Restrictions to Access

No restrictions. Open for research.

Restrictions to Use

No usage restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], in the Health Sciences Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records #40247, University Archives, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Acquisitions Information

Received from the Health Sciences Library in July 2002, December 2009, and March 2011 (Records transfers 20020731.1, 20091209.2, and 20110309.1).

Sensitive Materials Statement

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

• Academic libraries--North Carolina.
• Ebert, Myrl, 1913-2001.
• Education, Higher--North Carolina--History.
• Information storage and retrieval systems--Medicine.
• Library resources--North Carolina.
• MEDLARS.
• Medical libraries--North Carolina--Chapel Hill.
• Universities and colleges--North Carolina--History.
• University of North Carolina (1793-1962)--History.
• University of North Carolina (1793-1962)--Libraries.
• University of North Carolina (1793-1962). Division of Health Affairs. Library.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--History.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--Libraries.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Division of Health Affairs. Library.
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Health Sciences Library.

• Office of the Vice Provost for Health Affairs of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records (#40110)
• Office of the Dean of the School of Medicine of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records (#40118)

The Health Sciences Library (HSL) was established as a unit of the Division of Health Affairs at the University of North Carolina in 1952. However, it was not named Health Sciences Library until 1968. It served as the central library for the University hospital and the division's five schools (Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health) and their associated programs, consolidating the holdings of several smaller libraries that had existed prior to 1952. Originally located in MacNider Hall and later in the Clinic Wing of North Carolina Memorial Hospital, the library moved in 1970 to a new building constructed in MacNider Hall's courtyard to accommodate a growing student enrollment and added programs. Myrl Ebert (1913-2001) served as director of the HSL from its founding until her retirement from the University in 1975. She led the effort to develop the new library building, and she was also involved in the creation of MEDLARS, the biomedical bibliographic retrieval system that later became the online database MEDLINE.

Dorothy Long, Head of Readers' Services, served briefly as acting director of the Health Sciences Library following Ebert's retirement. Sam W. Hitt became director in 1976 and served until 1986; he was succeeded by Carol Jenkins.

Records consist of correspondence and other files related to the development and operation of the Health Science Library, including annual reports, budget and grant materials, committee materials, minutes of HSL department heads and council meetings, departmental reports, salary information, and a 1973 self-study. Also included are files relating to the development of the new library building in 1970 and to the development of MEDLARS. Early files are those of Myrl Ebert, director of the library, 1952-1975.