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"Tips & Tricks"
Solaten omnes saculorem tuba nriirum est – If lit by a patron, despite knowing that checkouts are for four hours only, this black flame candle will resurrect… A Block!
When you come to the desk to check out chargers, beware! Returning the item on time is the only wa
y to save you from the curse of the block.
The first time you keep an item late, you cannot checkout items for 24 hours once you’ve returned it. The second time lasts a week; the third, a month and a note to the dean. The fourth time results in another note to the dean and a block for the rest of the academic year. Plus, every day you keep the item late beyond the original due date, we shall add another day to your curse.
We urge you to take these matters seriously, and remember to return or renew your reserve item before your four hours are up. Perhaps you are worried you will not be able to return the item before the sun rises (and the item is due). In that case, give us a call or send us a chat saying you’ll be late. We understand life happens.
These curses accumulate during the academic year, so be sure to set yourself a timer.
For the facts behind this ancient curse, please visit our Reserve Policy page.
October is knocking on your door – and – so our workshops@Hirsh! This is a month to ‘treat’ yourself by learning new ‘tricks’ to enhance your skills! This month we’ll be introducing you to Zotero, tools to help you and your patients make decisions, the world of pre-prints, and statistical sources that you need. Don’t be scared – join us!
Workshops will be held on Wednesdays from 12noon-1pm via Zoom.
Registration for workshops is required. A Zoom link and password will be emailed to you after you register. Please note that workshops are open to only Tufts-affiliated individuals.
Zotero: the Basics
Date: Wednesday, October 5, 2022
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Registration: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/9586489?hs=a
Description: This session will introduce you to Zotero, a free citation management tool. With Zotero, you can:
- collect references from web sites via your browser of choice
- drag and drop PDFs to create references
- generate in-text citations and bibliographies in Word documents
This session is for beginners – no previous experience required!
Tools for Shared Decision Making
Date: Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Registration: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/9591978?hs=a
Description: Shared decision making is a key component of patient-centered health care, where clinicians and patients work together to make decisions, select tests, choose treatments and create care plans. The goal of shared decision making is to balance risks and expected outcomes with patient preferences and values. This workshop will highlight quality tools that you can equip patients with to enable and encourage these valuable conversations.
The Power of Preprints
Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Registration: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/9620394?hs=a
Description: Preprints are scholarly manuscripts that have been posted prior to becoming published articles. With the increased demand to accelerate research, preprints have become a more common part of the publishing process, despite the fact that these drafts have not yet been submitted to a journal nor have they undergone the peer review and editorial process. This workshop will discuss the benefits and concerns to consider when publishing and utilizing preprints. It will also address where to locate preprints involving health sciences research.
Get That Stat Source: Locating U.S. Health Data
Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Registration: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/9584689?hs=a
Description: This workshop will introduce you to major sources of health data for the United States. Topics will include: data collection stakeholders and methods, tips & tricks for locating health data, and an introduction to the Hirsh Library “Health Data and Statistics” guide.
Now that classes are in full swing, we’re highlighting some library resources for M1s to help you get in a good headspace so you can set off on the right foot!
Dissection: ankle and foot superficial dissection © Informa UK Limited 2019. Used under Tufts – Hirsh Health Sciences Library License. Accessed 2 Jan 2019.
Study Tools
Covering content across Step 1 subjects, these question banks are useful self-assessment tools even starting in your first year of medical school. We’re excited about our new subscription to Thieme MedOne, a question bank designed for M1 and M2 students that uses adaptive learning technology to help you identify gaps in knowledge and prepare for Step 1. Through the library, you also have access to LWW Health Library’s self assessment tools. For a list of Step 1 review books on reserve, see our medical board prep research guide.
PBL
The PBL Guide is a great place to start! For some LQs, you may need to look beyond the resources encompassed in the guide (for example, physical examination resources!). If you get stuck with a particularly tricky LQ, don’t forget that your PBL group’s librarian is available to help. See the M26 PBL Group Assignments on Canvas for your librarian’s name and email address. We also drop by your group once each semester, so that’s a great time to ask questions as well.
Anatomy
Anatomy will be here before you know it, and we’ve got you covered with a variety of study tools. Browse anatomy models available for 4-hour check out from the Library Service Desk. We have anatomy books and virtual anatomy models available online or for check out from reserve as well.
For some people, autumn is leaf peeping, or warm tea lattes on a rainy day, or maybe pulling out your favorite orange sweaters. But for me, autumn is course reserve season! And today, I’d like to share some info about the Reading List tool in your Canvas courses.
