Duke Medical Center Library & Archives News May 2026 Archive

We now provide access to an updated version of Acland’s Video Atlas of Anatomy Online, a popular anatomy learning resource featuring high-quality narrated dissection videos using real human cadaver specimens.

The updated platform includes several new features and enhancements designed to support anatomy learning and review:

• New short quizzes for quick review
• Longer, customizable practice question sets
• A new Key Terms resource with definitions and audio pronunciations
• An English-Latin option for videos, practice questions, and key terms
• Refreshed video appearance and updated interface
• Updated anatomical terminology throughout
• A revised table of contents aligned with…

Categories: Resources & Tools

EBSCO has launched a new app with improved ebook accessibility features and other updates.

Starting May 19, 2026, Duke University Libraries will move to EBSCO’s supported app, Thorium, for downloading DRM ebooks. Reading ebooks directly in your browser and downloading ebooks chapters will stay the same. Please contact mclibrary-collections@duke.edu if you have any questions. More information can be found on Duke Main Library website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is DRM?

DRM stands for Digital Rights Management. Some ebooks with DRM have limits on things like…

Categories: Resources & Tools

The Medical Center Library & Archives launched an AI Library Chatbot to assist you with reference questions! You can still chat with a librarian during our staffed hours, but the AI Library Chatbot is available 24/7. 

Created with Duke's MyGPT Builder and using a GPT-5 Model, the chatbot is hosted on secure Duke servers. You will be prompted to enter your NetID/pw to prevent malicious bot spamming, and no data will be collected from you. 

As always, sometimes the best way to receive personalized, dedicated support is to reach out directly to the medical librarians at medical-librarian@duke.edu.…

Categories: News & Announcements

Do you have questions about the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy, SciENcv, or managing your scholarly profiles? You're not alone—and we're here to help! Our NIH PAP, SciENcv, & Researcher Profiles Office Hours are informal, online sessions where you can meet one-on-one with a librarian to get support tailored to your needs. Whether you:

• need help navigating compliance with the NIH Public Access Policy,
• need to build your Biographical Sketch in SciENcv, or
• have a question about the new NIH Data Management & Sharing Plan format (required May 25, 2026), or
• need assistance connecting systems like ORCID, MyNCBI, and your profile in Scholars@…

Categories: Events & Classes

The annual celebration of National Nurses Week, which always begins on May 6 and culminates with the observance of Florence Nightingale’s birthday on May 12, is the perfect time to celebrate the tremendous contributions of nurses and educate the public about nurses’ role in health care.

Thanks for the work you perform every day to care for patients, their loved ones and each other.

Categories: Events & Classes

We’ve upgraded the library search platform (the Journals, Books, and Catalog searches on our homepage) to a new system called Primo. This change makes it easier to discover books, articles, media, and digital resources—all from one simple, modern search interface.

Primo offers a cleaner design, improved search results, and better tools for managing your library account. We’re excited to bring you a faster, more intuitive way to explore everything the library offers.

Please contact mclibrary-collections@duke.edu if you have any questions. More information can be found on Duke Main Library website.

Frequently Asked Questions…

Categories: News & Announcements

Summer is right around the corner, and with it come a few updates to Library Service Desk and online chat hours. Our service desk and librarian chat hours will shorten during the summer months, so please plan ahead for your visits and book pickups.

Updated Hours for Desk and Online Chat Reference

• Starting June 1: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Book Pickup and Checkout

• Please plan to pickup hold and interlibrary loan books during desk hours. Book pickups are not available outside desk hours.
• Self-checkout will be available for checking out materials in the level 1 reading room from our on-site collections from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

What About Study and Meeting Spaces?…

Categories: News & Announcements

Introducing the Reading Assistant ClinicalKey has added a Reading Assistant, an integrated generative AI feature designed to help users quickly comprehend and navigate complex clinical content. This enhancement uses structured summarization and inline clarification to present key insights from book chapters and journal articles, all while keeping the original expert-authored content fully visible and authoritative. To see the Reading Assistant in action, you may also view a short demonstration video here.

What the Reading Assistant Provides 

• Concise, structured summaries of the content currently on the page 
• Clarification of complex concepts without changing the underlying evidence…

Categories: Resources & Tools

To all the graduating Duke students and house staff, 

As you wrap up your studies and training, those of us at the library want to take a moment to celebrate you and your incredible journey. 

• Thank you for choosing our library as your study spot. Whether you were here for hours at a time or simply popping in between classes, we’ve loved seeing you dive into your studies, collaborate on group projects, and find those quiet corners to focus.
• Your research projects have been nothing short of impressive. We've been honored to support you with resources, guidance, and a space to bring your ideas to life.
• Working with you has been a joy for our staff. We appreciate your curiosity, enthusiasm, and willingness…

A significant collection of 63 early modern Japanese medical manuscripts from the Rubenstein Library is now digitized and publicly accessible.

Dating from roughly 1810 to 1849, the collection includes transcribed lectures, demonstrations, and handwritten manuals by notable physicians such as Hanaoka Seishū and Takenaka Bunpō. Topics span herbal medicine, ocular disease treatment, surgical techniques, osteopathic care, wound treatment, obstetrics and pediatric medicine.

The manuscripts feature more than 100 full-page, hand-drawn illustrations—many in vibrant color—depicting medical techniques, conditions, and instruments.

One example, Shunrinken kasho (1810, 1828), includes detailed illustrations of osteopathic manipulations, bandaging techniques, and surgical…

Categories: Archives & Collections

May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of Jewish Americans.

Jewish identity encompasses far more than religious practice. It reflects a shared peoplehood shaped by history, traditions, language, and cultural connection across generations and communities around the world.

This month offers an opportunity to explore diverse Jewish identities and perspectives, deepen understanding, and contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate community. At Duke, there are opportunities to learn, connect, and engage with the Jewish community through Jewish Life at Duke.…

Categories: News & Announcements

During the month of May, we recognize Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month and the many contributions of those whose roots span East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Pacific Islands, and beyond. 

At Duke and in communities across the country, our AANHPI colleagues serve as leaders, researchers, caregivers, educators, and community health advocates. Their diverse perspectives and lived experiences enrich our mission, drive innovation, and help create a more inclusive and equitable healthcare landscape. Through their work, we are better equipped to deliver culturally responsive care, mentor future generations of health professionals, and build an environment where everyone can thrive. 

The…

Categories: Events & Classes