Overview

The University of North Carolina Health Sciences Library (HSL) is the gateway to evidence and expert help for students, faculty, clinicians, researchers, staff, and community members. Use this guide to quickly find today’s hours and building access, get off-campus access working, reserve rooms, request articles, choose clinical tools, and connect with a liaison librarian.

From PubMed to point-of-care apps, HSL connects you with trusted sources and trained librarians who can help you search faster and smarter. PubMed alone indexes 35+ million citations to biomedical literature, according to the About PubMed page, and HSL helps you move from search results to full text and action. If you’re short on time, go straight to the section you need below, or contact the library—most questions get a first response within one business day.

Location, Parking, and Building Access

HSL sits on UNC’s health affairs campus in Chapel Hill, a short walk from the schools of medicine, nursing, public health, pharmacy, and dentistry. The easiest wayfinding is to search “Health Sciences Library UNC Chapel Hill” in your maps app and follow campus and hospital signage.

Visitor and patient parking is available in nearby campus decks and surface lots with pay-by-hour options. Campus and regional buses stop within a few blocks.

The building provides ADA-accessible entrances, elevators, and restrooms. If you need accommodations, reach out before your visit so staff can plan support. UNC affiliates typically enter with their campus ID card during extended or after-hours periods, while public guests can enter during posted public hours through the main entrance check-in.

Hours of Operation and Real-Time Status

Regular hours vary by semester, with extended evenings during fall and spring and reduced schedules during summer and academic breaks. Service desks may have shorter hours than the building.

To confirm today’s hours and any holiday exceptions, check the live hours page on the HSL website before you arrive. If a space is listed as “24/7,” expect card-swipe entry for UNC affiliates outside public hours. Public access follows the main building schedule. For time-sensitive visits, call ahead to confirm desk coverage for equipment lending or in-person consultations.

Eligibility and Access by Role

HSL welcomes UNC affiliates and the public for on-site use of spaces and many resources. Licensed e-resources have contractual access rules. Your role determines what you can access on-site and remotely.

UNC students and faculty get full on-site and off-campus access to licensed databases and journals, borrowing privileges, ILL, and research support services. UNC Health employees have robust clinical tool access and on-site e-resource use, with remote options via EZproxy or a health system VPN when licenses permit. Public visitors can enter during public hours, use selected computers and on-site resources, and explore community borrowing options.

UNC Students and Faculty

Students and faculty have full building access during posted hours and can use study rooms, technology lending, and all licensed e-resources on-site and off campus via EZproxy. Borrowing privileges include books and equipment with renewals when items are not recalled. Fines or replacement fees may apply to overdue or lost items.

Interlibrary loan is available for articles, books, and chapters not held by UNC. Typical article delivery takes days, not weeks. Books take longer due to shipping.

You also have priority access to research consultations, instruction, data and evidence synthesis services, and scholarly communication support. Start by signing in to library systems with your UNC credentials and contact your liaison librarian for tailored help.

UNC Health Employees

UNC Health employees can access major point-of-care tools, drug information, and guidelines on-site and remotely when licenses include health system coverage. For remote use of clinical tools, you may need to create a personal account while on the UNC Health network and periodically re-verify access. Some tools require the UNC Health VPN outside the network.

Most databases and journals are reachable on-site through HSL computers and Wi-Fi. Remote access to all e-resources may differ from campus affiliates due to license terms.

You can request articles through document delivery or ILL and book clinical support consultations for literature searching, alerts, and evidence at the point of care. If you’re unsure what’s available with your badge type, contact HSL—staff will clarify access and help you set up mobile apps.

Visiting Clinicians and Public

Public patrons and visiting clinicians are welcome during posted public hours for quiet study and on-site use of many resources. On-site computers provide access to selected databases and journals under walk-in terms. Remote access to licensed content is not included for public users.

Community borrower cards may be available for a fee, enabling checkout of selected materials. Specialized collections, equipment, and interlibrary loan may be limited to UNC affiliates.

If you’re planning a research visit, email ahead so staff can prepare resources or suggest community-friendly tools. Bring a government-issued photo ID for building entry and borrowing setup.

Off-Campus Access (EZproxy/VPN)

Most UNC affiliates can access licensed e-resources from off campus using EZproxy. UNC Health employees may also use the health system VPN for clinical tools tied to the health network. If something asks you to pay or says you don’t have access, you’re likely not authenticated to HSL.

Off-campus access works best when you begin from the HSL website so links route through EZproxy. If you prefer browser add-ons, set them to use your HSL “Find at UNC” or proxy links so full text opens correctly. For health system-only tools, connect to the UNC Health VPN first and then sign in to the app or tool with your personal account.

EZproxy Setup

EZproxy signs you in with your UNC credentials and passes you to publisher sites with access. To verify it’s working, start from a database link on the HSL site and look for “libproxy” or a similar cue in the URL after you log in.

VPN Access for UNC Health

Some clinical tools and intranet resources require you to be on the UNC Health network or VPN. If you’re off-site, connect the UNC Health VPN before launching clinical apps.

Troubleshooting

Most access issues trace to expired accounts, blocked cookies, or starting from non-proxied links. Clear your browser cache, allow third-party cookies for publisher sites, and always begin from HSL resource links.

If EZproxy accepts your login but a journal still denies access, sign out of any personal publisher accounts that may conflict with library access. For VPN issues, update the client and verify the correct group profile. If problems persist, contact HSL with a screenshot and the exact link you tried—responses typically arrive within one business day.