The Reading List […]
For some people, autumn is leaf peeping, or warm tea lattes on a rainy day, or maybe pulling out your favorite orange sweaters. But for me, autumn is course reserve season! And today, I’d like to share some info about the Reading List tool in your Canvas courses.
The Reading List feature on Canvas serves one specific purpose: it consolidates your course material. Since library staff have some admin privileges, we can go through courses and see the same materials you do. We, at the library, add required textbooks (and maybe a PDF or two) that we have found in your professor’s syllabus to the Reading List tool. We prepare those materials and add them to a course’s Canvas page. Then, professors can add articles or other resources to the same Reading List. Thus, an entire course’s reading can be accessible all in one place.
The Reading List tool as seen in a Canvas course
Or, if a professor has liked a previous Reading List, they can simply “roll” that list over for their current course.
Everything on a Reading List either has a link directly to the resource, or tells you exactly where to find the physical copy. No need to download or flip through the syllabus every time you need a resource; nor do you have to search for resources yourself. This tool is great for organizing resources and updating the list as the course continues.
And, if you happen to need to, you can always report a resource or link being broken directly on the site. We check these all the time to ensure students and faculty can access their resources without much trouble.
Working closely with faculty about their use of the Reading List has contributed a lot to the program itself. Reading Lists has changed features due to our feedback, so as more people use it we can report more concrete suggestions for improvement. And this includes all of you! We enjoy hearing the ways you all interact with the tool.
We hope to hear how you use the tool soon. And, don’t forget to email us if you have any questions about finding your course material or accessing articles.
And, as an aside, I highly recommend a Darjeeling tea with steamed milk. There is no better time of year to try it. Happy fall!
Well. It’s been a wild few months for the MBTA. We at Hirsh know many of you commute in from other parts of Boston. (Some of our staff certainly do.) So, we decided to create some helpful guides so you can navigate the new school year– or even just navigate to […]
Well. It’s been a wild few months for the MBTA. We at Hirsh know many of you commute in from other parts of Boston. (Some of our staff certainly do.) So, we decided to create some helpful guides so you can navigate the new school year– or even just navigate to class– with relative ease.
As long as the weather’s nice, biking part of your commute might be part of your commute plans.
And today, I’d like to bring your attention to… Blue Bikes! These bikes are all around Boston, and courtesy of the University, you can get a discount on a yearly membership (~60$ a year, whichy is cheaper than a monthly link pass with the MBTA)
Here is a more comprehensive map of the Blue Bikes available around the Greater Metro area. You can see a few of them are within a block from 145 Harrison Ave.
Watch out! The Mass Department of Conservation & Recreation reports any changes to bike paths or detours for the greater metro area. For instance, the Southwest Corridor Bike Path might have rolling repairs during September, so keep your eye on the MassDCR Twitter feed.
And, please: WEAR A HELMET!
Now that the school year is starting, our website is one of your best tools for navigating the library space and resources. On our website, you can get any of your burning questions answered: How do the printers work? When can I talk to a librarian?
Our homepage has dozens of links to resources. You can find our databases under the “databases” tab or under Quick Links on our homepage. You can also find JumboSearch, where you can browse through Tufts University book catalogs. You can also use the Ask Us box on the far right to send us an email or chat with our library staff.
When you need to contact a librarian for help, hover over the Research tab at the top of the page and schedule a consultation with a librarian, especially if you need research help. Under the Research tab, you can also find Research Guides, which have topics ranging from biomedical sciences to health communication. You can also navigate to help with thesis support and citation tools.
Under the Services tab, you can find pages on Interlibrary Loan, printing and scanning, open workshops, and much more.
If you’re looking for something specific, you should use our search bar at the top right corner of the homepage. (And if you’ll notice, that orange bar at the top is our staffed hours, in case you want to stop by the desk!) If you have any questions about the site.
And of course, you can always stay up to date on library news here on our blog.
We are back in the library! As we transition back into the library, we plan to refresh your memory about the physical library space. Today, as we open the Library Service Desk again, you can now check out study materials for short-term lending.
Since we haven’t been open in over a […]
Leo the Skeleton, who will greet you at the desk!
We are back in the library! As we transition back into the library, we plan to refresh your memory about the physical library space. Today, as we open the Library Service Desk again, you can now check out study materials for short-term lending.
