Welcome to the Health Sciences Library of New York Medical College! Our mission is to advance education, research and scholarship by meeting the information needs of the New York Medical College community through the delivery of high quality resources, media, service and facilities. In short, our motto is: Rx for your information needs. We care very much about service to our users in all three of our Schools and affiliated locations. Our aim is to blend the physical and virtual options providing appropriate space for private study or research, group collaborations and partnerships, as well as electronic interactive sessions.

Based in Valhalla, Westchester County, New York, The Health Sciences Library (HSL) serves more than 4500 faculty, employees, students, residents and fellows of New York Medical College (NYMC). The HSL supports users in the School of Medicine, School of Public Health, and Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences onsite and remotely using web-based and proxy server technology. Our access policy defines user privileges. Special memberships are available. The Library also provides staff support and scheduling for audiovisual or educational media, poster printing and use of the cardiac patient simulators (aka Harveys). With new videoconferencing capabilities, classes are scheduled targeted to residents, faculty and students in remote geographic locations.

The HSL annually develops goals and objectives that reinforce the library’s ability to meet the current information needs of its clientele. The Library provides an annual summary of accomplishments from the previous year.

The Library consists of 19,000 square feet, provides 225 seats, four small group multipurpose rooms, a 20 person classroom, and two computing labs. A high-speed broadband fiber connects the HSL to the University’s network backbone, and wireless routers provide access throughout the campus. The Library currently maintains servers supporting an array of databases and resources on and offsite. A branch Media Library in the School of Public Health building houses audiovisual materials.

The HSL web page (http://library.nymc.edu) serves as a gateway for immediate access and links to information, resources, services and applications. The Library’s Online Catalog serves as the master file of all HSL resources. ILLiad, the online interlibrary loan and document delivery system, provides immediate access to both owned and materials borrowed from other libraries. To better support the educational needs of users, targeted web pages are developed under the Informatics header, strengthening academic support to the curriculum. A complete description of services and related fees, if any, are also available. Request forms are available to obtain documents, searches, educational media or audio-visual support or equipment.

As of June 30, 2007, Library holdings total approximately 210,000 items, 41,000 unique records/titles, and 16,053 journals, with 13,837 available electronically. The Reference and Information Services staff are skilled in providing education, training and outreach both onsite and to remote affiliated sites. All Library faculty assists with the teaching and training, consults, and fee-based mediated searches. Classes are scheduled, tailored to the needs of the users.

The Library is a major document delivery provider and promotes greater access by non-NYMC users via Loansome Doc.

The Library participates in various global networks or consortia. The New York State Library has designated the Library as a Leader Electronic Doorway Library. The Library is also a Resource Library in Region 1 of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM). The Library actively participates in the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) global network and remains a full member of METRO, the New York metropolitan area library planning cooperative.

Historically, the Library was a founding member of the HILOW+ library consortia, composed of health sciences libraries in the upper Westchester County and Hudson Valley region of New York State. The Library continues to support members via a web site address for this group.

The Library advocates and promotes the scholarly accomplishment of all NYMC faculty and annually produces a comprehensive bibliography of faculty publications. A recognition celebration is scheduled. This event is co-sponsored by the Provost and Dean.

FYI, the library’s newsletter, keeps NYMC users and supporters up to date.

For more information about the Library, access, use, services, support or special programs (e.g. potential Friends Group), contact the library by phone (914) 594-4200, by mail, hsl_nymc@nymc.edu, or Ask A Librarian. Alumni and others interested in special programs, donations, or access should contact the associate dean and director at (914) 594 4208.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Diana Cunningham, MLS, MPH, AHIP
Associate Dean and Director, Health Sciences Library
Assistant Professor of Clinical Health.