New Health Sciences Librarian
Jose-Luis Quintero
University of Houston Libraries is pleased to welcome Jose-Luis Quintero as the new health sciences librarian supporting the Gessner College of Nursing and Graduate College of Social Work.
Please describe your role. How does your work align with the student success and research productivity focus of the University?
My role is centered on supporting student success and enhancing research productivity. I provide specialized research assistance, tailored library instruction, and access to relevant resources to help students and faculty excel in their academic and research endeavors.
My work directly contributes to the University’s mission by empowering students with the tools and skills they need to succeed academically and by supporting faculty in their research efforts, ultimately contributing to the advancement of knowledge in nursing and social work.
Please share a bit about your background and professional interests. How do these inspire and shape your approach as a librarian?
I hold a bachelor’s degree in history from University of Houston-Downtown and a Master of Library Science from Texas Woman’s University. My academic background in history has instilled in me a deep appreciation for research, critical analysis, and the importance of diverse perspectives. This foundation informs my approach as a librarian, where I emphasize the value of thorough research and evidence-based information.
Professionally, I am passionate about supporting students and faculty in their academic journeys, particularly in the health sciences. My interests lie in promoting information literacy, ensuring equitable access to resources, and fostering a supportive learning environment. These interests inspire me to be a proactive and engaged librarian, always seeking to empower others with the skills and resources they need to succeed academically and professionally. My approach is collaborative, student-centered, and focused on enhancing both educational and research outcomes in the fields of nursing and social work.
What are one or two things you’d like students and faculty to know about engaging with health sciences resources?
One of the key things I want students and faculty to know is the importance of utilizing evidence-based resources in their research and practice. Health sciences information is constantly evolving, and accessing reliable, up-to-date resources is crucial for making informed decisions, whether in academic work or clinical settings. I’m here to guide you through this process, helping you find and evaluate the best resources for your needs.
Additionally, I want to emphasize that the library offers a wealth of specialized tools and databases that can significantly enhance your research efficiency and depth. Whether you need assistance navigating complex databases, managing citations, or understanding systematic review methodologies, I’m available to provide support and training to ensure you can fully leverage these resources. Engaging with the library early and often can make a substantial difference in your academic and professional success.
MD Anderson Library Service Desk Hours
University of Houston Libraries welcomes new and returning Coogs for the start of a spirited fall 2024 semester. This academic year, effective Monday, August 19, MD Anderson Library will offer new Service Desk hours. The new schedule is:
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.
The new hours pertain only to the Service Desk on MD Anderson Library floor 1. Building hours will remain the same as in previous semesters.
During times when MD Anderson Library is open and the Service Desk is closed, Coogs have the following self-service options:
- Self-checkout machines on MD Anderson Library floor 1, located across from the Service Desk, enable users to check out books. The self-checkout machines require an active Cougar Card to borrow books.
- Group study rooms in the Red and Brown wings on floors 3, 4, and 5 are open on a first-come-first-served basis. No reservation or room keys are required to use these rooms during hours when the Service Desk is closed.
- Individual study carrels in the Blue wing on floors 3, 5, and 6 and in the Brown wing on floors 2 – 5 are open on a first-come-first-served basis. No reservation or carrel keys are required to use these carrels during hours when the Service Desk is closed.
- Printing, scanning, and copying options are available for those with active Cougar Cards.
Hours of operation for special libraries and service points are as follows:
Special Collections
Monday – Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Digital Research Commons
Monday: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday: 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Architecture, Design, and Art Library
*Re-opening on Monday, August 26* Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Health Sciences Library
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
Medical Library
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (staffed); the space is open 24 hours for medical students
Music Library
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Questions? Contact us.
Presentation: Nursing Care for Domestic Violence
The Health Sciences Library will host a presentation today at 5pm by Chanique Ecby, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, Clinical Assistant Professor, Gessner College of Nursing, on nursing care for domestic violence. The program is related to the National Library of Medicine (NLM) traveling exhibition, Confronting Violence: Improving Women’s Lives/Enfrentando La Violencia: mejorando la vida de las mujeres, on display at Health Sciences Library through December 4.
Abstract
Domestic violence continues to be a global issue. More than 61 million women and men have experienced some type of psychological aggression by a partner in their lifetime (CDC, 2022). Nurses play a vital role in assessing risk factors and providing care for individuals who may be in an unhealthy situation. Therefore, it is critical that nurses uphold the American Nurses Association code of ethics when these situations arise. During this presentation, we will explore the journey of a young woman as she navigates through these life changes and the impact a nurse had on the outcome.
Dr. Ecby graduated from University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from Prairie View A&M University and joined the Andy & Barbara Gessner College of Nursing as a Clinical Assistant Professor in 2022. Dr. Ecby holds clinical expertise in obstetrics, women’s and reproductive health, and sexually transmitted infections. Her research interests include women’s health promotion and reproductive health.
