This summer we’ve expanded our small but ever popular Leisure Reading Classics selection! Classics can be found on the 4th floor of Sackler at the end-cap of Leisure Reading Fiction. Here are some of the titles that have most recently been added to the collection:
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man & Dubliners by James Joyce
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
If there is a classic novel that you’ve always wanted to read and don’t see it on our shelves, please let us know by recommending a purchase.
Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photo-1238602/
The summer is in full swing and our first July Writing Consultants appointments are this Thursday,7/19. Some sessions are still available for this week and next, so sign up today! And act fast–registration will close 24 hours before the start of each session.
You now have full electronic access to LWW Health Library’s Board Review Series!
The Board Review Series is a database that covers material in the primary basic sciences such as gross anatomy, embryology, neuroscience, and more that are addressed on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 exams. Each concise, yet comprehensive book takes an outline approach, and contains review questions, clinical information, full-color illustrations, photographs, and tables.
Image: Giant smug Capybara standing in a hoolahoop in a pool | https://imgur.com/gallery/7ZsSf
You don’t have to be the world’s largest rodent to stay chill this summer! The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) maintains dozens of pools, spray parks and beaches in and around the greater Boston-area for free (or under $3). Find a place near you at DCR’s guide to swimming:
Swimming – Mass.gov
(https://www.mass.gov/swimming)
So, go grab a suit, some sunblock and get swimming (nb: leave your cabybara at home)!
image source: https://pixabay.com/photo-905562/
Hello and welcome to all the new residents starting this summer! We are looking forward to meeting you and helping you with any research questions or information needs that you might have. Stop by the Library Service Desk on the 4th floor of the Sackler building to check out materials, get help finding resources, or just to say hello!
Need remote help? Just Ask Us by email, chat, phone, or text!
A quick reminder about library access: at library orientation, you were given a temporary access number, but keep your eyes on your inbox for instructions on setting up your Tufts account and username. That will be your permanent way of accessing library resources from off-campus.
Have additional questions about setting up your Tufts username and password? Contact Tufts Technology Services at 617-627-3376 or at it@tufts.edu and they will be able to assist you.
So the 4th didn’t fall so that we got a 3-day weekend, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun this Wednesday! There are still tons of fun events happening throughout the area and the forecast is clear for tomorrow night’s fireworks! Here are our suggestions for how to enjoy a happy and healthy holiday:
Fireworks Over Boston by Mike Halsall is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
The quintessential Boston 4th of July celebration is the Boston Pops performance and fireworks show on the Esplanade. Visit the official event website for a rundown of the schedule and more event details. CBS Boston has also put together a handy guide with viewing location suggestions and other useful tips. Our favorite tip? Go to the rehearsal concert tonight (Tuesday) to enjoy the music and find a less hectic spot to watch the fireworks on Wednesday.
Harborfest Drummers 1 by Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
For activities with an educational bent, head down to Boston Harborfest. Dedicated to celebrating Boston’s harbor and history, it’s the largest 4th of July festival in the country and features tons of activities and tours, some free and some paid. Here’s the full schedule.
Newton Fireworks at at Halloran Sports and Rec Complex by Owen and Aki is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Don’t want to fight the crowds for Boston fireworks on the 4th? Newton and Waltham will also have fireworks displays on Wednesday 7/4 and Somerville with have them on Thursday 7/5. If you’re interested in going farther afield, here’s a list of all the fireworks displays planned for Independence Day celebrations in MA.
Wherever and however you decide to celebrate, we hope you have a happy, healthy, and safe Independence Day. And don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
For the US Independence Day, aka 4th of July, the library will be closed on Wednesday, July 4th. The rest of the week will be regular hours.
We hope you have a fun and safe day. Enjoy the fireworks!
Photo credit: Tom Quinn
Hi all,
It’s been a little bit since my last post on Hirsh Library Statistics, which means it’s time again! So pour your favorite caffeinated beverage, grab a plate of free food (statistically speaking, there’s free food somewhere in this building right now), and relax as I offer you some numbers and information that you will not be tested on.
What a relief, right?
So, first up: we’ve actually held relatively steady this year as compared to last year, in terms of circulation and head counts. This probably comes as a surprise to everyone who has only been busier every year (I know I have), but there are always environmental factors to account for. For instance, if everyone’s using ebooks, they don’t need to check things out of Reserve, and in the numbers it looks like we’ve gone down. But our Open Workshops, librarian consultations, and even on the fly assistance at the Service Desk have all been super busy. So I want you to keep that in mind as you read on: everything requires a grain of salt.
