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Privileges: Library Access, Borrowing

Circulation, Fines

Study Rooms

Collections, Interlibrary Loan, and Additional Services

GENERAL ACCESS

All visitors to the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library (LSHSL) must present a valid University ID or other valid photo identification (i.e. driver’s license, Consortium ID, employee ID). Once the information has been checked and verified (photo ID holder matched) by Security Officer andinformation entered on the log form, the visitor will be permitted to proceed into the library.

Children under age 15 are NOT allowed in the library. Children 15-18 must be accompanied by an adult at entrance and while in the library. Exceptions: young persons participating in library tours or University sponsored educational programs are admitted and accompanied at all times by an authorized university official, children of HU personnel based in the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library building are admitted per current university policy in this regard. No food or drink (other than plain water) is allowed in the public areas of the library. Water is allowed in the Study and in the Problem Based Learning Rooms, but there is to be no food or other beverages. Patrons are allowed to eat in the Lounge (Vending Room 144) located on the First Floor of the library. No weapons, firearms, animals or other pets are allowed in the library. Exception: seeing eye dogs.

After 5 p.m., use of the facilities is limited to health sciences students (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and allied health), graduate students, faculty and staff. Undergraduate students other than health sciences, are expected to use the Undergraduate Library or the appropriate branch related to their area of study.

BORROWING PRIVILEGES

Currently enrolled Howard University students, faculty and staff receive borrowing privileges via a barcode attached to an HU ID Card. HU Alumni have access to onsite use of the library only. The library has access to the catalogs of Chesapeake Information & Research Library Alliance (CIRLA) –Howard University, Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Smithsonian Institution, University of Delaware, and University of Maryland.

LIBRARY BARCODES

Barcodes are issued at the Access Services Desk on the First Floor of the LSHSL.HU faculty, staff and students must present a valid university ID in order to borrow materials. Others may inquire at the Access Services Desk about acquiring Special Borrowing Privileges.

CIRCULATION

All circulating materials at the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library are charged out at the Circulation Desk on the First Floor. Books may be returned there or in the book drop outside the library or at any of the other Howard University Library locations. Access services bills for late returns and lost items. Access Services offers library reserve services including processing and circulation of library and personal reserve materials.

BASIC CIRCULATION POLICIES AND FINES

RESERVES FINES AND CHARGES

GROUP STUDY ROOMS

The library has 13 group study rooms available for use.

• Study rooms 205, 206, and 207 are located on the 2nd Floor at end of current journals stacks.
• Study rooms 209, 210, 211 and 212 are located on the 2nd, west side of the building, behind the bound journals.
• Study rooms 305, 306 and 307 are located north of the building at the end of the bound journals stacks on the 3rd Floor.
• Study rooms 427, 428 and 429 are located on the 4th Floor. These rooms are equipped for Internet access.

Please sign for a room at the Circulation Desk if you wish to use a room.

GROUP STUDY ROOMS are for use by:

Faculty, staff and students in the Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Allied Health, and Graduate Students.

• Keys to the rooms are checked out at the Access Services Desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Rooms may not be reserved in advance. Rooms are checked out for a 3-hour period. When there are empty rooms, and no patrons waiting, renewals are permitted.
• Users may leave the Group Study Rooms for breaks of 15 - 20 minutes without surrendering the room. Keys should be handed to Access Services Staff at the Desk if users wish to exit the Library.
• Under no circumstances should keys be removed from the key holders.

PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING (PBL) ROOMS

• There are eight Problem-Based Learning Rooms (231, 232, 233, 234, 237, 238, 239 and 240) located on the 2nd Floor.
• Five or more members are eligible to use the rooms. For availabilty check at the Access Services desk.
• These electronic classrooms are used for multiple purposes, i.e. seminars, computer instruction and group study spaces.

MEDIA COLLECTIONS

The LSHSL media collections, including, audio, video and Kaplan tapes are housed on the first floor of the library. Television/VCR player and Headphones are also available for in-house use. A viewing room is available (the Dr. J. Kaplan Multimedia and Presentation Room located on the first floor (Room 119). Patrons wishing to use this equipment should inquire at the Access Services Desk

RESERVE COLLECTION

The Reserve Collection is composed of high demand materials which require restricted usage. Faculty may make specific materials available to their students by placing them on reserve at the Access Services Desk. Reserves are checked out for two hours and must be used in the Library. Some reserves may be checked out overnight or for three-day or one week- periods at the faculty’s discretion. A Reserve Collection shelf-list will be compiled andmaintained by Access Services Department.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

The LSHSL strives to maintain a comprehensive collection on African-American health related issues including practitioners and conditions and on the Howard University Division of Health Sciences. The collection also serves as a permanent repository for special studies and statistics by and about Blacks in the health field on national and international level. The collection includes:

• Items on African American health related areas
• Classical items and materials with historical significance
• Rare books and several other special collections constitute a well-rounded definitive and significant resource documenting the character and evolution of American medical education and practice.
• Yearbooks
• Annual reports, staff newsletters, programs of events, etc
• Books, pamphlets, and periodicals dealing with the founding of the university and its components
• Other materials relating to the study and contributions of African American health practitioners to the history of medicine.

The library provides reference assistance in the use of its collections and assists in the use of other resources. The Special Collections Room provides a secure and controlled environment for the display and use of special collections.

A Reference Librarian will provide access to Special Collections materials from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. I.D. is required.

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

Suggestions for acquisitions can be made by contacting the Associate Director for Public Services at (202) 884-1526 or ebeteck@howard.edu

COPYING SERVICES

• The Library has two self-service photocopying machines, located on the First Floor.
• The copiers require vend cards with money encoded on them.
• Money can only be added to vend cards in five dollar ($5.00) increments not to exceed $25.00 per vend card at the HU Bookstore at 2225 Georgia Avenue or the i-Lab on Bryant Street.
• The Bookstore will add $1.00 charge for the initial blank vend card. For Bookstore hours, visit the web site at http://www.bookstore.howard.edu/

INTERLIBRARY LOAN (ILL)

Howard University faculty, students and staff may use Interlibrary Loan to gain access to library research materials, not available in the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library or online. Requests may be submitted by telephone, fax, or through email at interlibrary@howard.edu. ILL request forms are available at the Access/Reference Services Desks located on the first floor. Urgent requests will usually involve a fee. Please contact the ILL department at (202) 884-1507or email at interlibrary@howard.edu to determine what fees apply to your request. Fees include any charges incurred by the loaning library and are consistent with those of other academic institutions.

Journal Materials within one hour $25.00
Urgent same day requests $15.00
Within two working days $5.00
Standard fax requests (under seven working days) $3.00
Generally, materials at no charge are available within eight to ten business days of request.

MICROFORM

All microform, including microfilm, microfiche collections are housed on the Second Floor in metal cabinets. The microfiche readers/copiers are located on the First Floor, behind the copying machine. Identify your micro fiche on the Second Floor and take it down to the microfiche readers/copiers on the First Floor. Please contact library staff for assistance.