Rachel Helbing, EdD, AHIP, Head of Health Sciences Libraries, UH Libraries will give concluding remarks on NLM resources.
The Health Sciences Library is located inside the Health 2 Building, and the presentation will be in room 2217.
HSL Fall Webinars
The Health Sciences Libraries are providing a fall webinar series on searching the health literature. We hope you can join us on Teams for these sessions. They will also be recorded. You can visit the links below at the start of each session to join.
Thursday, September 7, 2023, 12 –1 pm
Searching the Health Literature 101: Recording
This session will provide an introduction to searching the health literature with tips, tricks, and best practices to make your searches more successful.
Rachel Helbing, Head of Health Sciences Libraries, will cover searching basics like choosing appropriate databases, using PICO to generate a list of keywords, constructing a strategy with Boolean operators, and more. Skills learned in this session will be applicable for searching a variety of biomedical and social sciences databases.
Thursday, October 5, 2023, 12 – 1 pm
PubMed 101: Recording
This session will provide an introduction to searching PubMed, the world’s premiere biomedical database which comprises more than 36 million citations.
Rachel Helbing, Head of Health Sciences Libraries, will cover PubMed basics like constructing a search, using MeSH and search filters, sorting and sharing results, and accessing full text. Skills learned in this session will help you get the most out of your PubMed searches.
Thursday, November 9, 2023, 12 – 1pm
Embase 101: Recording
This session will provide an introduction to searching Embase, a major biomedical and pharmaceutical database indexing over 8,200 journals, including 3,000 journals unique to Embase and journals from 95 countries.
Rachel Helbing, Head of Health Sciences Libraries, will cover Embase basics like constructing a search, using Emtree and search filters, sorting and sharing results, and accessing full text. Skills learned in this session will help you get the most out of your Embase searches.
StatPearls
Description: StatPearls provides exam review and self-testing resources. An individual StatPearls account is required.
Instructors need to contact your school’s library liaison to set up an account for student quizzes (slapka@central.uh.edu for medicine, rrhelbin@central.uh.edu for nursing and pharmacy).
Subscribed packages:
- Family Medicine (Board Review)
- Nursing School
- Pharmacy
- USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3
- EMS-EMT Basic
- Physician Assistant
- Radiology Technology
Access: You must register first through the UH Libraries registration portal using this link: UH Libraries Registration Portal.
Once you are registered, you can log in at the StatPearls website.
Information: Available on campus.
Available off campus with prior registration.
Access is provided through a UH Libraries subscription via a consortial agreement with other Texas libraries.
BoardVitals subscription ending August 31, 2023
- Nursing School Package
- Pharmacy Package
- Family Medicine
- USMLE Step 1, Step 2, Step 3
- Physician Assistant Package
- EMS-EMT Basic
- Radiology Technology
Important Change to EBSCO Content Links
An important change in access to EBSCO journal and database content has been activated, affecting direct links in syllabi, handouts, bookmarks, and other course materials.
Your saved links expire August 31, 2023. To ensure continued access, UH faculty are encouraged to immediately update any direct links in your materials (instructions below). This includes the affected databases, and any links or “permalinks” you may have used to access full text articles or journals that are provided through these EBSCO databases.
We regret the timing of this update, however EBSCO recently informed us that, due to a licensing change that goes into effect September 1, 2023, all of our links must be updated. Links are already updated on Libraries systems, including the website, subject and class guides, and course reserves. UH Libraries remains committed to ensuring continued access to this critical content and is working quickly to ensure seamless access through our systems for the beginning of the semester.
Update your saved links using the following steps below:
Update direct links to individual databases
Step 1: Access the Libraries’ A-Z databases list
Step 2: Find the database you intend to use and access from there
Update links for journals
Step 1: Access the Libraries’ Journal Title search
Step 2: Search for the journal title of interest
Step 3: Click on the Permalink button on the journal record, and copy the link
Update links for articles
Step 1: Access the article via the search box on the Libraries’ homepage
Step 2: Search for the article title of interest and select it
Step 3: Click on the Permalink button on the article record, and copy the link
Journals and articles may be available from multiple vendor platforms or providers. For example, a specific journal may be provided by EBSCO, ProQuest, etc.; you may have multiple options to link to when performing these searches.
While rare, certain kinds of hyperlinks (such as saved filtered searches) may need to be manually recreated to ensure correct link resolution, and these suggestions do not cover all hyperlinks that may be impacted. If you have any questions, please contact collections@uh.edu.
To avoid having to update links in the future, we recommend that you access databases via the Libraries’ A-Z databases list and include your article readings via course reserves.
We appreciate your understanding at this busy time in the year and we wish you a great start of the new semester.