Policies
Policies
Policies govern many aspects of how the Health Sciences Library provides services. All of our policies are reviewed by the Health Sciences Library Executive Team.
We are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all library visitor data in compliance with federal and state laws, university policy, and professional standards (e.g., guidelines established by the American Library Association).
Library data is considered an institutional asset and may be accessed and used only by authorized university entities according to procedures identified by the university. No person or entity may access library data, except through strict policy and processes established by the university and in compliance with Ohio law.
Policy Details
The library strives to provide a safe and inviting environment for every library visitor. Please help us by refraining from behavior that disrupts others who are using the library.
Behaviors that interfere with the rights of others include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
- Profane, obscene or abusive language; racial, ethnic or sexual epithets
- Viewing pornography
- Harassing library staff — deliberate repeated behavior that is intimidating, hostile or offensive, or adversely impacts staff work performance
- Intentionally damaging, destroying or stealing any property belonging to the library, another library visitor or library staff
- Use of the internet for unlawful purposes as defined by federal, state and local laws
- Unreasonable noise including: loud talking, singing, boisterous activity; cell phone or audiovisual equipment usage
- Lying down on any floor or furniture in the library
- Distributing and/or posting any materials (including flyers and advertisements) in library spaces, regardless of their content
- Abuse or improper use of furniture, equipment or materials
- Monopolizing or obstructing space, seating, tables or equipment to the exclusion of others; personal belongings left unattended for extended periods in library spaces may be removed by library staff
- Trespassing, violating an eviction or entering upon banned library property
- Fighting, challenging someone to fight, physical abuse or assault
- Being under the influence of, possessing or distributing alcohol or illegal drugs
- Improper dress — lacking a shirt, shoes or other articles of clothing
- Loitering
- Vandalizing facilities or equipment
- Engaging in or soliciting a sexual act; indecent exposure
- Roller skating, roller blading, ball playing, skateboarding or cycling in the library
- Bringing in non-motorized devices such as skateboards and foldable scooters, unless stored safely out of walkways and shared spaces
- Bringing large, motorized or battery-operated vehicles into the library (including but not limited to bicycles, e-scooters and hoverboards) except for mobility devices assisting individuals with disabilities
- Bringing animals, other than service animals, into the library
- Use of tobacco products
- Strong scents or odors
- Possessing weapons or other items deemed dangerous by library staff, including violation of the posted concealed weapons prohibition
- Gambling, panhandling, soliciting money or any activity for personal profit
- Other acts that could be disruptive or harmful to library visitors and staff
Library employees have the authority to bring inappropriate behavior, as defined by these and other rules, to the attention of the individual demonstrating such behavior. If that person will not alter his or her behavior, that individual will be asked to leave library property. Failure to leave if asked will result in the police being called and a possible charge of criminal trespass per section 2911.21 of Ohio Revised Code. Multiple incident reports and/or an arrest on the property will result in a lifetime ban from the Health Sciences Library.
The Health Sciences Library has bones and models on reserve for student use for two-hour checkout periods, on a first-come, first-serve basis, and must stay in the library. Students studying in the library have priority use of the Health Sciences Library’s bones and models at all times. Requests for bones and models for use outside the library must be submitted to the Public Services manager or reserve library associate. The following guidelines must be met for approval:
- Must be a current Ohio State student, faculty, and/or staff to place requests for bone and/or model for outside library use. Any bones and/or models approved for outside use will be checked out on the requestor’s library record and assumes all responsibility for library materials during the time of checkout.
- Must be for an educational purpose or event and not for personal use.
- Must place a request through our Request to Use Bones and Models Outside the Library Form, Monday through Friday, at least 3 days prior to the date of needed use. Communicated approval from the Public Services Manager and/or Reserve Library Associate is required before any materials are lent out for outside library use.
- May borrow a maximum of 3 bones and/or models at one time.
- The library has the discretion not to approve requests when the above guidelines are not met or during times of high demand (exams, assignments, etc).
