor all-gender restroom

The initiative was developed through conversations and a commitment between student leaders and HSHSL administration to address a basic need that directly impacts student success. By removing financial and access barriers to essential products, HSHSL and USGA aim to foster a more inclusive and supportive campus environment.

HSHSL and USGA are proud to collaborate on initiatives that advance access, wellness, and student-centered support across UMB.

HSHSL’s Weise Gallery is hosting the exhibit “Steven Waugh: Darkness and Light” March 28 – May 15, 2026. Steven Waugh is a self-taught painter from Baltimore whose work has been exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Baltimore Museum of Art. The black and white oil paintings that Waugh creates feature classic cars, objects from nature, and portraits of movie stars from the 1920s. Waugh states, “At times, it feels like color detracts from the reality of the subject in a drawing, painting or photo. There is a depth of richness in the contrast.” Through his attention to contrast and detail, Waugh hopes to capture “a defined moment in time and place.”

The HSHSL will be hosting a reception for “Steven Waugh: Darkness and Light” in May.

Every March, women’s contributions to history are celebrated in the United States. Women’s history at the University of Maryland, Baltimore is complicated as each school began accepting women as students and employing women as educators at different points. The School of Dentistry was the first to graduate a woman, Emilie Foeking, in 1873. In 1889, the University Hospital, predecessor of the UM Medical Center, opened a Training School for Nurses, with the first class graduating in 1892. In 1898, the School of Pharmacy graduated its first woman, Lady Mary Johnson. While women were not attending UMB schools in droves in the first 100 years of its existence, there was a group of women who influenced UMB’s history prior to the turn of the 20th century. That group was the Women’s Auxiliary Board (WAB) of the University Hospital.

The Women’s Auxiliary Board of the University Hospital traces its history back to 1887, when physicians suggested that women volunteers could help with the “domestic administration” of the Lying-In hospital, which at the time was across the street from the main University Hospital and specialized in maternity care. As a result, women started volunteering at the hospital; they cleaned, laundered linens, and oversaw hospital supplies. At a School of Medicine (UMSOM) faculty meeting in 1889, Professor Julian J. Chisolm suggested the women volunteers of the Lying-In hospital be formally organized as the Board of Lady Managers. The Board replaced the Sisters of Charity, a group of nuns who were under contract in the Lying-In hospital until Dec. 15, 1889.

In 1890, the Women’s Auxiliary Board of Lady Managers was officially founded, under the leadership of Miss Susan Williams. The group was composed of Baltimore socialites and doctors’ wives. At the time, being a doctor’s wife was considered a symbol of great status; many girls dreamt of being doctors’ wives. Some girls, raised with this future in mind, learned how to host parties, fundraise, and otherwise prepare for the volunteering commitment typically expected of doctors’ wives. Most of the women of the WAB were unpaid for their contributions to healthcare and the advancement of medicine.

Hiring News

Sam Ingram joined the NNLM Region 1 office in March 2026 as a budget analyst. Sam will be instrumental in the financial operations for Region 1 and NWSO, helping to ensure compliance with University and federal standards. Having worked previously at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, he brings strong experience in finance and budgeting, including federally funded projects.

NNLM Region 1 welcomed Ruby Maghoney, MLIS, as a library specialist in December 2025. Ruby will be instrumental in supporting Region 1’s work in outreach, training, and funding. She brings a variety of experience in public service from her previous positions at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, the National Aquarium, and public libraries in Alabama.

Presentations

Dennis Nangle, MLS, participated as a panelist in the session “The Fund(er) Gap: Making Sense of Federal Layoffs and the Impact on University Libraries” at the NISOplus Annual Conference, 2026, Baltimore.

