Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library Newsletter

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Issue #34, Summer 2020

Congratulations, Class of 2020!

“We are more than our four walls!”

STACKED!

Dear Graduates,

Although this is not what you expected in your graduation year, a health crisis not seen in

one hundred years, it should remain a time to acknowledge your accomplishments. This

surreal experience has changed the way we live all over the world, but the pursuit of health

unites us. Please take the time to celebrate your journey and those important people who

held your hand, hugged, or kissed you when you needed it most. As the years go by, know

that during this period of struggle, you stayed strong and made it through to the finish

line. Healthcare will continue to present challenges and your time at WesternU has prepared

you to continue healing with humanism. That is what we need now more than ever.

To Your Continued Success,

Director of the Pumerantz Library

Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library Newsletter

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Issue #34, Summer 2020

A Note from the Editor This is going to be a weird issue, sorry.

As much as I would love to provide an island of normalcy,

the ground is constantly shifting and leaving us adrift in an

ocean of uncertainty. No one knows anything, but

everyone is trying. Trying so hard to stay afloat and keep

others from drowning.

To all the healthcare workers out in the field right now:

thank you. You’re the heroes we need and can only hope

to one day deserve. I hope everyone bands together to

flood you with the resources you need and advocates for

your health and safety.

To all the faculty and staff who overcame insane obstacles

to get curriculum and support services online in a frankly

absurd turnaround time: I am in awe of your hard work

and dedication. You have not gone unnoticed.

To all our graduates: it is awful and unfair that we don’t get to celebrate you with all the

pomp and circumstance you deserve. We’re no less proud of you.

To all our students: you have a lot to deal with right now – not only the usual schoolwork

and rotations, but also adjusting to learning online, being stuck at home, and coping with a

global pandemic. You may be worried about the health of friends and family, or even

grieving losses. Maybe you’re panicking about your career choice and questioning whether

you’re ready to risk your life to care for others. You’re not weak if you’re struggling or

stressed out of your mind. You’re normal. Normal and heartbreakingly human. Reach out

and get any support you need.

To all my coworkers: thank you for all your hard work to keep the library running and for

keeping me as close to sane as I’m likely to be.

I hope you find something in these pages that is helpful to you. Take care of yourselves and

each other.

Scholarly Communications Librarian

Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library Newsletter

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Issue #34, Summer 2020

Welcome to Bridging the Gap, where you can discover library services for WesternU distance students, faculty, and staff… which is everyone now!

Even though the campus is closed, the library is still open for business. You can access library databases and request articles 24/7 using your WesternU username and password and schedule a consultation or chat with a librarian 6 days a week. We will also continue to answer questions by email.

You can find more information about our current services here. If you’re not sure where to start, you can contact the reference librarians by email at reference@westernu.edu or text at 909-474-2999.

BRIDGING THE GAP

Michelle Sanchez, MLIS eLearning Librarian

Resources for Instructors Moving Their Courses Online Moving your course online can be a hassle. Fortunately, we have many resources available to support you.

Finding Material

The Pumerantz Library subscribes to many ebooks and journals that you can use to supplement course readings, and we can help you create permalinks to put in Canvas or Elentra. Several of our databases contain images, multimedia, cases, and quizzes. We can also assist with finding open education resources in places like OER Commons, MERLOT, and Open Stax. In addition, several publishers have temporarily made extra resources freely available.

Instructional Support

Librarians can provide in-course instruction or create course-specific research guides on library resources, evidence-based practice, and more. Did a CETL course spark your interest in researching educational innovation or best practices? Ask for a literature search!

Copyright Questions

Not sure what copyright law allows you to do for online courses? Start here or contact reference@westernu.edu with questions.

Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library Newsletter

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Issue #34, Summer 2020

Library Resources for Alumni

Graduation brings many changes to your life. You may wonder how your relationship with the

library will change now that you’re no longer a student. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions:

Do I still have remote access to databases like UpToDate once I graduate?

Remote access will remain available until July 31, 2020. After that, you will no longer have remote access to any of our paid databases.

What?! Why not?

Our license agreements with our database vendors only permit us to provide access to current students, faculty, and staff.

What free resources does the library provide for alumni?

This alumni services tutorial details services and databases that are free for alumni. You can also download DynaMed, Micromedex, and VisualDX to your mobile device before the remote access period ends and have access for 3 months to 1 year. If you are in the area, you can visit the Pumerantz Library once the campus reopens and access most of our databases (except UpToDate).