- The maximum checkout period for materials used outside the library is 24 hours. Materials must be checked out and returned to the Health Sciences Public Services desk during normal library operating hours after use. DO NOT USE THE BOOK DROP. The requestor will be responsible for any materials returned late and/or damaged. Late fines and replacement fines are as follows:
Fines for reserve items are:
$5.00 for each hour late (maximum $100)
Fees for replacement models, bones, or parts are assessed at current market value on a case-by-case basis.
Questions? Reach out to:
Katherine Hoffman
Public Services Manager
katherine.hoffman@osumc.edu
(614) 292-4861
Prior Hall 112
The Course Reserve system allows for the borrowing and lending of required and requested OSU course materials. Instructors may request their course materials be added to our Reserve collection through our Course Reserve Request Form. The Health Sciences Library Course Reserve collection typically accepts course material for the health science colleges.
Email the HSL to Request a Course Reserve
- Materials added to our Course Reserve collection can be sourced from:
- OSU’s Library Collection (excluding items in special collections)
- Owned by the instructor or department-owned by the instructor’s department.
- Instructor-owned and department materials will be marked with a semi-permanent barcode and other library markings in order to be processed for student borrowing.
- Instructor-owned and department materials damaged or lost will not be replaced by the library.
- Course materials are limited to 2 copies per material per course.
- Course materials that can be accepted are limited to:
- Books
- Journals
- Media (DVD’s, CD’s, etc)
- Kits/models/etc.
- Other
- All materials MUST have the following:
- Copyright information
- Appropriate citations and attributions to the source
- The following items are restricted from our collection:
- Materials with no copyright information (duplications, reproductions, etc.)
- Electronic versions of course materials. Information on how to add these materials to your Carmen course is available.
- Materials owned by OhioLINK, SearchOhio, Interlibrary Loan (ILL), or OSU’s special collections
- The Instructor must ensure that permission to use material has been obtained from the copyright owner or that the use falls under an educational or fair use exception to the copyright law.
- Copyright permission must be obtained each term for materials that will be used repeatedly by the same instructor for the same class.
- Materials sourced from OSU’s Library Collection follows copyright rules as well as Instructor or Department materials that have copyright use information.
- Requests may be submitted anytime; however, materials must be placed on reserve at a minimum until the end of a semester, term or class.
- Processing new additions to our Course Reserves is dependent on a few factors, but generally items, once received by our library, typically take one week to be available for student borrowing.
- By default, most items are given the loan period of a 2 hour checkout. However, the instructor has the option to set the loan period for their materials based on their course and class size. Available loan periods:
- 2 hour
- 1 day
- 1 week
- 3 weeks
- Instructors will be contacted by the library before the end of the current semester, term, or class for removal or extension of materials to the next semester, term or class. All materials not used for the next semester, term or class will be removed and returned.
- Any personal or department-owned materials will be returned to the owning professor or department at the end of the semester, term or class unless used for the next semester, term or class.
- Instructors have the option to pick up their materials from the library after this time or request it be sent via campus mail to their campus office once that material is removed from our Course Reserve collection.
The Health Sciences Library strives to accommodate the needs of library customers while maintaining a clean, pest-free environment, preserving collections and equipment, and sustaining an atmosphere conducive to study and research.
The Health Sciences Library requires customers to practice basic courtesies and suggests the following guidelines:
- Snacks and drinks are permitted at study tables, but are prohibited near any equipment - computers, copiers, printers, etc.
- Beverages are permitted in covered, preferably spill-resistant containers.
- Be considerate of others and avoid messy or smelly foods. Hot foods/fast foods are discouraged.
- “Group/party foods” are inappropriate in the library (pizzas, cakes, etc.)
- Food deliveries will be turned away.
- Properly dispose of leftovers, empty containers and wrappers
This policy is currently under review and will be published when finalized.
Prior Hall offers wireless access and power ports at several locations for library customers to use with personal devices. Guest wireless is unsecured and governed by OSU's Policy on Responsible Use of University Computing and Network Resources.