Since we haven’t been open in over a year, all our borrowing policies are on our website. We are at the Library Service Desk on the 4th floor, where you can check out:
- Course reserves and textbooks
- Anatomical models
- Electronics (e.g. laptops, chargers)
Before lockdown, if an item wasn’t returned or renewed on time, this would result in a block. Once we return to the library, everyone will have to sign our Equipment Agreement to checkout anatomical models and electronics. This Agreement outlines our blocking policy, but we’re happy to answer any questions about the policy.
Leisure reading, Graphic Medicine, the Book Stacks etc. (4th, 5th floors) will still be available for long term checkout. Print journals and current periodicals are not available for checkout, but you can browse them on the 4th and 7th floors.
And of course, you can contact us with your questions at hhsl@tufts.edu, call us at (617) 636 6705 or come up to the desk between 7:45 AM and 5:00 PM
We’re happy to see you all in person again (wearing a mask, of course)!
So we are past commencement, and you’re getting ready for the summer sun. But wait, you have one of our books and need to return it, but you won’t be able to make it to Boston? Fear not! You can stick that book in a box or envelope (whatever makes the most sense for you) and mail it our way! Just send it to:
Tufts University
Hirsh Health Sciences Library/ILL
MEB 610
37 Tyler Street
Boston, MA 02111
We will get it, check it in, and all will be well.
But if you want to keep the book and just need to renew it, you can always hop on our Live Chat, or e-mail us at hhslcirc@tufts.edu. We’ll be happy to let you have it a bit longer, if we can.
Enjoy the weather and we look forward to seeing you all soonish!
The day that so many have been waiting for has finally arrived!
As of April 19, 2021, adults in every U.S. state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.
This is an exciting time for many of us, who have been waiting (possibly impatiently) for our shot. But with so many people clamoring for appointments, how can you secure an appointment for that sweet, sweet vaccine?
NMCSD First COVID-19 Vaccine by Navy Medicine is in the Public Domain
Here are some proven tips from your already-vaccinated friends at the Hirsh Health Sciences Library**:
- If you haven’t yet, sign up for the Massachusetts pre-registration system. Please note that this system only covers Mass vaccination & regional collaborative locations, and that the mass vaccination sites currently require this pre-registration for appointments.
- Search the Commonwealth’s Covid-19 Vaccine Finder for appointments at local pharmacies and sites run by local boards of health.
- Visit www.macovidvaccines.com and sign up for text notifications. This is a third-party site that scrapes data from other websites to consolidate available appointments. This is the famous site built by Olivia Adams, a software engineer, while she was on maternity leave.
- Check out Massachusetts Covid Vaccination Help for help and information on booking your own appointment, or advice on booking for others.
- Visit VaccinateMA for locations providing vaccinations.
- Consider VaxBot, a service that uses the Monal chat app to notify users of available local appointments.
- Explore the various Twitterbots designed to notify users of availability: Try CVS Vaccine MA for appointments at our local ubiquitous pharmacy chain, or vaccinetime, which covers appointments at a variety of retail, Commonwealth, and local sites.
Good luck and good health everyone!
**please note that these resources are listed for informational purposes, and the Hirsh Health Sciences Library is not affiliated with any site or service listed above.
Tax season is happening here in the United States! If you’re like me, and this is your first year filing your taxes as an independent (and you’re hoping for that sweet stimulus check this time!), then filing your taxes can seem like a complicated project. It is not as painful as […]
Photo by The New York Public Library on Unsplash
Tax season is happening here in the United States! If you’re like me, and this is your first year filing your taxes as an independent (and you’re hoping for that sweet stimulus check this time!), then filing your taxes can seem like a complicated project. It is not as painful as you might expect. If you’ve just realized that you haven’t filed your taxes, these links below should help you navigate this process.
If you need free filing, this is the TurboTax Free File link; here is the H&R Block Free File link. These should cover both federal and state taxes. Depending on your income level and your student status, these should be free filing options for you. (I used one of them this year).
If you are filing in the state of Massachusetts, among other things, you’ll need to fill out a Schedule HC form. This proves you have health insurance. The vital numbers you’ll need is the name of your insurance, their Federal ID number, and your subscriber number. This is the form here.
For more information about the Federal Tax Filing, please visit their website here.
For more information about the Massachusetts State Tax Filing, please visit their website here. For questions about what and how you should be applying, you can call them directly.
The deadline for the 2021 Federal Tax return is May 17th, but if you start now you’ll be able to put it out of your mind! If, for any reason, you need an extension to file your taxes, you should make the request as soon as possible. You can do that here.
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