Join us virtually Monday, October 11 at 11:30 am for a special lecture presentation, “Why Health Sciences Students Need the Humanities” featuring Deirdre Cooper Owens, Ph.D., Charles and Linda Wilson Professor in the History of Medicine; Director, Humanities in Medicine, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

As the director of a medical humanities program and a historian, Dr. Cooper Owens understands the importance of the humanities. Humanities programs and education are necessary for students interested in health sciences. The various humanities disciplines allow students to study the social, cultural, ethical, and historical dimensions of how doctors, patients, and communities understand the lived experience of health and disease. Using critical thinking and interdisciplinary approaches, the humanities allow health sciences students to examine diverse issues such as how religion shapes people's understanding of illness, how people think about death, and how they think about what kinds of care they would want at the end of their lives. For instance, learning about aspects of history and race, and how the legacy of harm to underrepresented groups results in continued health disparities today, helps society more broadly. Looking at the ways that social media, technologies like artificial intelligence, and big data analytics are changing how physicians and patients relate to and communicate with one another is another way the humanities expand critical thinking and compassionate learning.

Registration for this event is required.

The McGoogan Library is proud to present the C’RONA Pandemic Comics exhibition on display until November 30, 2021, on Level 4 of Wittson Hall, near the Sorrell/Wittson/Bennett skywalk. Complimentary copies of the comic book are placed out daily in the exhibition and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

A special panel presentation will take place virtually on Wednesday, November 3 at 12:00 pm, featuring writers and artists who contributed to the project. Five signed copies of the comic book will be given away to program registrants. Sign up for the presentation here.

In spring 2020, the comics team received funding from the Rapid Response Research program of the National Science Foundation to develop comics to help youth understand the COVID-19 pandemic. The project built upon a decade of expertise in creating comics about the biology of viruses. In collaboration with virologists and artists, three comic stories about COVID-19 were developed during the pandemic and posted online during the last half of 2020. The fictional narratives address fundamental issues in biology, virology, and network science in order to help readers understand the complexities of living through a viral pandemic. The stories focus on three themes: the biology and social context of the COVID-19 virus; the relationship of wild animals, particularly bats, to the pandemic; and the impact of the pandemic on Tribal communities. The stories are posted online and are published by the University of Nebraska Press as the book C’RONA Pandemic Comics which includes essays for youth about the virus and the pandemic.

On August 24 and 27, the library and in-library campus partners held an Open House that welcomed about 350 UNMC faculty, staff, and students to the renovated library in Wittson Hall on levels 6, 7, and 8. Everyone who came to the Open House was offered a “bingo card” and encouraged to visit each of the 16 library and partner stations to learn about services, features, and areas within the library. People who visited all stations were entered to win a prize. We provided snacks plus cookies with our Open House themes printed on them: “Get Inspired, “Get Creative,” and “Get Connected." At the library station, we asked visitors what they would be doing in the library, and received “studying” as the top answer! We were happy to let people make their own buttons on our new low-tech button maker, too. The Open House was a refreshing and fun event that promoted connection. One of our prize winners said, "It would be cool if there was an Open House every year." We wholeheartedly agree: the conversations and community made for a terrific fall kickoff event.

We are proud to have so many partners together in the library.

The Office of Academic Success provides tools and services to enhance the academic success of all UNMC students, such as New Student Orientation, e-learning study strategies modules, and one-on-one peer support with Peer Mentors, who use library spaces for their consultations.

The library promotes wellness and supports the efforts of the Campus Wellness Team and Counseling and Psychological Services, including a new monthly drop-in session in the library. Three Reflection Rooms offer an atmosphere of relaxation.

The Central Scheduling Office (CSO) manages the Event Management Software (EMS) scheduling system that offers students, faculty, and staff the ability to reserve available spaces across the UNMC campus and in the library. Scheduling for the library’s 54 study rooms, conference rooms, and reflection rooms is managed by the CSO team.

The College of Allied Health Professions manages two spaces: the Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) Lab and the Virtual Environment Radiotherapy Training (VERT) Suite. The DMS Lab allows sonography students the opportunity to practice and refine their scanning skills in a safe environment under the supervision of an experienced sonographer. The VERT is a virtual learning environment where radiation therapy students and medical physics residents can practice and learn how to deliver simulated radiation therapy treatments in a safe and harmless space.

The E-Learning Lab provides the campus community with resources and an EZ Studio needed to create multimedia projects. The lab is staffed by the E-Learning expert team of instructional designers and technologists.

The Office of Faculty Development offers programming, training, workshops, coaching, and leadership programs to enhance faculty skills in clinical and classroom teaching, research, leadership, and scholarship. Trained staff are available to meet with faculty to discuss teaching-related topics like teaching strategies, course design, and technology options. The Office of Faculty Development is located in the Faculty Commons within the library.

The Inclusion Corner, hosted by the Office of Inclusion, is a place to share inclusive dialogue and to demonstrate that UNMC is a place where everyone belongs. A small collection of books on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics are available for checkout.

The Interprofessional Academy of Educators (IAE) provides faculty with the support to become effective teachers and educational scholars. The IAE promotes the use of education best practices, fosters and disseminates educational research and innovation, and mentors early-career faculty and preceptors. The IAE is located in the Faculty Commons within the library.

Drop-in space is available for faculty to informally consult, strategize, and design new blended learning experiences with our experts. Faculty can also try out software and experience hands-on use of technology in the demonstration classroom on level 6. The IT Academic Technologies staff are located in the Faculty Commons within the library.

The Writing Center @ UNMC offers free one-on-one consultations with trained advisors to all UNMC students, faculty, and staff to help improve writing abilities, critical thinking and productive reading skills, and effective communication.

Since the opening of the Wigton Heritage Center in June 2021, the McGoogan Health Sciences Library staff has provided tours for 300 people. Every visitor comments on the quality exhibits, façade of the original University Hospital, and the Convergence sculpture. The best part about the tours? Many tour participants share their stories of former faculty, facilities, and campus memories. Please fill out this form if you would like a guided tour for either yourself or your department.

Coming in January 2022 are three new exhibits:

The library staff is planning online versions of current exhibits for winter 2022. The online exhibits will include oral histories, video content, expanded campus timeline, digitized documents, and more in-depth information on featured individuals.

Email - askus@unmc.edu