As the semester draws to a close, the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) is humming! Over the last months I have been working with HSHSL leadership, librarians, and staff to complete the FY25 HSHSL annual report. This report will be forthcoming and shared on our website as well as through the next “Connective Issues” edition. As a preview of the annual report, I would like to share some of the data that we will include:

Gate count is an indicator of how many people are coming into the building. We have continued to see increases in the number since 2020 but FY25 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) saw a marked increase of 22% from 184,682 in FY24 to 226,047 in FY25. Gate count includes anyone coming into the HSHSL building. While our space is shared with other units, we are pleased to see the increase, an indicator that students, faculty, and staff are using spaces within the building.

Reference consultations or reference transactions are defined by the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) as “a one-on-one information contact that involves the knowledge, use, recommendation, interpretation, or individual instruction in the use of one or more information resources by a member of your library’s staff.” Information Services staff and Research and Education librarians are highly engaged in supporting users and tracking reference transactions. In FY25, the HSHSL saw a 97% increase in recorded reference transactions from 3,825 recorded in FY24 to 7,560 recorded in FY25. Data in this area has been tracking upward since FY21.

I am proud to see more users coming into the HSHSL and more users interacting with our librarians and staff for their reference and research needs.

Also of note, the HSHSL restroom renovation project is nearing completion! We are on track to complete the work in early December. If you plan to be at the HSHSL on Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 10 – 11 a.m., we invite you to visit the restrooms on the first floor for our “tissue cutting” and open house event. Special thanks to Linda Wise and Jerry Anthony for their work in keeping this project on track, and to the UMB Facilities and Operations team for all they did to bring this project in on budget and on time.

In October I was pleased to welcome the local Goxxip Girl Art Collective to the Weise Gallery. This exhibit was on display from Sept. 15, 2025 – Nov. 7, 2025, and the Oct. 22 reception welcomed many of the artists to the space to share and discuss their work. I enjoyed meeting with the artists and learning about their inspiration and process.

As a reminder, the HSHSL 2026 calendar would make a great holiday gift! This year we are also selling sticker four-packs of stunning botanicals featured in last year’s calendar. Visit us online to purchase. All orders must be picked up at the HSHSL Information Services desk.

As we move into the holiday months, I would like to wish everyone a very safe, happy, and healthy holiday season.

Your voice really made a difference. Over the past month, you shared your ideas through our survey and the easel boards on the first floor. We also heard thoughtful feedback from the HSHSL Student Advisory Board. Students, faculty and staff across campus helped us understand how you use this space and what would make it even better.

Your feedback covered everything from seating and study zones to tech needs and the leisure reading area. These insights will help us create a first floor that feels more comfortable, useful and welcoming for everyone who studies, collaborates or just takes a break here.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We’re excited to dig into your ideas and keep moving this project forward. Stay tuned for updates as we take the next steps to refresh this space together.

The HSHSL will launch a yearlong premium trial of Consensus, an “AI-powered search engine for scientific research papers.” Consensus uses large language models to search, analyze, and summarize research findings. It is designed to make it easier to explore topics, compare studies, and understand the current state of evidence.

The free trial, organized by the HSHSL, will begin in January 2026. Details on how to access the trial will be shared at the start of the new year. Stay tuned for more information on how you can try out this emerging tool and share your feedback.

Hello, UMB community!

I’m Dennis Nangle, your new assistant dean for Resource Development and Access. Since stepping into this role earlier this fall, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside the talented teams that steward our collections, metadata, and historical resources. As we enter this season of gratitude, I can’t help but offer my thanks to the HSHSL team for their warm welcome. Their dedication and expertise have made my transition both energizing and inspiring. I’m grateful to take part in HSHSL-wide efforts to enhance access, deepen engagement, and meet the evolving needs of those we serve.

In leading the Resource Development and Access Division (which includes Collection Management and Sharing, Historical Collections, and Repository and Metadata Management), I’m committed to advancing the HSHSL’s mission to support UMB’s academic, clinical, and research excellence. My vision centers on strategic stewardship of our physical and digital collections, and elevating the visibility and long-term preservation of UMB’s scholarly and institutional legacy. I look forward to collaborating with students, faculty, and staff to ensure our resources and services reflect the vibrant, innovative spirit of our University.

