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"Tips & Tricks"
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Phew! Another term almost finished! With the end of the term rapidly approaching, Workshops@Hirsh will be taking a Spring break for the next couple of weeks.
If you can’t wait that long to learn something, no worries, we’ve got you covered! You can always request a Workshop on Demand. Here’s how it works:
Gather a few friends or colleagues, find some times that work for a group session, and tell the Library what you want to learn about.
We will provide the content, and expert librarian instructor. Choose from the list of topics, or suggest your own. All you need to do is complete the form and we will be in touch to set up your custom workshop.
These sessions are a great way to maximize learning and interaction with an instructor and your classroom peers, and ideal for those embarking on group projects. Workshops on Demand can be scheduled M-F, depending on the availability of librarians, and we can conduct them via Zoom.
You can learn more about the topics we offer and set up a session here: https://hirshlibrary.tufts.edu/services/open-workshops/workshops-on-demand
Forsythia, photo by A. LaVertu, 2022
Hard to believe that spring is just around the corner…but here comes March…and more workshops@Hirsh! This month’s workshops have a focus on skills for larger, more complex literature review projects, such as systematic reviews. If you are at the beginning of such a project, or contemplating one, then March workshops@Hirsh are not to be missed!
Workshops are held on Wednesdays from 2-3pm via Zoom, unless otherwise noted. Registration for workshops is required. A Zoom link and password will be sent to registrants.
Click on the workshop link to learn more about the workshop and to register .
Please note that workshops are open to only Tufts-affiliated individuals.
Systematic, narrative, scoping… oh my!: Selecting a Literature Review Project Online
Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10110595
Description: Systematic, narrative, scoping… oh my! This workshop will provide an introduction to various types of scientific literature review projects and help you decide which is the best fit for your own research. Open to researchers of all experience levels.
Documenting your literature search methods
Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10110633?hs=a
Description: There are many reasons to document your literature search methods, including:
- Some publication types require it (i.e., systematic and scoping reviews)
- Having a record for future search updates
- Transparency and increased understanding of one’s discovery process
This workshop will discuss the reasons why it is important document your literature search methods. It will also review how to draft a narrative description of one’s search methods, tools for documenting one’s search strategy and results, including PRISMA flowcharts.
Python for Data Visualization Online
Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Register: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10110636
Description: Python is a powerful, open-source and popular programming language with a wide variety of applications. In this workshop, we’ll cover everything you need to know in order to create graphs – no previous experience required!
Systematic Reviews: Laying the Groundwork
Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Registration: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10103743?hs=a
Description: Come to this workshop to learn about systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and other types of high-level research reviews. We will discuss topics such as the elements of a systematic review, protocols, resources, timelines, and suggested databases.
Essentials of Data Management
Date: Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Registration: https://tufts.libcal.com/event/10110622?hs=a
Description: In this workshop, we will review best practices for naming, organizing, storing, depositing your research data, and creating a Data Management Plan. Managing your data before you begin your research and throughout its life cycle is essential to ensure its current usability and long-run preservation and access.
“Dem bones, dem bones…” are coming to a TUSM Learning Community near you! For the next three weeks, the Hirsh Library will be taking some bones (and other assorted anatomy resources “on the road”)! Yes, it’s time for the “Anatomy Roadshow”!
What is the “Anatomy Roadshow” you ask? The “Anatomy Roadshow” is an opportunity for TUSM students to learn about invaluable tools for studying gross anatomy. These tools include actual bones (!), online self-assessment modules and exclusive photographic atlases that aren’t available on the web. With gross anatomy, you definitely want to be ahead of the curve when it comes to discerning how best to study. We know that students are busy, so we’re bringing these tools directly to you!
We will be visiting the TUSM Learning Communities on Tuesdays from 12noon – 1pm. Here’s where we’ll be in the coming weeks:
10/25 – Park Street Learning Community (rooms 205-209)
11/1 – Haymarket Learning Community (rooms 211-215)
11/8 – Aquarium Learning Community (rooms 305-309)
11/15 – Fenway Learning Community (rooms 311-315)
In the meantime, you can learn about anatomy resources at Hirsh Library at: https://researchguides.library.tufts.edu/anatomy and https://hirshlibrary.tufts.edu/find/equipment
Hope to see you there!
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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)!
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