Also to keep in mind, these numbers will be from July 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018. The most interesting ones are smack in the center of the school year, though. For instance: our single busiest circulation day of the year was October 4th, when we were averaging a checkout every 5 minutes. That’s nutty! And that doesn’t account for all of the research assistance, troubleshooting, or item returns.
Of the top 10 spots for busiest Circulation day of the year, 4 are in October (which accounts for the top 3 spots), 3 are in September, and then the remainder is split between November, February, and March (there was a tie for #10).
Yes, that’s right. February. February! Here, let me shock you: This year, the busiest month was October, at 3412 checkouts. Second place went to September at 2983, but the shocker is February as third place and 28868. Third! I’m glad that you all love our library so much more than the cold February weather, because dang.
Click to embiggen
Okay, so that’s the overall look of things. The blue bars are the total numbers of times we’ve checked things out, and the red bars are the total numbers of people we’ve counted in the library. Things to know: the blue bars do not count the number of people, just number of checkouts (we don’t have a way to count number of people who have checked things out). And the red bars require staff to physically walk around, so there’s an element of human error in there. But still, what a snapshot!
You may also notice that October, while still very full, was actually not the top spot in seating counts. That honor goes to March, and my best guess would be “exam season.” But October cinched its second place spot, followed (again!) by February in third. Each one of those months is over 12,000 people sitting in the library, by the way. And in case you’re wondering, October did have the single busiest day for those, at 2,590 people on the 29th. February comes in second place here, with 1,057.
Dang, what a month.
Okay, so I know what you’re thinking. “Tom, what about all those times we were asked what program we were with? What’s the deal with that?” Well good news, I have the deal with that!
For those who might not remember: HHSL staff walked around a few times a day, 7 days in the month of October and again in March, in an effort to find out how much the various programs use our library space, and we got some neat data. Behold!
Click to enlarge
Click to make big
That’s a whole lot of people. That top chart focuses on the day of the week of a given count, and the bottom compares each program. I find that shift from being busier earlier in the week to being busier in the latter half rather interesting, although I don’t know if I can find a particular reason for it. Timing of exams, perhaps?
The second chart has my attention, however. Look at some of those numbers! I wonder what happened with the PHPD and MBS numbers, though. I do know that their exams did not quite line up with our counts the way that Dental and Medical’s did, so if I had to guess I’d say that it was just an issue of two or three weeks. Crazy how much of a difference that makes!
Finally, I will leave you with this chart, which goes to show just how much people love the 7th floor. Fun fact about this one: when you look at the numbers, the 7th floor is consistently twice as populated as any other floor. No wonder some people have trouble finding study cubicles – they’re always full!
Click to get all up in it
If you want to get a little deeper into this all, or have any questions about it, I am at the the HHSL Service Desk five days a week, and am always happy to talk shop. Otherwise, I hope you’re all enjoying the weather, and I look forward to seeing what the next year brings us!
Tom
Hey dental students! Are you studying for the Boards (part 1 or part 2)? Did you know we have study aids for you both online and in person?
If you’re going home or away or just don’t feel like leaving your home in the heat, you can still use Board Vitals – an online study aid and question bank that gives you personalized feedback. It works no matter your location! Learn how to sign up for an account and get started studying.
If you’re staying in town and want to study in the library, be sure to check out our physical study aids including Mosby’s, Dentin, and Dental Decks. See the full list or just head to our Service Desk on the 4th floor of Sackler and ask for what you need.
Good luck on your boards!
https://pixabay.com/photo-602440/
Working on a cover letter? Stumped about starting your personal statement? Finishing up your thesis? Never fear, Health Sciences Writing Consultants is here! We will be interrupting our usual summer hiatus to bring you two special Thursdays in July where our consultant will be available to advise you on your writing projects.
On 7/19 and 7/26, there will be four appointments available between 11am and 2pm. Registration will open on July 2nd and close 24 hours before each session. Be sure to mark your calendar and check back next month to register! For more information, please visit our Writing Consultants LibGuide.
Regular sessions will resume in mid-August so stay tuned! In the meantime, you can visit our Resources page for recommended books and websites that will help you with a variety of writing projects.
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