HSLIC News

As we start Banned Books Week it seems easy to take stock of the past year. Books continue to be banned across the United States. Books by and/or about queer people. Books by and/or about people of color. Books about teens struggling to navigate life on the way to adulthood (as teens do). Some of the titles change but the themes are the same and have been for the past several years. The years might feel like they are melding together. 

But there is progress. Change has very clearly occurred.

The Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2001, the oldest list on American Library Association's website, were:

1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
3. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
4. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
5. Summer of My German Soldier by Betty Greene
6. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
7. Alice (series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
8. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
9. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
10. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

The Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023 are:

1. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
2. All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
3. This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
5. Flamer by Mike Curato
6. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
7. (TIE) Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrew
8. (TIE) Tricks by Ellen Hopkins
9. Let’s Talk About It by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan
10. Sold by Patricia McCormick

Both lists consist almost completely of books written for youth, but there are stark differences. While the books featured on the first list are still widely regarded, they were not written by a particularly diverse group of authors, include less culturally diverse experiences, and are all narrative. The most recent list heavily features LGBTQIA+ authors writing about LGBTQIA+ themes, an Asian American author, an African American Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, three graphic novels, and two titles in verse, including a title not set in the United States.

Comparing these lists is tricky as they are indicative of two different time periods in American history. In some ways, the first list was diverse for its era. This country has always been diverse and perhaps diverse lists, even those of banned books, should be celebrated as a form of progress. Today’s banned books list is beautiful, a celebration of people and art forms, true to what this country is today, and hopefully representative of what will continue.    

HSLIC Special Collections is thrilled to announce that Abbie Olivas (PI) recently received a grant from the New Mexico Historical Records Advisory Board (NMHRAB).  The award will fully fund our project, Improving Collections Care in HSLIC Special Collections. This project consists of purchasing a much-needed new flat file case and acid-free folders to house oversized materials. These preservation supplies will allow us to correctly store current and future archival materials. Appropriate storage serves as a critical archival preservation strategy. The flat file case will protect our holdings from light, dirt, dust, damage due to improper housing and handling, pests, and other dangers.

According to NMHRAB, the purpose of their grant program "is to strengthen and support archival and records management programs in New Mexico. Grants are awarded to applicants who demonstrate need–financial and programmatic–and show commitment to solving problems associated with the preservation of and access to historical records.”

For more information about Special Collections, please visit our website and research guide. 

This semester, graduate students from UNM's School of Mechanical Engineering will use the Anatomage Virtual Anatomy Tables in the Library to enhance their education in biomedical engineering. The students in Dr. Dick Greene's course, Biomedical Engineering (BME) 575, visited HSLIC in September to integrate the emerging technology of the Virtual Anatomy Table into their coursework. HSLIC currently houses two of the Tables: the larger model that allows for life-sized head-to-toe views of cadavers, and the School of Medicine's half-sized Table. Five different cadavers and hundreds of smaller case study images are available on both Tables. In addition, the Tables include several animations and a childbirth simulation. For each of the five cadavers, users can simulate dissection using a scalpel tool or by using a slider bar to remove layers. In addition, a checkbox menu allows users make specific structures and systems visible or invisible. Labels move along with the model as a user taps or drags to rotate or resize the cadaver.

As the semester continues, Dr. Greene's students will return to HSLIC to complete assignments that involve analyzing anatomy and physiology from a mechanical viewpoint. Dr. Greene describes the experience of his students using the Virtual Anatomy Table as follows: "The 12 MS and PhD graduate students found the system to provide life size, 3 dimensional, dynamic, photographic, and topographic details of the anatomical, physiological, and pathophysiologic systems of various body donors. The students will be using the unit throughout their training." 

On the topic of integrating the Anatomage Virtual Anatomy Table into a biomedical engineering curriculum, Dr. Greene states, "Obviously, this exposure will significantly increase their understanding of human anatomy and biology. Combined with engineering principles and practices, BME professionals can create cost effective systems to decrease morbidity and mortality and  improve the quality of life throughout the world."

Use of the Anatomage Virtual Anatomy Tables are currently available on a first come, first served basis. However, instructors interested in reserving the larger Table for a class visit can email reflib@salud.unm.edu or use the LibCal booking system. Introductory materials for the Tables are available on our Research Guide. Both Anatomage Virtual Anatomy Tables are located on the 3rd Floor, near the study room cluster. They will be moved to the 2nd Floor following the completion of the renovation work on that floor. 

