The HSHSL building will be closed on Thursday, July 2, as the University of Maryland, Baltimore implements critical energy reduction measures in response to the extreme heat and the need to help prevent potential power outages.

While the library building will be closed, online library resources and services will remain available, including electronic journals, databases, ebooks, and other digital collections.

Please also note that the library will remain closed Friday, July 3 through Monday, July 6 for the Independence Day holiday. For details, see our previous blog post.

We appreciate your understanding and encourage everyone to stay safe during the extreme heat.

The HSHSL building will be closed Friday, July 3, through Monday, July 6, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

We will reopen with our regular summer hours on Tuesday, July 7.

While the building is closed, most library resources will remain available through the HSHSL website, including journals, databases, and research guides. If you have questions during the break, email hshsl@umaryland.edu and we will reply when the library reopens.

We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

Blog post researched and written by Summer 2026 Historical Collections Intern, Tessa Mills. Tessa, a graduate student at the University of Kentucky School of Information Services, worked virtually to complete a 140-hour for-credit internship in UMB’s Historical Collections. She worked with the Dental Illustration Collection to help clean up metadata and add alternative text descriptions to the images. 

Historical Context Note:

The Health Sciences and Human Services Library Historical Collections’ strives to provide broad access to our diverse collections both in person and digitally. Materials in our collections appear as they originally were published or created and may contain offensive or inappropriate language or images and may be offensive to users. The University of Maryland, Baltimore does not endorse the views expressed in these materials. Materials should be viewed in the context in which they were created.

Pulling Teeth: An Introduction

Long before modern anesthesia, advanced dental technology, or formal dental education, tooth extractions and other dental treatments were often painful affairs that inspired both anxiety and amusement. Historical artists captured these experiences through illustrations, caricatures, and satirical prints that reveal how dentistry was viewed by the public. Drawn from the UMB’s Dental Illustrations Collection in the Digital Archive, these images offer a glimpse into the history of dental care while highlighting the humor, fears, and cultural attitudes surrounding oral health.  

The dental practitioners depicted in many of these illustrations often bore little resemblance to modern dentists. Prior to the professionalization of dentistry in the nineteenth century, few individuals performing dental procedures received formal education or standardized training. Tooth extraction was frequently carried out by itinerant tooth pullers who traveled from town to town, advertising their services in marketplaces and public squares. Others who offered dental treatment included barbers, blacksmiths, apothecaries, and self-proclaimed medical experts whose qualifications were often questionable. Many would have been labeled “quacks,” a term used to describe individuals who claimed medical expertise without the knowledge or credentials to support it. For many of these practitioners, tooth pulling was as much a public spectacle as it was a dental service, with crowds gathering to watch demonstrations of speed, strength, and showmanship. Turning the patient’s pain into a show itself.  

Dentistry as Public Spectacle 

Before dentistry became a regulated profession practiced in private offices, tooth extraction was often a public event. Traveling practitioners and self-proclaimed specialists attracted customers by performing procedures in marketplaces, taverns, and other busy gathering places. Artists frequently portrayed these scenes as theatrical spectacles, emphasizing the crowds, dramatic gestures, and reactions of both patients and onlookers. These illustrations reveal how dental treatment occupied a unique space between healthcare, commerce, and entertainment.  

In these depictions, dentistry is a less controlled healthcare practice and more a performance shaped by audience engagement. The presence of spectators is not incidental; it is central. Crowds gather not only out of curiosity, but because the procedure itself became a form of entertainment, framed by exaggerated gestures and heightened emotion. The practitioner’s role extends beyond treatment into showmanship, where credibility is performed as much as it is practiced. In this sense, the visual language of these works reflects a culture in which medical authority was still being negotiated in public view.  

Rather than isolating the act of extraction, these illustrations situate it within social life. The boundary between observer and participant blurs, as the spectacle invites reaction, laughter, discomfort, fascination, or skepticism. Dentistry, in this context, exists within the same visual and cultured space as street performance and carnival tradition, where bodily vulnerability becomes part of a shared public experience.  

The illustrations demonstrate that dentistry was often viewed as more than a medical service. Whether presented by traveling tooth-pullers, carnival performers, or satirical artists, dental procedures became public spectacles that attracted curiosity, laughter, and sometimes skepticism. The crowds depicted in these scenes remind us that dental treatment was once a highly visible part of public life. However, as artists continued to portray dentists and their patients, many shifted their attention from public performance to humor and exaggerations, creating caricatures and cartoons. 

