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.”

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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!

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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!