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New Accessibility Option Added to Interlibrary Loan Requests
Posted on
April 23, 2026
by
ebrown
The Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) has added a new feature to support equitable access to library resources for the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community, advancing its broader commitment to inclusive, accessible services.
Beginning this week, UMB users submitting
interlibrary loan (ILL) requests for journal articles and book chapters
will see a new option on the request form. This option allows users to indicate whether they need materials in an
accessible format.
The feature makes it easier for students, faculty and staff to request accessibility accommodations. When selected, the request moves through a dedicated workflow so staff can review and address accessibility needs as part of the ILL process.
HSHSL staff remain available to assist with questions or additional support needs. For help with interlibrary loan services or accessibility support,
contact HSHSL Resource Sharing
or visit the
interlibrary loan page for more information
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Forgot Something? We’ve Got You
Posted on
April 21, 2026
by
ebrown
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.
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Learn by Watching: JoVE Is Back at the HSHSL
Posted on
April 15, 2026
by
ebrown
Watch step-by-step demonstrations of lab and research techniques with JoVE.
The HSHSL has renewed access to
JoVE
, a video-based resource that brings research and clinical techniques to life.
JoVE features short, peer-reviewed videos that demonstrate laboratory methods, clinical skills, and research processes step by step. It is a helpful tool for anyone who learns best by seeing how something is done.
With JoVE, you can:
Watch lab techniques before class or while preparing for assignments
Review clinical skills and procedures
Better understand methods described in research articles
Learn at your own pace, anytime, on or off campus
Whether you are new to a technique or want a refresher, JoVE offers a clear, visual way to build confidence and understanding.
Access JoVE through the HSHSL
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Temporary Closure of Campus Center Connection
Posted on
April 13, 2026
by
ebrown
The connecting door between the library and the Campus Center is temporarily closed following a sprinkler incident in the Campus Center.
For safety reasons, this entrance is not currently accessible, including for card access.
What this means
Please do not use the connecting door
To reach the Campus Center or parking garages, use the library’s front entrance doors
Early access Tuesday, April 14
The HSHSL’s front doors will open at 6 a.m. with a security guard present
Library services will begin at 8 a.m. as usual
Visitors with proper ID may enter after 8 a.m.
We will share updates as soon as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience.
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Graduation Video + Wellness Fair
Posted on
April 10, 2026
by
ebrown
Stop by the Wellness Fair and say hello to the library team.
Two reasons to stop by the SMC Campus Center next Tuesday:
The campus Office of Communication and Public Affairs will be filming for this year’s graduation video, and the Campus Wellness Fair will be happening at the same time.
Tuesday, April 14
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SMC Campus Center, First Floor (Fireplace Lounge)
Graduating students are invited to take part in the video, which will be shown at commencement, featured on UMB social media, and included in President Bruce Jarrell’s graduation message.
While you’re there, stop by the HSHSL table at the Wellness Fair. We’ll have swag and ideas for supporting your well-being, including quiet spaces, leisure reading, and movement-friendly workstations.
Whether you’re celebrating, taking a break, or just passing through, we hope to see you there.
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HSHSL and USGA Partner to Provide Free Period Products for Students
Posted on
April 10, 2026
by
ebrown
The 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
First floor all-gender restroom
Fifth floor women’s 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.
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Historical Insights: Sickness at Sea, Rediscovering an 1843 Thesis on Scurvy
Posted on
April 7, 2026
by
Tara Wink
Scurvy Post Byline:
Blog post researched and written by Spring 2026 University of Kentucky School of Information Sciences Alternative Spring Break Intern, Tessa Mills. During her week-long internship, Tessa worked with the 1843 volume of the Early School of Medicine Dissertation adding metadata to an internal spreadsheet which will be made accessible for users to more easily use the collection online.
Historical Context Note:
The Health Sciences and Human Services Library Historical Collections’ strives to provide broad access to our diverse collections both in person and digitally. Materials in our collections appear as they originally were published or created and may contain offensive or inappropriate language or images and may be offensive to users. The University of Maryland, Baltimore does not endorse the views expressed in these materials. Materials should be viewed in the context in which they were created.
Rediscovering an 1843 Thesis on Scurvy:
The dangers of nineteenth-century sea travel extended far beyond storms and shipwrecks. For many sailors, the greatest threat was disease, particularly scurvy, a condition that could quietly devastate crews during long voyages. Weakness, bleeding gums, and eventual death were all too common abroad ships that lacked access to fresh food. Although widely recognized, the causes of scurvy were still debated well into the mid-1800s, making it a subject of ongoing medical inquiry.