Caricature, Comedy, and the Theatrical Dentist 

While early dental imagery often hovers between documentation and spectacle, caricature pushes things further, turning dental work into something overly performative. In these images, the dentist is rarely neutral. Instead, they become exaggerated figures of authority: looming, overly focused, and sometimes almost absurd in their intensity.  

Patients in contrast, are frequently stripped of dignity in the name of humor. Open mouths, contorted bodies, and dramatic facial expressions transform routine procedures into visual punchlines. Pain is not hidden here, it is stylized. The result is a strange tension: suffering reframed as comedy.  

What makes these illustrations especially interesting is how they borrow from theatrical traditions. The dental chair becomes a stage, and every gesture is amplified as if the scene were meant for an audience. Assistants hover like supporting actors, tools become props, and even the simplest extraction is treated like a climactic moment.  

In many caricatures, dentistry is also tied to social commentary, reflecting broader anxieties about medical authority and trust. Meanwhile, patients are often exaggerated into recognizable “types,” reinforcing class-based humor and stereotypes that are common in satirical print culture.  

Despite their humor, these images are doing more than making jokes. They expose how dentistry was perceived: invasive, theatrical, and deeply personal. The mouth becomes both a site of vulnerability and spectacle, and caricature thrives in that contradiction.

The Mechanics of Pain: Extractions Scenes and Dental Instruments 

If earlier illustrations lean into spectacle and satire, this section pulls us closer to the clinical sore of dentistry in pre-modern imagination: the act of extraction itself. Here, the dentist (barber-surgeon, or traveling “tooth-puller”) is no longer just a comedic figure or carnival performer, but someone engaged in a physically intimate and often brutal procedure.  

Across these images, the focus shifts sharply to the moment of removal, the body held in place, the mouth open, and the tool taking center stage. In works like L’arracheur de dents 3  (Shown in this post), the extraction is not abstracted or softened, and the practitioner leans in with almost exaggerated concentration. The composition emphasizes force, leverage, and proximity, making the viewer acutely aware of the imbalance of control in the scene.  

The tools themselves become characters in their own right. Dental forceps, pelicans, and early extraction instruments are often rendered with careful attention, sometimes even more precisely than the human figures using them. This reflects both fascination and anxiety; these implements are extensions of authority, but also of violence. In many illustrations, they are oversized or sharply silhouetted, almost symbolic, as if to ensure the viewer understands their purpose even without medical context.  

What’s especially striking is how often these scenes blur the line between documentation and drama. While they appear to depict real procedures, they are also composed for impact: the angle of the patient’s head, the dramatized strain in the dentist’s posture, and the surrounding onlookers reacting in horror or curiosity. The extraction becomes a kind of public event rather than a private medical act, reinforcing how dentistry was historically performed in semi-public spaces like fairs, streets, or taverns.  

In this way, the illustrations don’t just record medical practice; they stage it. Pain is not hidden but made central, almost instructional; within these images pain is purpose. The viewer is invited to witness both the necessity and the spectacle of extraction, suspended between education and unease.  

Between Medicine, Performance, and History

Looking across these dental illustrations, what emerges is not a single story about dentistry, but a layered one. These images move fluidly between humor and horror, spectacle and documentation, public entertainment and private suffering. A tooth extraction was never just a medical procedure; it became a performance, a social event, and at times, a form of satire aimed at both practitioner and patient.

What makes these works so compelling today is not just their historical value, but their emotional range. They capture a time when dentistry existed at the edges of medicine and theater, where pain was openly visible and often shared by an audience. Even the most exaggerated comedic scenes carry an undercurrent of vulnerability, reminding us that the mouth, so central to speech, expression, and identity, was also a site of fear and loss.

In revisiting these illustrations, we’re not just looking at the history of dental practice, we are also seeing how people once visualized pain, authority, and the body itself. And perhaps, that‘s why they still hold our attention; they sit in that uneasy space between fascination and discomfort, where art and medicine overlap most vividly.

History, in this case, becomes a kind of visual record that paints a picture of how medicine once was, even when it feels distant or no longer relevant to modern practice. These images offer a glimpse into a world where medical knowledge, public performance, and cultural imagination were deeply intertwined, reminding us just how far dentistry and medicine have evolved over time.  

The full Dentistry Illustrations Collection can be found in the University of Maryland Baltimore’s HSHSL Digital Archive. Questions about this collection can be directed to the Historical Collections Librarian, Tara Wink.

Each year from Juneteenth (June 19) through Independence Day (July 4), Civic Season invites us to reflect on the American story (including its histories, tensions, and possibilities) and consider our role in shaping what comes next.

