For Grant Applications: Data and Description of HSL

as of June 30, 2021

University Libraries as of June 30, 2021 (most recent available)

  • Number of Libraries 12
  • Number of Databases: 1285 (including 259 in HSL Collection)
  • Print Serial Titles: 130,446
  • Electronic Serial Titles: 166,416
  • Digital Media Items: 115,662
  • Print Volumes: 9,702,183 (275,702 in HSL Collection)
  • E-Book Volumes: 2,188,134 (19,047 in HSL Collection)

HSL Facility Data

  • HSL’s Square Footage
    • Gross: 91,538
    • Assignable: 69,499
  • HSL User Seats 578
  • HSL Classroom Seats 50
  • HSL Reservable Study Rooms 20

Information Resources

UNC Chapel Hill’s library system is consistently ranked among the top thirty in the country and is one of the leading research libraries in the South. Twelve libraries support the University’s academic and professional programs. Their combined collections exceed 9,700,000 print volumes, 2,188,000 e-book volumes, 296,000 scholarly journals and periodicals, hundreds of thousands of audiovisuals, maps and photographs, and thousands of electronic titles. In addition to providing users with an array of informational, instructional, and research resources, the libraries offer a wide range of campus-wide reference and referral services, most of which are now available remotely through the Internet or campus computer networks. Through cooperative agreements users also have access to additional collections and services available from nearby libraries. Libraries of greatest relevance to the proposed research are highlighted below.

UNC Health Sciences Library (HSL)

The UNC Health Sciences Library (HSL), part of the UNC Library system, has superb staff (41 full-time positions), facilities and collections and is considered to be among the best medical school libraries in the United States. The HSL has a total of 2,000 print and non-print titles and access to over 260 electronic databases. There is an exceptional collection of over 19,000 electronic books, over 4,600 streaming video titles, and over 275,000 total print volumes. Faculty (including preceptors), staff, and students can access electronic resources 24/7 from on- and off-campus. Through cooperative agreements, UNC Chapel Hill users also have access to additional collections and services available from nearby libraries, including those of the Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN), including Duke University, North Carolina Central University, and North Carolina State University. Students, faculty, and staff may also use the libraries of the statewide 17-campus University of North Carolina system. The Health Sciences Library is a Resource Library for the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, meaning that it participates in national and international interlibrary loan consortia. This participation allows the HSL to borrow materials quickly from other libraries around the nation and the world. The Health Sciences Library partners in the research process by providing informationist and data management support, guidance, and referrals.

Library Services at HSL

The Library also provides in-person and virtual consultations, instruction or training for teams and classes, and consultations in research-related workshops or events. HSL provides health information services to almost 9,000 Health Affairs faculty, staff, medical residents, and preceptors both on and off campus. It also serves over 5,000 graduate, professional, and undergraduate Health Affairs students and 8,980 attending physicians, staff, and residents based at UNC Medical Center. HSL librarians offer a variety of customized services, including extensive literature searches, online and face-to-face education, online self-help guides, on-site office hours, support for web-based and instructional technology projects, and connections to campus resources and expertise. Librarians participate on committees and teams in schools and units, including, curriculum committees, accreditation review teams, and research grant teams. In addition, librarians orient faculty, clinical instructors, and students to the latest in library technology and databases.

The Research Hub@HSL

The Research Hub @ HSL connects Carolina researchers at every stage of the research process with the experts and tools they need to help make their research more connected and collaborative. Researchers and research teams can take advantage of technology-enabled spaces that foster collaboration, as well as expert referrals, and training provided by Hub librarians and campus partners. The Hub also provides instruction on equipment and software use so teams can apply new digital research methods to their work. The Research Hub @ HSL offers a variety of software in the following categories: Data Visualization and Molecular & Chemical Modeling tools, Data Cleaning tools, GIS/Mapping tools, Programming Applications, and Statistical Applications. The Research Hub’s Collaboration Center space offers video and web conferencing software including PolyCom Real Presence, Skype, and Google Hangouts.

HSL Physical Space

Renovation of the library building was completed in early 2005. The Library is fully wireless, with guest wireless access, and equipped with 64 public computer workstations, 20 small group study rooms, 2 teaching labs with a total of 45 workstations, 3 video conferencing facilities, 2 well-equipped public conference rooms, and a coffee shop. The Research Hub @ HSL, opened in 2015, offers video/web conferencing technologies, large screen displays paired with a variety of data analysis and visualization software, and an event space with web streaming capability. The library seats 578 people (401 open seats, 35 café, 50 classroom seats, 65 conference room seats, and 27 Research Hub seats). The HSL also has Telemedicine Video-Conferencing technology. Davis Library also houses the main general, humanities, and social sciences collections, including the major campus holdings of government documents and microforms. It also includes the main reference, electronic information, and interlibrary borrowing services for the campus.

Last modified: 08/29/22