What other options are available for free medical information?

Your workplace may also have a library or

provide subscription resources at no cost to you. If not, the Norris Medical Library lists free clinical information tools, websites, and apps. You can also find free biomedical literature on PubMed Central or in open access journals like Biomed Central, PLOS, or PeerJ.

None of the things I really want are on those lists. Can I get individual subscriptions?

Yes. Here are links to pricing information for AccessMedicine, UpToDate, and Lexicomp. Discounts may be available for recent graduates.

Can I still get copies of articles?

You can still request articles through ILLiad. Interlibrary loan is $10 per request. If we have a copy of the article in our print collection, we will scan you a copy for free.

Can I still check out books?

Once the library reopens, you can check out 3 books at a time for up to 4 weeks. You can use your WesternU ID badge or driver’s license to verify your identity and alumni status.

Can I still ask librarians for help?

Always! In fact, now that you’re a busy practitioner, we’ll even do a literature search for you! Ask away and keep in touch!

Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library Newsletter

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Issue #34, Summer 2020

On the Home Front

During the campus closure, the library staff are working hard from home to keep all our usual services running smoothly. Here’s a peek behind the scenes.

Kelli Hines takes advantage of quarantine rules to wear nerdy T-shirts while answering emails.

Rudy Barreras keeps an eye on the chat—and the cat, Indiana Jones.

After a hard day of virtual instruction, Michelle Sanchez relaxes with a Jane Austen puzzle.

PubMed Interface Update PubMed will be upgrading its interface and retiring the legacy version in the middle of May. The new version improves many features, including responsive design. You can familiarize yourself with the new interface here.

No Overdues During Closure As a reminder, you are not expected to return books while the campus is closed and you will not accrue any fines. You can ignore automated emails you receive about your checkouts. If you are graduating, you can mail your books back to 309 E 2nd St, Pomona, CA 91766.

Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library Newsletter

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Issue #34, Summer 2020

Self-Care During COVID-19

Things can feel overwhelming right now. Here are some things you can do to take care of yourself.

Manage your expectations. We’re not working from home; we’re staying home during a global pandemic and trying to get work done. Don’t expect normal levels of productivity.

Acknowledge your emotions. Anger, sadness, and numbness can all be normal reactions to collective grief. Don’t try to make yourself feel fine if you don’t.

Find ways to connect. Set up a virtual meetup—or, if you have Zoom fatigue, make phone calls or send postcards.

Create a routine. A routine can add a sense of structure to your day and reduce uncertainty. Be sure to create transitions between work and personal time.

Step away from the screen. Limit your news intake, take control of your devices, and do something physical.

Take care of your body. Eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep.

Ask for help when you need it. Reach out to your support network and take advantage of counseling services.

Focus on things you can control. Many things are out of your hands, so concentrate on tangible actions you can take.

How You Can Help It’s easy to feel helpless right now, but there are actually many things you can do to help. Take care of yourself first to avoid burnout, but if you have the means, these things can make a huge difference.

Make a donation. If you have the means, you can make donations to healthcare workers, food banks, the WesternU Student Emergency Support Fund, or any other cause you value.

Check on vulnerable people in your community. Look for people who might need a grocery run, help with yard work, extra supplies, or just a friendly chat.

Listen. Let someone who’s having a hard time vent their emotions without judgment. Comfort in, dump out.

Contact your elected officials. You can reach out to your Senators, Congressperson, and assembly members with your concerns, even if you’re anxious.

Volunteer. While many sites are closed, you can still foster a pet, join a mutual aid society, or become a virtual volunteer.

Support your staff. If you’re a supervisor, be as flexible as possible with scheduling and deadlines and be transparent about priorities, budgets, and contingency plans so everyone can make informed decisions.

Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library Newsletter

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Issue #34, Summer 2020

This is my current workstation at home. I just completed digitizing a collection of Board of Directors meeting minutes from 1976-1978. The series consists of 30 audio cassette tapes during the establishment of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific.

Listening to the voices of the founding board members (Richard Eby, DO; Viola Frymann, DO; Ethan Allen, DO; Donald Dilworth, DO; Saul Bernat, PhD; and Frank Carr) was exciting, especially since I had the privilege of meeting them. Hearing the voice of our Founding President, Dr. Philip Pumerantz, also brought back many memories. Their discussions and plans to build an osteopathic school in Pomona were equally exciting and informative.