At HSHSL, we’re supporting Civic Season by sharing a curated streaming playlist of films and documentaries available through Academic Video Online (AVON).

🎆 Explore our Civic Season playlist here

This playlist includes a range of powerful works, including:

• Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom
• Ken Burns’s The American Revolution
• Making Black America
• American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos

These films and docuseries explore themes of freedom, civic identity, social justice, and the diverse experiences that shape the American narrative.

All titles in this playlist are available to UMB students, faculty, and staff through HSHSL’s subscription to AVON. Here’s how you can watch:

• Stream films directly in your browser
• Log in with your UMB credentials if prompted (especially off campus)
• Use for personal learning, teaching, or group discussion

We invite you to explore the playlist and reflect on how these stories inform our understanding of civic life, both past and present.

Did you know the HSHSL offers tools and services to support every stage of the grant lifecycle? From identifying funding opportunities with the Pivot-RP database to strengthening proposals through expert literature searches and comprehensive evidence synthesis, our services are designed to enhance the quality and impact of your work.

We also provide guidance on data management and sharing plans, create clear and compelling data visualizations, and advise on publishing strategies. In addition, our librarians bring a wide range of expertise and can serve as active collaborators on research projects.

Whether you are preparing your first application or advancing an established research program, the library is your partner in building stronger, more competitive grants. For more information, visit our new Grant Support page.

The HSHSL building will be closed on Friday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. We honor this important day and recognize its significance in our nation’s history.

Summer hours will resume on Saturday, June 20.

Our first-floor recarpeting project is taking a little longer than expected, and we appreciate your continued patience as we finish the work.

The library’s temporary 8 a.m. opening time and first-floor closure will remain in effect through Friday, June 26.

All other temporary service locations remain the same:
• Information Services and poster printing: Second floor
• Public computers and printing: Floors 2 and 4
• Study space and seating: Upper floors

The good news? The refreshed space is already getting compliments, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back once the finishing touches are complete.

Thank you for your flexibility while we complete this final stretch.

On Friday, June 12, the HSHSL building will be placed on card reader access due to the Board of Regents meeting.

This temporary change in access will help ensure the safety and security of HSHSL employees, building tenants and library users during the event. Please make sure to have your UMID with you.

As a reminder, do not prop doors open or allow unauthorized persons to enter behind you. If you need assistance, please contact UMB Police and Public Safety at 410-706-6882 (non-emergency) or 410-706-3333 (emergency).

“Outside/Inside: Immigration, Migration, and Health Care in the United States” is a travelling exhibit by the National Library of Medicine (NLM). It explores the history of immigrant and migrant health care over the last 130 years, highlighting struggles for health equity, medical stigmatization, and the social reforms led by immigrant communities. The Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) will host the NLM exhibit June 17 – July 11, 2026.

The NIH has introduced a new, streamlined format for Data Management and Sharing Plans, effective for applications submitted on or after May 25, 2026. Updated guidance is available on the HSHSL website and in DMPTool (log in with your UMID). 

Request a consult with a librarian to review plans, help you choose a repository, or answer questions related to data management and sharing.  

The HSHSL sends its heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class of 2026! As you prepare to take on new challenges, we want to remind you of the support and resources available to you beyond graduation.

• Paid Journals and Databases: Alumni can access HSHSL’s electronic resources off campus for 4 months after graduation. After that time, alumni are still welcome to visit the Library to use the resources onsite.
• Free Journals and Databases: Once your electronic access expires, you will still have access to public databases for literature, drug information, and more. We have compiled a selection of these resources on our Open Access Resources for Health Sciences Research and Practice guide. Additionally, be sure to investigate what resources you have through your new workplace and any professional organizations of which you are a member.

The HSHSL wishes you all the best in your future endeavors! Please contact the Information Services Desk if you have any questions.

The HSHSL building will be closed Saturday, May 23, through Monday, May 25, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.

We will reopen with our regular summer hours on Tuesday, May 26.

While the building is closed, most library resources will remain available through the HSHSL website, including journals, databases and research guides. If you have questions during the break, email hshsl@umaryland.edu and we will reply when the library reopens.

Please note that downtown Baltimore may be especially busy this weekend due to Artscape events taking place Saturday and Sunday.

We wish everyone a safe and peaceful holiday weekend.

This edition of HSHSL’s “Connective Issues” newsletter includes a farewell message from Dean Emily J. Hurst as she prepares to pursue new opportunities beyond HSHSL. You’ll also find updates on first-floor recarpeting and fifth-floor weeding efforts, news about our new oral history grant, and practical advice for recent graduates.

