The Health Sciences Libraries are celebrating 2015 with a look back at some of our most-read news stories of the year. 

2015 has been memorable, highlighted by the creation of a new journal, the addition of art to the Bio-Medical library, and an exhibit on fermentation and distillation at the Wangensteen Historical Library. 

We are thankful for every person who has stopped by our service desk, consulted with a librarian, used our website, read an e-book, or requested a systematic review.  Here’s to a fabulously busy 2016!

Featured stories from the 2015 year in review

Koffel Publishes Systematic Review Research in PLoS ONE
May 15, 2015

Jonathan Koffel, Clinical Information Librarian at the Bio-Medical Library, has been busy completing research on the benefits of librarian involvement in the development of systematic reviews. His research findings have been published in the latest issue of PLoS ONE.

 

Nursing Librarian Part of New Journal Development
June 8, 2015

Nursing Librarian Liz Weinfurter’s collaborative work with the School of Nursing has drawn upon her detailed knowledge of journal content and structure and led to her being invited to serve as a partner in the development of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Partnership Studies (IJPS).

 

History of Medicine Inspires Art
July 8, 2015

From rare books to drawings and documents, the Wangensteen collection of nearly 70,000 volumes from the 15th to 20th centuries fuels the imaginations of artists who share a collective interest in biology and a passion for digging through old material to find just the right image or phrase to influence their creative work.

Bio-Medical Library’s Breast Cancer Superheroes Art Exhibit: Spotlight on Radiation Diva
July 27, 2015

Every day for seven weeks, Stanton hiked her body onto a metal table to expose her breast to radiation. While technicians ducked behind concrete walls to dodge the danger, Stanton held still beneath the beam so it could kill away any rogue cancer cells that might have remained after her lumpectomy.

Hendrickson New Curator of the Wangensteen Library
August 17, 2015

Lois Hendrickson began her work as Curator of the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine on August 10. She is an alumna of the University of Minnesota, where she earned her Bachelor’s in History, and the University of Denver, where she received her MLS.

 

Libraries Conduct Health Literacy Research at State Fair
September 8, 2015

This year the Health Sciences Libraries have added to this conversation through their research on health literacy – the extent to which individuals can obtain, process and understand basic health information – with a particular focus on numbers and graphs.

 

Wangensteen at Café Scientifique
November 17, 2015

The history and health benefits of fermentation and distillation were the topic of a happy hour lecture at Bryant Lake Bowl, led by the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine’s Lois Hendrickson and Emily Beck.

 

Libraries Stress Busters a hit
December 21, 2015

According to the University of Minnesota’s Boynton Clinic, more than one-third (35 percent) of students report they are unable to fully manage their stress level. To help students in need of stress relief, the University Libraries offered “distraction-free” studying for finals that included extended building hours and stress-reducing activities. The Star Tribune took notice and reported on the activities last week.

Librarians demonstrate systematic review expertise
December 18, 2015

Librarians at the Health Sciences Libraries (HSL) provide support of systematic reviews through their Systematic Review Service and as Trial Search Coordinators for the Cochrane Urology Group. Research topics range from the effectiveness of mind-body treatment for PTSD to identifying adverse drug events using natural language processing to factors that impact childhood vaccination coverage.