I’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re navigating a research project, preserving scholarly work, compiling your department’s historical records, or exploring ways to make your scholarship more accessible, your insights can help shape how we support you. Don’t hesitate to reach out; I welcome your ideas, questions, and aspirations as we build an even more connected and responsive HSHSL. You can reach me by email.

The Network of the National Library of Medicine Region 1 Office has awarded six new funded projects that continue to support the mission of the National Library of Medicine of equal access to biomedical information to help individuals make informed decisions about their health.

These projects support digital inclusion, student mental health support, rural professional education, environmental health, and cancer information access.

Enhancing Technological Infrastructure to Improve Health Information Access and Care Quality: Support for a technology upgrade to a youth group home to expand internet access, train staff and support residents in finding reliable health information.

Health Literacy in the Laundromat: A Place-Based Outreach Model: Bringing trustworthy health information directly to underserved families into community laundromats for health education and connection.

Access to Wellness Resources and Programs: Supporting 1st & 2nd Year Students: Expanding access to Providing wellness workshops specifically designed for first- and second-year college students, for mental health support and stress reduction.

Rural Waves: Broadcasting Health, Empowering Communities: Supporting the expansion of podcasting health information to rural healthcare providers, strengthening professional learning and community connections in underserved areas.

Connected Camden: Public Wi-Fi and Environmental Monitoring at Community Art Spaces: Installing Wi-Fi at arts-based nonprofits in two neighborhoods facing air-quality challenges to link residents to NLM health resources.

Improving Prostate Cancer Health Information Access for Rural Older Adults in North Carolina: Partnership with rural public libraries to to evaluate the usability of a digital prostate cancer information platform to help older adults access reliable cancer information and improve health literacy.

NNLM Region 1 Office provides outreach, training and funding to 8 regional states and the District of Columbia.

The UMB Data Catalog is a finding tool for discovering datasets generated by UMB researchers. If you have shared or published data (e.g. as part of funder or publisher compliance), the Data Catalog can help make your data more visible and findable for future use. This catalog provides information about datasets and how to access them but does not function as a repository to store data.

The UMB Data Catalog is designed to:

• increase the visibility of research data generated by UMB researchers
• facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration by identifying common research interests
• support the process of data re-use and data sharing
• share metadata about datasets that cannot be shared publicly due to ownership or privacy concerns

It’s now easier than ever to list your dataset in the catalog with the new Include Your Dataset form. You will be asked for author and affiliation information, a description of the data, associated publication(s) (if applicable), and instructions for accessing the data.

Link to your dataset record on your ORCiD profile, your CV, or grant reports (e.g. RPPR, final reports) to document your data sharing and let others know how to access your data.

To accompany the new submission form, we also put together the new UMB Data Catalog LibGuide, which provides more information about the catalog and what to know to submit your data! Please email us if you have questions.

Dec. 1, 2025 – Jan. 1, 2026

Exceptions to Regular Hours

As we move into the end of the calendar year and a time of thanksgiving and gratitude, we at the HSHSL would like to share our work in creating opportunities for development and giving. Earlier this year, Anna-Marie Epps, senior program specialist in Administration and Operations, began working more closely with Dean Hurst to create a development plan for the HSHSL. Her work has included a review of all current endowments as well as previous donors to the HSHSL. She has met with various members of the UMB Office of Philanthropy to learn more about the opportunities to engage with potential donors and develop meaningful options for giving.

For readers who are interested in donating to the HSHSL, the library website offers several giving options. These endowments allow the HSHSL to provide support for library services, resources, and spaces. All donations are tax deductible.

