Starting Monday, August 3, the library will open at 7:30 a.m. and continue to close at 5 p.m. We will remain closed on weekends. Materials will not be checked out. Per recent chancellor guidance, masks and social distancing are required. Bleach solution and paper towels are available at the library's entrance.

The library’s subscription to STAT!Ref now includes the Wills Eye Manual (2017) and Wintrobe’s Clinical Hematology (2019).

Health sciences library faculty used time wisely during the work-at-home orders to earn additional credentials from the Medical Library Association.

Montie’ Dobbins, Assistant Director of Technical Services, was approved for membership at the Distinguished (highest) level of the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) from the Medical Library Association. She also earned the association’s Disaster Information Specialization and an Annual Meeting Grant.

Erin Ware, reference librarian, completed the Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS), and was also awarded an Annual Meeting Grant.

The Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP) is the professional development and career recognition program of the Medical Library Association (MLA).

The Consumer Health Information and Disaster Information Specializations represent completion of specific tracks of continuing education from the association.

Annual Meeting Grants will offset the cost of attending the Medical Library Association virtual conference in August 2020.

Will Olmstadt, executive director of the health sciences library, was approved for promotion to Librarian/Professor of Medical Library Science, effective July 1, 2020.

The library will remain open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Use of the library during Phase I did not justify expanding hours during Phase II. Library administration will consider expanded hours as part of Phase III.

All guidelines listed in the Chancellor memo about Phase II also apply to the use of the library.

In-training exams will only be held in the library's computer labs with social distancing enforced.

Library staff are available to help, by appointment or by email at shlibref@lsuhsc.edu.

The library is not checking out materials at this time. The governor’s orders for Phase II do not recommend it.

Congratulations to Montie’ Dobbins, Will Olmstadt, David Duggar, and Julia Esparza, who co-authored a chapter in the recently published book Library Collaborations and Community Partnerships. Former LSUHS library faculty Talicia Tarver is also a co-author. The chapter describes the lessons learned from the funding the LSUHS library received to promote reputable health information in the Shreveport/Bossier community.

Because of staffing limitations imposed during Phase I, the Library will continue to operate Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., through June 1. Depending on guidance from the administration for Phase II, the Library may expand to more typical hours.

The seating in the Library has been calculated to meet the 25% capacity requirement from the governor, and enforce social distance. Library staff will be tracking capacity.

Guidance about testing in the computer labs is forthcoming. There are only 18 seats available in the computer labs because of reduced capacity.

To help the campus during Phase I:

• Reference librarians will be available in person starting Monday, May 18. Please make an appointment for best service. You can find the librarian for your department or program at this link.
• Library faculty are happy to provide virtual orientations or presentations.
• Library Writing Consulting and Interlibrary Loan continue to be available. Borrowing materials from other libraries may still be restricted since not all states are re-opening.
• All the Library’s electronic resources remain available through the VPN.
• We have temporarily stopped charging for printing and copying in the Library.

One additional note:

• The Library has gathered many of the resources publishers made free at http://guides.lsuhsc.edu/free. As more states re-open, publishers may discontinue this free access with no notice. Many trials and free resources expire on May 31.

Starting May 1, with permission from the administration, the library is opening Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., for third year medical students only. This is to provide space for social distancing for these students. Please observe the following restrictions from administration:

• Very few library staff will be on-site, and the library is not staffed to provide in-person services to other students, faculty and staff at this time.
• In-depth library technology support will not be available in person.
• Library staff will be wearing masks. 
• Third year students must follow all protocols from medical school administration.
• Study rooms will not be checked out because many are not large enough to maintain the six-foot distance requirement. 

Other library staff continue to work at home per governor orders, and respond to emails at shlibref@lsuhsc.edu. Library staff appreciate your patience and help as they work to help third year medical students complete their curriculum requirements.

The First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 2020 has been added to the library’s electronic collection.  The 2018 and 2019 editions are available, also.