HSLIC’s Justice, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is pleased to offer Autism+ Program training from UNM’s Center for Development and Disability on Wednesday, September 25th at 10:00 AM.  This training will highlight disability culture and best practices for people with autism and provides information on accessibility, inclusion, and acceptance. Highlights include: the characteristics of autism, disability perspectives, and practical strategies to promote accessibility. Training completion provides one with the knowledge, skills, and encouragement to support individuals with different abilities. Please register for the event.  

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to remember the lives lost to suicide, acknowledge the millions more who have experienced suicidal thoughts, and the many individuals, families and communities that have been impacted by suicide. It is also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and share messages of hope.

The rate of suicide deaths is extremely alarming, but we have the power to create positive change. Let’s try to raise awareness, educate ourselves and others, and offer support to those in need. Here are a few suggestions to do on your own:

• Start Conversations: Discuss mental health openly and break the stigma surrounding suicide.
• Share Vital Resources: Highlight crisis support services like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
• Encourage Professional Help: Help loved ones find and access mental health support.
• Promote Awareness: Learn about warning signs and risk factors to better support those at risk.

In addition to educating yourself, UNM has resources to support you or a loved one. An excellent resource that can help is the UNM Agora Crisis Center. They have trained crisis hotline specialists to provide anyone in need of emotional support. Also, additional mental health resources can be found by visiting the UNM Mental Health Resources page.

The following are events on campus to try and raise awareness:

Suicide World Prevention Day Event

Tuesday, September 10th

11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

HSC Upper Plaza. Please stop by, there will be snacks and the button maker.

QPR Suicide Prevention Education

Friday, September 6

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday, October 4

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Learn the three-step QPR process: Question, Persuade, and Refer. This simple intervention can help instill hope in someone who is in crisis and can help prevent suicide. These trainings are being offered via Zoom and you can register online.

We all play a role in suicide prevention. When you start a conversation with a loved one who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide and offer support and model self-care, you are providing hope to those who may need it most. Being aware and learning more about suicide prevention can save a life.

Savannah Snider is a Student Assistant in Public Services at the library, where she has been working for almost 3 months. She is pursuing a degree in Art Education and aspires to become an elementary art teacher.

Savannah is very proud of the fact that her art pieces have been showcased in art shows at UNM. When working at the library, Savannah enjoys doing shelf reading and the hourly patron counts.

Outside of her academic and work life, Savannah loves creating art, hiking, and watching movies. She also has a passion for cooking and her favorite dish is bánh mì. A fun fact about Savannah is that she is the only red head in her family.

Savannah has two cats: Gnocchi, who relocated with her from Oklahoma, and Rosemary, a rescue cat that was so small that she had to be bottle-fed for several weeks.

Construction on HSLIC’s entry level, second floor, is picking up pace, and the new layout is starting to become more apparent. Over the last 2 months, crews worked on installing new network and electrical cables. They worked on the fire suppression system and wrapped the ducting in the ceiling for the building’s HVAC. However, in the last couple of weeks, they’ve shifted to framing and hanging sheetrock, and the results of the floor is starting to look visibly different!

Framing for the new anatomical model cases is near completion. The new cases will make the models more visible from the lobby and more accessible for library users to pick up and use. 

Framing of the office space behind the new front desk has also begun. The new office space will have new built-in cabinetry inside and outside the space to keep larger items for check-out, such as laptops, VR headsets, and athletic equipment.

In the upcoming weeks, work will begin to install new lighting on the floor. Crews will also begin framing the new front desk. 

For more information about the second-floor renovation and to view conceptual drawings, visit our online information guide!

At the same time as renovations are continuing on the entry level floor, another project is going on outside of the library to replace the glass panes in the window wall that covers the east side of the building. Most of the panes on the window wall are original to the building, which opened in 1977. Many of the window seals had broken, causing the glass to fog in places; and most of the screws holding the glass in place had rusted long ago. 

With funding from UNM Facilities Management, a crew is replacing all 96 window panes that make up the window wall. This project should be completed in the next few weeks.
 

Are you a nursing or allied health student looking to enhance your research skills and knowledge base? Our upcoming “Beginning CINAHL” class is for you. In this workshop, students will learn the basics of using CINAHL to navigate, search, and utilize the nursing and allied health literature.  HSLIC’s “Beginning CINAHL” workshops are taught online from noon until 1:00 pm.

We are offering “Beginning CINAHL” workshops on two separate days, so you can register for the class that best fits your schedule. 

Workshop Dates and Times:          Beginning CINAHL, September 20, noon to 1:00 pm (Friday)   

                                                            Beginning CINAHL, October 11, noon to 1:00 pm (Friday) 

                                                           Register for either class at:  https://goto.unm.edu/hslicevents