In October, the HSHSL celebrated International Open Access (OA) Week with a five-day challenge designed to educate researchers on different facets of open access. The challenge focused on improving the discoverability of scholarly work through brief but meaningful daily activities, including creating an ORCiD, locating OA journals, learning about repositories and data sharing, and utilizing MyNCBI.  A total of 74 people registered for the challenge, and we received some great feedback. One of our grab-bag winners, Sanaya Shenoy, a first-year PhD student in the School of Pharmacy, summed it up best:

“Open Access advances knowledge generation. It enables critical review of scientific literature, which is a core component of my doctoral training. I sincerely appreciate the efforts undertaken by HSHSL to spread awareness about Open Access resources and help students across disciplines build a stronger research footprint.”

Sanaya Shenoy

Syeda S Batool

Mary Hackbarth

Congratulations to our prize winners:

• Sanaya Shenoy, PhD student, School of Pharmacy
• Syeda S Batool, Postdoc, School of Medicine
• Mary Hackbarth, MD/PhD, School of Medicine

On behalf of the HSHSL’s Scholarly Communications Committee, thank you to everyone who participated!

In September, the HSHSL welcomed members of the Society for Clinical Data Management (SCDM) to speak to UMB students and trainees on career opportunities in their field. Emily Hurst, dean of the HSHSL, kicked off the event, during which attendees were able to engage with leaders from companies like Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Sanofi, Veeva, and more. There was also a special presentation by Dr. Eun-Shim Nahm, associate dean of the School of Nursing PhD program, on navigating career pathways in an era of big data and AI. This event was a great example of the innovative ways the HSHSL can connect UMB community members with each other and with partners beyond UMB.

In early November 2025, the Historical Collections department received a donation of two handwritten notebooks of Dr. Solomon Granville Moore, a 1906 graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore (P&S). The notebooks represent Dr. Moore’s final two years at P&S and include course notes and diagram doodles from all required courses. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore was founded in 1878 by Maryland State law and was a competitor school to the University of Maryland School of Medicine until the two schools merged in 1915. Historical Collections collects and preserves the history of P&S and includes yearbooks, course catalogs, publications, and other items from the now defunct school, many of which have been digitized.

Solomon Granville Moore was born Dec. 1, 1877, in Belington, W.Va., to Alpheus and Lucinda Moore. He attended local public schools and earned a teaching certificate. After three years as a teacher, he entered West Virginia University (WVU), graduating with an A.B. (early name of the Bachelor of Arts degree) in 1904. While at WVU, Moore met and married Peri Inez Miller, a student from Pa.

In 1903, Moore matriculated in P&S as part of an agreement with WVU that allowed students to attend their first two years of medical school in a pre-med program at WVU and finish the degree at P&S. The agreement was introduced in 1903, making Moore one of the first pre-med students at WVU. When Moore graduated from P&S in 1906, WVU also conferred a Doctor of Medicine degree to Moore. Moore completed two postgraduate courses at Harvard Medical School (1914) and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (1921).

Posters & Presentations

Emily Hurst, MSLS, presented the lightning talk “Yes Chef! Leading Change and Adapting Recipes for a Modern Health Sciences Library” at the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Medical Library Association annual meeting, Oct. 2025, Baltimore. Dean Hurst also served as an invited panelist for the session “Journey of Budgeting Knowledge” at the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) annual meeting, Oct. 2025, San Antonio, Texas.

Emilie Ludeman, MSLIS, Amy Yarnell, MLS, Nicole Shelawala, M.Eng., MLIS, Everly Brown, MLIS, and Shanell Stephens, MLIS, presented the paper “The GenAI Test Kitchen: Experimenting with Emerging Research Tools” at the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Medical Library Association (MACMLA) 2025, Baltimore, MD.

Alexa Mayo, MLIS, AHIP, Everly Brown, and Emily Hurst presented the poster “The Secret Ingredient: Student Advisory Boards to Enhance Student Engagement” at the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Medical Library Association annual meeting, Oct. 2025, Baltimore.

Amy Yarnell, Emily Gorman, MLIS, and Nicole Shelawala presented the poster “From Data to Decisions: Visualizing Open Access Publishing Trends to Inform Institutional Strategy” at the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Medical Library Association annual meeting, Oct. 2025, Baltimore.