Notes:
- The Medical Center's guest wireless service should be treated as an unsecure network. Information being transmitted could potentially be intercepted by another wireless user so avoid transmitting personal information (credit card numbers, passwords and any other sensitive information). Please take appropriate precautions when using this service.
- The library cannot guarantee that your computing device will work with the library's wireless system.
- All wireless access users should have up-to-date virus protection on their devices.
- The library is not responsible for any information (e.g., credit card number) that is compromised, or for the theft of equipment left unattended.
- The library is not responsible for any damage caused to your hardware or software due to electric surges, security issues or consequences caused by viruses or hacking.
- Wireless printing is available to students/faculty/staff using the campus Follow Me Printing service.
I. Introduction/History
The Medical Heritage Center opened May 1, 1997, shortly after the library moved back to its newly renovated building in October 1996. The MHC began through a generous seed grant of $300,000 from the Academy of Medicine of Columbus and Franklin County Foundation (now the Columbus Medical Association Foundation). OSU University Hospitals contributed $250,000 to complete the physical layout of the floor. In 1998 the Columbus Medical Association awarded the MHC a grant for $50,000 to complete the furnishings of the floor.
The MHC is located on the fifth floor of Prior Hall and is the Health Sciences Library's medical history special collections. The collection consists of rare books, archives/manuscripts, artwork, textiles and medical artifacts.
Sarah J. Coleman orchestrated the first special book and journal collection on November 15, 1913 by donating her late husband’s collection of 538 volumes and $500. In 1922 Marietta Comly, Sarah’s sister, contributed $500. Ms. Comly added another $1500 in 1933 to create the Nathaniel R. Coleman Endowment of $2500.
The original book collection has expanded to encompass books and journals from Willoughby Medical College (1847-48); Starling Medical College/St. Francis Hospital (1848-1907); Ohio Medical University (1892-1907); Columbus Medical College (1876- 1892); and the College of Homeopathic Medicine (1914-1922). Medical items transferred from the Columbus Public Library (a Columbus Medical Association grant supported collection) in 1959 also added several items to the rare books collection. On permanent loan are materials from the Dr. John Harris Dental Museum Foundation in Bainbridge, Ohio. This is an important collection of dental books and journals. In 1987, the Lionel Topaz Memorial Optometry Library was absorbed into the library collection. Dr. Richard Hall and Dr. Charles Sheard’s materials of rare optometry items were added to the rare collection. Several items also came from the Ohio State Dental Association and the Columbus Dental Society. A collection of materials from the Red Cross Library was given to the Medical Library sometime in the 1950s. Many of the items mentioned were eventually housed in Ohio State Library’s stack areas.
The medical artifact collection began during the Ohio State Medical Center’s Centennial Celebration in 1934. The Medical Archives Committee, at that time, collected items from individual donors that included bloodletting instruments, probes, medical bags, bedpans, Civil War surgical sets, etc. Many of these items are still in the collection.
Several unique collections are Dr. George Kahn’s set of rare medical coins donated to the library in 1975. A second set of medical coins was donated in 1990 from an unknown source. A set of 11 moulages (wax figurines) was donated to the library in 1986 by the Department of Dermatology. These models were made from 1876 to1893 in Sonneburg, Germany.
Various manuscript and archival collections have been added to the collection since 1997. Most of the collections are of prominent individuals who worked in the health sciences area or materials collected by an individual about areas within the health sciences. Some of the manuscript collections are from local physicians.
II. Mission
The mission statement:
The Medical Heritage Center preserves, promotes, teaches and celebrates the health care legacy of central Ohio as the essential foundation from which the future of the health sciences is born. (Adopted 2011)
With this in mind, the MHC collection will be developed by:
- Appraising, collecting, organizing, describing, preserving and making available materials of the central Ohio health sciences community of historical value.
- Providing facilities for the retention, preservation, servicing, and research use of the collection.