Read the latest issue for more news and updates from across the library.

The HSHSL will begin a major first-floor recarpeting project on May 18. Work is expected to continue through June 15.

To prepare for construction, some first-floor services and amenities will begin relocating starting Thursday, May 14. During this transition period, the first floor will remain open, but visitors may notice temporary service changes as equipment and services move to other areas of the building.

Beginning May 18, the entire first floor will be closed to the public as carpeting is replaced in phases, starting in staff spaces and moving toward the library entrance.

How this may affect you

Library services

• From May 18 to June 15, the library building will open at 8 a.m. Early morning access through the Campus Center between 6 and 8 a.m. will be unavailable during the project.
• The Information Services desk will temporarily move to Room 201C on the second floor, directly above its usual location. Visitors may use the stairs or elevator to reach staff.
• Poster printing services will continue from the temporary second-floor location.

Spaces and amenities

• Printing and public computers are available on floors 2 and 4.
• Seating and study space will be available on our upper floors.
• Restrooms will remain open on all other floors, and a gender-neutral restroom is available in the Campus Center.
• A clearly marked, accessible path from the building entrance to elevators and stairwells will remain open throughout the project.

Plan ahead

Directional signage will be posted throughout the building, and library staff will be available to help.

We appreciate your flexibility while we refresh the first floor and look forward to welcoming you back into the updated space soon.

Graduating this semester? Looking for a fun way to mark the occasion? Stop by the HSHSL’s Weise Gallery and take a photo at our Graduation Photo Wall, now up and ready for you.

The backdrop features UMB colors, sparkling fringe curtains, and a large “Grad 2026” sign to help celebrate your accomplishment.

Whether you stop by in your cap and gown or between study sessions, we invite you to capture the moment. Stop by the graduation photo wall and celebrate your accomplishment. 🎓✨ #SnapAtHSHSL

Please note:
Outside photographers who are not affiliated with UMB may not enter the library for photo sessions without prior approval.

To request access for a non-UMB photographer, please contact us in advance at hshsl@umaryland.edu.

The Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) has released the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report (PDF), highlighting a year of growth, collaboration and expanded support for the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community.

The report showcases key accomplishments across the library, including increased use of library spaces, growth in research and reference support, and continued investments in improving the library environment and user experience. It also highlights partnerships, programs and collections that support education, research and clinical practice across UMB.

Together, these efforts reflect HSHSL’s ongoing commitment to advancing access to information, supporting scholarship and creating welcoming, effective spaces for learning and collaboration.

Read the full report to explore stories, data and highlights from the past year.

Mother’s Day, graduation, and Father’s Day are right around the corner. Consider giving your favorite people flowers that will last.

The HSHSL offers a four-pack of high-quality botanical stickers for $5, available through the HSHSL Online Store. Orders must be picked up at the library. Shipping is not available.

The Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL) has added a new feature to support equitable access to library resources for the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) community, advancing its broader commitment to inclusive, accessible services.

Beginning this week, UMB users submitting interlibrary loan (ILL) requests for journal articles and book chapters will see a new option on the request form. This option allows users to indicate whether they need materials in an accessible format.

The feature makes it easier for students, faculty and staff to request accessibility accommodations. When selected, the request moves through a dedicated workflow so staff can review and address accessibility needs as part of the ILL process.

HSHSL staff remain available to assist with questions or additional support needs. For help with interlibrary loan services or accessibility support, contact HSHSL Resource Sharing or visit the interlibrary loan page for more information.

Need a quick study tool or device accessory? The HSHSL offers a range of items to help you stay focused, organized and connected. Whether you are settling in for a long study session or just need a quick fix, these tools are easy to access and ready when you are.

Self-Serve Items

Pick these up from the bins at the front desk to use in the HSHSL. No checkout needed.

Study Tools

• Whiteboards
• Laptop stands
• Keyboards
• Computer mice

Focus Essentials

• Headphones
• Earplugs

Items Available at the Desk

Staff will check these out for you.

Study Tools

• Dry Erase Markers
• Erasers

Stay Powered Up and Connected

• Common charging and display cables (USB-C, HDMI, Lightning, Mini DisplayPort)
• Portable DVD drive
• External floppy disk drive

Accessibility Items

• Wireless ergonomic mice
• Large-print, backlit keyboard
• LED magnifier
• Ergonomic laptop stands

Need Something Else?