One such inquiry can be found in the 1843 medical dissertation collection held by the University of Maryland, Baltimore. This volume, now digitized and available through the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL), contains a range of student theses reflecting the medical knowledge and concerns of the time. Among them is a dissertation titled
Scurvy
, written by Augustus J. Bowie.
Augustus Jesse Bowie (1815-1887) received his medical degree from the
University of Maryland
in 1843. At the time of his dissertation, he was already serving as an Assistant Surgeon in the United States Navy, an experience that likely shaped his interest in diseases associated with maritime life. Naval surgeons occupied a critical role in the nineteenth century, observing and treating illnesses under challenging conditions, often far from established medical institutions. For Bowie, Scurvy would not have been an abstract topic, but a very real threat encountered in the course of his service.
Bowie’s dissertation reflects a moment in medical history when scurvy was well known but not yet fully understood. While the effectiveness of citrus fruits in preventing the disease had been observed decades earlier, the underlying cause (vitamin C deficiency) would not be identified until much later. In the early nineteenth century, physicians still debated competing theories, attributing scurvy to environmental conditions, diet, or imbalances within the body. Treatments varied widely, and medical consensus remained elusive.
The inclusion of Bowie’s work in the 1843 dissertation collection offer valuable insight into how emerging physicians engaged with these uncertainties. His thesis represents not only a requirement for earning a medical degree, but also a contribution to a broader effort to understand and manage a persistent and deadly condition.
Following his early career in the Navy, Bowie later settled in San Francisco, where he became an established and respected physician. His professional contributions were significant enough to be recognized in a
published memorial
after his death, indicating the lasting impact of his medical career. Seen in this light, his dissertation on scurvy marks the beginning of a lifetime dedicated to the practice of medicine.
Today, the digitization of these early dissertations allows researchers, students, and the public to revisit these historical perspectives. What was once a bound volume accessible only in person is now searchable and available online, opening new opportunities for discovery and interpretation. Bowie’s thesis, like many others in the collection, serves as a reminder that medical knowledge is continually evolving; shaped by observation, experience, and the gradual accumulation of understanding.
By preserving and sharing these works, the HSHSL digital collections not only safeguard the past but also invite new conversations about the history of medicine and the individuals who contributed to it.
Check out more historical resources and UMB research go to the
UMB Digital archive
References:
Bowie, Augustus J. (1843). University of Maryland Medical Dissertation. p. 483. HSHSL Digital Archive.
Health Science and Human Services Library. “Dissertations, 1843 Collection.” University of Maryland, Baltimore.
National Library of Medicine. Dr. Augustus J. Bowie: In Memoriam. NLM Unique ID:101728202.
Carpenter, Kenneth J. (2004). “The History of Scurvy and Vitamin C.” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
Alan, Robert. (1959). “James Lind–Conqueror of Scruvy.” Parke, Davis & Company. Wiki Commons.
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You Found Them All!
Posted on
April 3, 2026
by
ebrown
Our April Hidden Sasquatch Hunt wrapped up faster than we expected.
All three Bigfoots were found within two days!
Thank you to everyone who joined the hunt. We loved seeing how quickly the clues were solved and how much enthusiasm this brought to the library.
Congratulations to our winners who each took home their very own Sasquatch.
Still want to solve the clues? You can follow the trail to each original hiding spot, now marked to reveal where the Sasquatches were discovered.
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HSHSL Closed Sunday, April 5 for Easter Holiday
Posted on
April 3, 2026
by
ebrown
The HSHSL building will be closed on Sunday, April 5, for the Easter holiday.
While our physical spaces will be unavailable, you can still access databases, journals, and guides through the
library website
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Refreshing the Fifth Floor Collection
Posted on
April 2, 2026
by
Tara Wink
Over the coming weeks, the HSHSL team will be conducting a weeding and shifting project on the fifth floor. This work is part of our ongoing effort to refresh the physical collection, ensure materials remain relevant, and make it easier for users to navigate the stacks.
During this project, HSHSL librarians will carefully review and remove materials that are no longer a good fit (literally and metaphorically). As space is freed, remaining books will be shifted and redistributed to create space and improve browsing. For a temporary period, shelves may look unusual: some sections may appear partially empty or in transition while this work is underway. While it may be tempting to “spruce up” the shelves when you pass them, please leave everything as-is to allow the weeding team to properly assess the available space.
Access to materials will remain available throughout the project. If you have trouble locating an item or need assistance, members of the HSHSL team are always happy to help at the service desk.
Weeding teams will be mindful of noise as the fifth floor is a quiet space, but please be patient as some conversation is necessary for this project. If you have noise concerns, please stop by the Information Services desk for earplugs or headphones. Or try the third or fourth floors while teams are working on this project.
Thank you for your patience as we work to improve the fifth-floor stacks and create a more usable, welcoming collection for our community.
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