- Serving as a research center for the study of central Ohio’s health sciences history, and the history of the Ohio State Medical Center.
- Promoting the knowledge and understanding of the origins, programs and goals of the community and their development.
- Working closely with the collections development librarian of the Health Sciences Library. Whereas the collection focus of the Health Sciences Library is on the most current literature, the Medical Heritage Center’s scope is to collect volumes that are an integral part of the historic development of the health sciences in central Ohio and the world as a whole.
- Cooperating with institutions with similar collection areas such as the OSU Archives and the Dittrick Medical History Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
III. Clientele
Primary clientele includes members of the central Ohio health sciences community, current and former health sciences students, genealogists, health sciences historians, and the patrons of the Health Sciences Library. This would include members of the general public who seek historical health information through all means of communication (e.g. email, letters, phone, and website).
IV. Collections
All items in the Medical Heritage Center collections are non-circulating.
A. Books and Historical Reference Materials
Approximately 20,000 books and journals are currently housed in LC call number order in a temperature/humidity-controlled environment which is designed to house a total of 26,000 volumes. Almost all subject areas of health sciences are represented. The Medical Heritage Center’s primary collection years range from 1555 to 1980, however, more current rare publications may be considered for addition to the collection. A large majority of the collection’s materials are in English; however, texts of note in Latin, German, and other foreign languages are also represented.
The Medical Heritage Center also houses a historical reference collection in its reading room. These reference materials are not rare, yet contain information that is of interest to those pursuing historical study. Examples of materials included within this collection include directories, statistical sources, and health sciences history textbooks, encyclopedias, and dictionaries.
Two vertical file cabinets are also maintained in the reading room. One file cabinet contains biographical information. The collection is arranged by last name comma first name. Referrals to other resources are included in each file when possible. The second file cabinet houses general information about the Ohio State Medical Center, including building information, artwork, and medical firsts, information about the history of area hospitals, health organizations and historically significant locations are also maintained. The collection is produced based on demand or popularity of a particular subject.
B. Archives and Manuscripts
There are over 1,700 linear feet of archival collections. Finding aids are provided in paper and electronic format. The collections are housed in the order they are received, and assigned a number based on their processing year. These collections are located on archival shelving in a temperature/humidity-controlled environment.
Artwork and architectural drawings are only accepted if space and funding is available to support the care and maintenance of this type of collection. Acceptance is on a case- by-case basis.
C. Artifacts/Textiles
There are over 5,000 artifacts which are catalogued using PastPerfect, a collection management software. Items are housed in archival cabinets or shelving. When possible, items are stored in archival storage boxes and bagged in polypropylene bags. Tags are attached to items to indicate item description.
The Medical Heritage Center is home to a growing collection of textiles representing the history of the health sciences. A particular strength is present in the history of nursing. Donations for the textile collection are accepted on a case-by-case basis.
V. Selection Criteria
The Head Curator and the Collections Curator of the Medical Heritage Center select materials based on needs identified through use of the collection. The Curators use various resources such as book dealer’s catalogs, electronic listings, new publication lists etc. to identify items of local interest for the collections. The Curators seeks input from the Medical Heritage Center Advisory Committee and the Health Sciences Library Collection Development Librarian to maintain the various collections based on the Center’s mission statement.
A. Transfer
Health sciences information is transferred from the Health Sciences Library and OSUL collections when such information is identified as rare. We define rare as not often or easily found. While a specific year does not limit items from being added to the Medical Heritage Center, they are usually pre-1980.
B. Local information
All local health sciences information is sought and added to the collection in order to be the central depository for health sciences information of the central Ohio area.
C. Language
English and European language materials are primarily collected, although we do accept material in other languages, depending on the appropriateness for our collection scope.
D. Geographical Area
Emphasis is placed on central Ohio and Ohio health sciences history materials. United States health sciences history of national significance is another priority collection area. Other materials are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
E. Continuation/Journal
A few select Ohio, Ohio State health center, and local health community journals are maintained in the collection for historical research purposes. Otherwise, journals are not collected.