Just ask. We are here to help you find what you need to work comfortably and effectively.

The HSHSL has renewed access to JoVE, a video-based resource that brings research and clinical techniques to life.

JoVE features short, peer-reviewed videos that demonstrate laboratory methods, clinical skills, and research processes step by step. It is a helpful tool for anyone who learns best by seeing how something is done.

With JoVE, you can:

• Watch lab techniques before class or while preparing for assignments
• Review clinical skills and procedures
• Better understand methods described in research articles
• Learn at your own pace, anytime, on or off campus

Whether you are new to a technique or want a refresher, JoVE offers a clear, visual way to build confidence and understanding.

Access JoVE through the HSHSL.

The connecting door between the library and the Campus Center is temporarily closed following a sprinkler incident in the Campus Center.

For safety reasons, this entrance is not currently accessible, including for card access.

What this means

• Please do not use the connecting door
• To reach the Campus Center or parking garages, use the library’s front entrance doors

Early access Tuesday, April 14

• The HSHSL’s front doors will open at 6 a.m. with a security guard present
• Library services will begin at 8 a.m. as usual
• Visitors with proper ID may enter after 8 a.m.

We will share updates as soon as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience.

Two reasons to stop by the SMC Campus Center next Tuesday:

The campus Office of Communication and Public Affairs will be filming for this year’s graduation video, and the Campus Wellness Fair will be happening at the same time.

Tuesday, April 14
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
SMC Campus Center, First Floor (Fireplace Lounge)

Graduating students are invited to take part in the video, which will be shown at commencement, featured on UMB social media, and included in President Bruce Jarrell’s graduation message.

While you’re there, stop by the HSHSL table at the Wellness Fair. We’ll have swag and ideas for supporting your well-being, including quiet spaces, leisure reading, and movement-friendly workstations.

Whether you’re celebrating, taking a break, or just passing through, we hope to see you there.

The HSHSL, in partnership with the University Student Government Association (USGA), is pleased to announce the availability of free period products for students at the HSHSL.

Funding for this initiative is shared between HSHSL and USGA, reflecting a collaborative commitment to advancing student wellness and campus inclusion. Beginning this month, period products will be available at no cost in the following locations:

• First floor women’s restroom
• First floor all-gender restroom
• Fifth floor women’s restroom

The initiative was developed through conversations and a commitment between student leaders and HSHSL administration to address a basic need that directly impacts student success. By removing financial and access barriers to essential products, HSHSL and USGA aim to foster a more inclusive and supportive campus environment.

HSHSL and USGA are proud to collaborate on initiatives that advance access, wellness, and student-centered support across UMB.

Blog post researched and written by Spring 2026 University of Kentucky School of Information Sciences Alternative Spring Break Intern, Tessa Mills. During her week-long internship, Tessa worked with the 1843 volume of the Early School of Medicine Dissertation adding metadata to an internal spreadsheet which will be made accessible for users to more easily use the collection online. 

Historical Context Note:

The Health Sciences and Human Services Library Historical Collections’ strives to provide broad access to our diverse collections both in person and digitally. Materials in our collections appear as they originally were published or created and may contain offensive or inappropriate language or images and may be offensive to users. The University of Maryland, Baltimore does not endorse the views expressed in these materials. Materials should be viewed in the context in which they were created.

Rediscovering an 1843 Thesis on Scurvy:

The dangers of nineteenth-century sea travel extended far beyond storms and shipwrecks. For many sailors, the greatest threat was disease, particularly scurvy, a condition that could quietly devastate crews during long voyages. Weakness, bleeding gums, and eventual death were all too common abroad ships that lacked access to fresh food. Although widely recognized, the causes of scurvy were still debated well into the mid-1800s, making it a subject of ongoing medical inquiry.

One such inquiry can be found in the 1843 medical dissertation collection held by the University of Maryland, Baltimore. This volume, now digitized and available through the Health Sciences and Human Services Library (HSHSL), contains a range of student theses reflecting the medical knowledge and concerns of the time. Among them is a dissertation titled Scurvy, written by Augustus J. Bowie.

Augustus Jesse Bowie (1815-1887) received his medical degree from the University of Maryland in 1843. At the time of his dissertation, he was already serving as an Assistant Surgeon in the United States Navy, an experience that likely shaped his interest in diseases associated with maritime life. Naval surgeons occupied a critical role in the nineteenth century, observing and treating illnesses under challenging conditions, often far from established medical institutions. For Bowie, Scurvy would not have been an abstract topic, but a very real threat encountered in the course of his service.