Digitizing these old tapes was quite a challenge, partly because they were not kept in a cool

dry environment all these years. The tapes would stick and even break while I was trying to

record. The problem was that as I digitized the tapes, they were leaving a residue on the tape

recorder. The solution was to clean the heads with cotton swabs using isopropyl alcohol after

digitizing each tape. It definitely slowed my progress, but although at times it was frustrating,

I was able to play back these old audio tapes and save the content for future generations.

An Archive of My Own

From the University Archives

Berto Tarin Digital Preservation Specialist

Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library Newsletter

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Issue #34, Summer 2020

From the University Archives Preserving Our History

Western University of Health Sciences’ University Archives is collecting digital materials related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the university and students. We would like digital photographs that relate to the pandemic, journals, student club materials, links to social media posts, short audio and video diaries, anything showing how you assisted Western University of Health Sciences or the medical community during the pandemic, and other materials that document the current times in which we are living. As a reminder, we are looking specifically for digital materials.

To submit content, please email the University Archives at uarchives@westernu.edu and let us know what you would like to submit. At that point, we will provide submission instructions. Please help us to document the pandemic and its effect on the university for future generations of historians.

Donate to Our COVID-19 Historical Collection

Museum Updates WesternU’s History of Health Sciences Museum’s

next project was put on hold for the duration of

the campus closure. When we get back to

campus, we will begin to showcase our historical

items online. We still accept donations

representing medical history, but due to the

quarantine, please contact Mary Helen Ellis at

mellis@westernu.edu to discuss how to safely

donate items you find while working from home.

From our museum: Enamel sterilizer for small medical

instruments (5” x 8”). Donated by Ruth Gotsch, DO.

Save Your Books!

In lieu of our usual display for Preservation

Week, we would like you to know the best way

to sanitize your books. According to the

Northeast Document Conservation Center, you

should isolate them for the time that COVID-19

may be viable— 24 hours for all paper books

and 72 hours for plastic-covered books. All other

normal methods of sanitation would seriously

damage the books.

Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library Newsletter

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Issue #34, Summer 2020

Back In Time: The Library of the 80s

From the University Archives

The university library opened at its current location in 2001, but during the 1980s, it was located at the corner of Mall and Elm Street, where the bookstore remains until now. (This was the library’s second location; prior to this, it was housed in the Academic Center.)

At that time, the library’s founding director, Ursula Stevenson, was also the founding director of the bookstore, so both departments shared everything except the shelves—the director, staff, room, hours, and storage area —with no walls between them. Faculty and students could stand at the Circulation Desk and check books out, purchase books, or even order books that the store or library did not have.

A 1982 photograph shows students entering the library and an undated photograph offers a view of the library’s interior. The big stuffed chairs in the foreground have been reupholstered several times and remain popular as cozy study aids.

Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library Newsletter

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Issue #34, Summer 2020

ONE NIGHTSTAND But so many books! “Dark wings, dark words.”

-George R. R. Martin

Sometimes you just deal with difficult times by

leaning into the darkness and letting yourself

explore, in a safe place, all the things that could go

wrong and have gone wrong.

How are you coping? Are you embracing the

darkness or reveling in lighter fare? Are books your

distraction of choice or do you prefer movies,

podcasts, or crafts? Tell us all about it on Facebook

and Instagram!

Just months before his death on April 21, 2016, Prince began writing his memoir. This book includes images of those 50 handwritten pages, never before seen photos, and descriptions of his meetings for the book leading up to his death. A must read for any Prince fan.

-Ruth Harris

Part medical history, part chronicle of the

1918-1919 flu pandemic; John M. Barry’s

2005 book examines how various events

coincided around the pandemic and how

the United States government, the

military, and cities responded to the

deadly flu outbreak. It also tells the story

of the scientists who worked to find the

cause and develop a vaccine.

-Rob Strauss

Does the JFK assassination still fascinate you like it does me? If so, this book is for you! The theory posited in this book is based on ballistics and science, naming the assassin as someone other than Lee Harvey Oswald.

-Ruth Harris

A harrowing expose

of corruption within

the global generic

drug industry. Check

out the author’s talk

at the Ray

Symposium if you

missed it.

-Kelli Hines