F. Artifact
Three-dimensional objects are collected for the purpose of education. Our artifact collection is used to demonstrate the advancement of the health sciences via demonstrations, exhibits, and publication purposes. Specimens of any kind are not accepted.
In general, large artifacts are not accepted due to storage limitations. It is also strongly preferred that the artifact donations accepted have a tie to medical practices within central Ohio.
G. NOT collected:
- Current and non-rare journals and books that are better suited to the more accessible and circulating general collection of the Health Sciences Library.
- Subjects generally excluded because they are collected or available at other locations include veterinary medicine, pharmaceutical, pediatrics, psychology, agricultural sciences, biological sciences, audiology, speech and hearing disorders, human ecology, law, biochemistry, bioengineering, social work, and women studies.
- Any materials that require a large amount of storage space not available within the MHC.
- Medical specimens or hazardous materials.
VI. Gifts/Donations
Gifts of books/journals, artifacts, and archives/manuscripts are accepted based on the following criteria:
- Generally not duplicated within the OSUL system. Note: Duplicates considered more valuable than the copy already located within the OSUL system will be given special consideration. Examples include: signed copies, first editions, rare books not located outside the OSUL system, and volumes that are part of a larger special book collection.
- Fall within the collection’s primary purpose of collecting the health sciences history of central Ohio.
- Published before 1980.
- Uniqueness.
- Completeness of the item.
- Condition of the item.
- Added value for other holdings.
VII. Collection Use and Access
All collections are non-circulating and must be used in specified areas of the Medical Heritage Center.
Reproductions or copying of any materials will be provided by the Medical Heritage Center staff for a fee.
VIII. Future collection plans and challenges
Endowments are needed to allow for the purchase of unique pieces that would enhance the general makeup of the various collections and to process valuable archival and manuscript collections.
Space is always a premium. Future additions to any of the collections must be carefully considered before additional items are accepted.
The Medical Heritage Center actively seeks to increase collections from minorities and women.
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Revised: September 12, 2022
Materials are reproduced for research and study only.
Restrictions, including copyright, may exist and some materials may be too fragile to photocopy or digitize. Duplication services must be performed by staff.
Any publication, exhibition, or other public use of materials reproduced for that purpose must credit The Medical Heritage Center, Health Sciences Library, The Ohio State University.
In-person viewing of all MHC collections is free, however the Center does charge for reproduction services.
Warning concerning copyright restrictions: The copyright law of U.S. (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.
Although Ohio State strives to remain open to ensure continuity of services to students and the public, extreme conditions can warrant the usage of the university’s Weather or Other Short-Term Closing Policy. If classes are cancelled but university business offices remain open, the Health Sciences Library will be open. If university offices are closed, the Health Sciences Library will also be closed.
If the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office issues a Level 2 Snow Emergency, a determination will be made by library leadership if the Library will be closed, open late or close early based on predicted weather and road conditions. The Library will be closed if a Level 3 Snow Emergency is declared.
Plan ahead for winter weather
In the winter, weather issues can close roads and make traveling difficult. Plan accordingly when severe weather occurs and be prepared to give yourself enough time to get to class or work safely. The 130 miles of campus sidewalk and 40 miles of campus roads take nearly six hours to clear one time and our facilities crew will do its best to keep pathways clear. CampusParc will treat parking lots and garages, with garage rooftops remaining open, when possible.
Please remember to take precautions while traveling in winter weather:
- Plan and allow extra time.
- Check scheduled activities in advance to make sure there are no changes or cancellations.
- Dress appropriately for the weather (boots, hat, gloves).
- While walking, take it slow to avoid slipping.
- While driving, allow additional distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
- Know your route and pay special attention to changing and/or declining weather conditions.
- Bridges and garage rooftops freeze more quickly and remain cold longer than pavement at ground level. Exercise caution when driving and walking throughout all levels of the garages.
More information is available on the Transportation and Travel Management website.