Bowie’s dissertation reflects a moment in medical history when scurvy was well known but not yet fully understood. While the effectiveness of citrus fruits in preventing the disease had been observed decades earlier, the underlying cause (vitamin C deficiency) would not be identified until much later. In the early nineteenth century, physicians still debated competing theories, attributing scurvy to environmental conditions, diet, or imbalances within the body. Treatments varied widely, and medical consensus remained elusive.

The inclusion of Bowie’s work in the 1843 dissertation collection offer valuable insight into how emerging physicians engaged with these uncertainties. His thesis represents not only a requirement for earning a medical degree, but also a contribution to a broader effort to understand and manage a persistent and deadly condition. 

Following his early career in the Navy, Bowie later settled in San Francisco, where he became an established and respected physician. His professional contributions were significant enough to be recognized in a published memorial after his death, indicating the lasting impact of his medical career. Seen in this light, his dissertation on scurvy marks the beginning of a lifetime dedicated to the practice of medicine.

Today, the digitization of these early dissertations allows researchers, students, and the public to revisit these historical perspectives. What was once a bound volume accessible only in person is now searchable and available online, opening new opportunities for discovery and interpretation. Bowie’s thesis, like many others in the collection, serves as a reminder that medical knowledge is continually evolving; shaped by observation, experience, and the gradual accumulation of understanding.

By preserving and sharing these works, the HSHSL digital collections not only safeguard the past but also invite new conversations about the history of medicine and the individuals who contributed to it.

Check out more historical resources and UMB research go to the UMB Digital archive.

References: 

• Bowie, Augustus J. (1843). University of Maryland Medical Dissertation. p. 483. HSHSL Digital Archive. https://archive.org/details/universityofmary43unse/page/n481/mode/2up
• Health Science and Human Services Library. “Dissertations, 1843 Collection.” University of Maryland, Baltimore. https://archive.hshsl.umaryland.edu/collections/24a5243d-830d-4939-a929-90425ad3309b
• National Library of Medicine. Dr. Augustus J. Bowie: In Memoriam. NLM Unique ID:101728202. https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/catalog/nlm:nlmuid-101728202-bk
• Carpenter, Kenneth J. (2004). “The History of Scurvy and Vitamin C.” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC535077/
• Alan, Robert. (1959). “James Lind–Conqueror of Scruvy.” Parke, Davis & Company. Wiki Commons.  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:James_Lind-conqueror_of_scurvy.jpg 

Our April Hidden Sasquatch Hunt wrapped up faster than we expected. All three Bigfoots were found within two days!

Thank you to everyone who joined the hunt. We loved seeing how quickly the clues were solved and how much enthusiasm this brought to the library.

Congratulations to our winners who each took home their very own Sasquatch.

Still want to solve the clues? You can follow the trail to each original hiding spot, now marked to reveal where the Sasquatches were discovered.

The HSHSL building will be closed on Sunday, April 5, for the Easter holiday.

While our physical spaces will be unavailable, you can still access databases, journals, and guides through the library website.

Over the coming weeks, the HSHSL team will be conducting a weeding and shifting project on the fifth floor. This work is part of our ongoing effort to refresh the physical collection, ensure materials remain relevant, and make it easier for users to navigate the stacks.

During this project, HSHSL librarians will carefully review and remove materials that are no longer a good fit (literally and metaphorically). As space is freed, remaining books will be shifted and redistributed to create space and improve browsing. For a temporary period, shelves may look unusual: some sections may appear partially empty or in transition while this work is underway. While it may be tempting to “spruce up” the shelves when you pass them, please leave everything as-is to allow the weeding team to properly assess the available space. 

Access to materials will remain available throughout the project. If you have trouble locating an item or need assistance, members of the HSHSL team are always happy to help at the service desk. 

Weeding teams will be mindful of noise as the fifth floor is a quiet space, but please be patient as some conversation is necessary for this project. If you have noise concerns, please stop by the Information Services desk for earplugs or headphones. Or try the third or fourth floors while teams are working on this project.  

Thank you for your patience as we work to improve the fifth-floor stacks and create a more usable, welcoming collection for our community.

The March issue of Connective Issues is now available, featuring news and updates from across the library. In this edition, Dean Hurst shares the completed 2025 annual report, highlights progress toward compliance with Title II of the ADA, and previews upcoming improvements to the first floor. You’ll also find information about an NNLM Region 1 training opportunity, a new partnership with USGA to provide free period products, and a look at the latest exhibit in the gallery.