Navigating the UNM HSC Library—officially known as the Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center (HSLIC)—requires knowing how to access its specialized medical databases, physical study spaces, and expert informatics support. Whether you're a medical student prepping for board exams, a nursing researcher conducting a systematic review, or a clinician looking for point-of-care tools, HSLIC serves as the central hub for health sciences education at the University of New Mexico.
Located on UNM's North Campus in Building 234 at 2400 Marble NE in Albuquerque, the facility combines robust physical infrastructure with extensive digital resources. Understanding how to leverage its collections, book study rooms, and consult with embedded librarians will save you hours of research time.
Core Services and Research Support
Research in the health sciences demands precision. HSLIC provides specialized services that extend far beyond standard book checkouts and quiet reading desks.
Systematic Review Assistance
Conducting a rigorous systematic review requires complex search strings across databases like MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL. HSLIC librarians partner directly with researchers to build, test, and document search strategies. You can request consultations for protocol development, citation management tool setup (using software like EndNote or RefWorks), and software training for tools like Covidence.
Data Services and Visualization
Modern health research generates massive datasets. HSLIC offers specialized support for data organization, file naming conventions, data management plans required by federal funding agencies, and statistical software training. Regular workshops cover topics ranging from introductory R programming to data visualization best practices.
Technology Lending
Students and researchers don't need to purchase expensive hardware for short-term projects. The information desk on the second floor lends out equipment including laptops, chargers, adapters, whiteboard marker sets, and even Meta Quest 3 headsets for virtual reality anatomical exploration.
Physical Spaces and Access Policies
The library building is engineered for clinical and academic workflows, offering different zones for collaborative group work and intense individual focus.
Hours and Badged Access
Standard operating hours for staffed services run Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Saturdays from noon to 5:00 PM. However, enrolled health sciences students, faculty, and staff can access the building 24/7 using an active HSC badge. This round-the-clock availability supports the demanding schedules of clinical rotations and residency programs.
Study Rooms and Technology Spaces
Group study rooms and technology-equipped spaces feature web-conferencing setups, large displays for presentations, and flexible seating. Many of these rooms require advance reservations, particularly during midterms and finals weeks when demand peaks across medical, nursing, pharmacy, and population health programs.
Digital Collections and Remote Access
Most of HSLIC's immense value lies in its digital collection. Off-campus access is seamless for authorized users via UNM NetID authentication, connecting you instantly to thousands of journals, textbooks, and diagnostic tools.
Clinical Decision Support Tools
Clinicians and students on clinical rotations rely on rapid access to evidence-based point-of-care tools. HSLIC provides institutional subscriptions to essential resources such as UpToDate, ClinicalKey, and AccessMedicine. These platforms allow practitioners to verify drug interactions, check diagnostic criteria, and review treatment algorithms directly from hospital wards or outpatient clinics.
Specialized Medical Databases
Beyond general academic search engines, researchers utilize HSLIC's gateway to access specialized repositories. These include deep archives of anatomical imagery, historical public health data for New Mexico, and pharmacological databases necessary for translational research. You can explore broader academic guidelines through the National Library of Medicine for national health data standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can access the UNM HSC Library?
The library primarily serves students, faculty, and staff in the UNM Health Sciences Center, including the schools of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Population Health. Affiliated healthcare professionals and researchers in New Mexico may also qualify for specific borrowing and database privileges.
How do I connect to library resources from off-campus?
You don't need to be on the physical North Campus network to use electronic journals or databases. Logging in with your UNM NetID and password through the primary HSLIC portal routes your connection through the institutional proxy server automatically.
Can community members use HSLIC facilities?
While 24/7 badged access is restricted to active HSC affiliates, members of the public can visit during regular service hours to consult physical collections and access designated public workstations for health information research. Learn more about university library networks through the American Library Association.
How do I schedule a consultation with a librarian?
You can request a research consultation directly through the HSLIC website by filling out the consultation intake form, or by contacting the information desk at the main North Campus building. Librarians are often embedded within specific departments to streamline research support for ongoing clinical trials and academic grants.