Borrowing, Renewals, and Interlibrary Loan

HSL loans books, models, and selected tech to eligible borrowers with standard loan periods and renewals when items aren’t recalled. Interlibrary loan (ILL) and document delivery supply articles, chapters, and books not owned by UNC, with fast digital delivery for most articles.

Fines and fees apply to overdue items, lost or damaged materials, and specialized services. Community borrower accounts carry annual or per-card fees. Submit ILL requests through the HSL request system with full citations to speed processing. If you need something urgently, note your deadline—staff will advise on the quickest path or alternatives.

Loan Periods and Fines

Books generally loan for weeks with one or more renewals when no one else is waiting. Equipment and course reserves have shorter terms. Overdue items may incur daily or per-hour fines depending on the item type. Replacement and processing fees apply if items are lost.

You’ll receive courtesy reminders by email ahead of due dates and notices when items are overdue or recalled. Renew online when possible to avoid fines. If you have extenuating circumstances, contact the circulation desk for options before the due date.

Community Borrower Cards

Community members can often obtain a borrower card by presenting a government-issued ID and paying a modest annual or per-card fee. Cards allow checkout of selected circulating materials. Electronic resource access remains on-site only due to license terms.

Some card types are available to area health professionals, alumni, or partner institutions, each with specific limits and fees. To register, visit the circulation desk with ID and payment; accounts are typically active the same day.

ILL Turnaround and Costs

Article PDFs usually arrive quickly—often within 1–3 business days—while books and physical media take longer due to shipping, commonly 5–10 business days. Rush options may be available for time-sensitive clinical or research needs.

Most article requests for UNC affiliates are delivered electronically at no cost. Fees may apply for rare or out-of-network items, or for community borrowers. Submit complete citations and attach DOIs to speed fulfillment; you’ll get email alerts when items are ready.

Study Rooms, Technology, and Printing

HSL offers reservable group study rooms, quiet and collaborative zones, and tech lending for short-term academic use. Printing, scanning, and copying are available through campus systems with pay-per-page rates.

Room bookings require eligibility and advance reservations, with time limits enforced to ensure fairness. Technology items like chargers and models check out at service desks. Return them on time to avoid fees.

For printing, load funds to your campus or guest account and release jobs at multifunction devices near service points.

Room Booking Steps and Policies

Study rooms bookable by UNC affiliates accommodate small groups and are equipped with displays or whiteboards. Reservations are limited per person per day, and no-shows are released after a grace period so others can use the space.

Tech Lending and On-site Services

Available items typically include laptops or tablets (where licensing permits), chargers, adapters, models, and peripherals like webcams or headsets. Loan periods vary by item type, with late fees or replacement charges for overdue or damaged equipment.

On-site services include scanning to email or cloud storage, assistance connecting to displays, and basic troubleshooting. If you need a specific device or model for a class or exam, reserve or call ahead to confirm availability.

Printing, Scanning, and Fees

Printing supports black-and-white and color on standard sizes with single- or double-sided options. Scanning is usually free to email or USB; copying charges are similar to print rates.

You’ll need a campus or guest print account with loaded funds to release jobs at HSL printers. View posted per-page rates at devices or online; if you experience a print error or poor output, ask staff for a reprint or refund assessment before leaving the area.

Databases and Point-of-Care Tools

HSL licenses major biomedical databases and clinical tools to support coursework, research, and patient care. Access depends on your affiliation and whether you’re on campus, on the health system network, or off campus via EZproxy or VPN.

Start with databases for comprehensive searches, then use point-of-care tools for succinct, actionable summaries. If you’re unsure where to begin, ask your liaison librarian for a quick consult—five focused minutes can save you an hour of trial and error.

Core Databases

PubMed is the essential index for biomedical literature and life sciences; it’s broad, fast, and free to search, and HSL links you to full text when available. For nursing and allied health, CINAHL offers focused subject headings and coverage of professional journals not fully captured elsewhere. Embase adds deep pharmacology and European journals, making it invaluable for systematic searching and drug/device safety topics.

Use multiple databases when your topic is interdisciplinary or when comprehensiveness matters. Export results to your citation manager to de-duplicate and screen efficiently. Librarians can help you tune searches and map subject headings.

Point-of-Care Tools

UpToDate and DynaMed both provide evidence-based summaries, dosing, and guidance at the point of care, with helpful algorithms and patient handouts. UpToDate is widely used for quick clinical answers, strong specialty depth, and CME tracking. UpToDate personal accounts are often required for mobile access. DynaMed, from EBSCO, emphasizes graded recommendations and frequent updates; mobile and offline use is available with a personal login—see DynaMed.

Clinicians often keep both handy: UpToDate for breadth and DynaMed for graded recommendations and concise updates. Your choice may depend on your specialty and whether you prefer narrative reviews (UpToDate) or structured summaries (DynaMed). When off campus, confirm your authentication method (EZproxy or VPN) before launching either app.

Clinician Quick Links

Clinicians also rely on drug information, calculators, and guidelines for bedside decisions. HSL supports access to drug databases, clinical calculators, and specialty guidelines through licensed tools and society websites.

Use these alongside point-of-care summaries to confirm dosing, interactions, and contraindications. For rounding or teaching, set up topic or table-of-contents alerts so new evidence arrives automatically in your inbox.

Mobile Access for Clinical Apps

Most clinical apps require you to create a personal account while on the appropriate network (campus or health system) and then re-verify periodically. Watch for renewal emails—if access lapses, log back in on-site to refresh.

For UpToDate, register your personal account on the network, sign into the mobile app, and re-verify periodically (commonly every 90 days) to keep access active. For DynaMed, create or connect your personal EBSCO account on the network, download content for offline use, and re-verify on the set interval. For drug information tools like IBM Micromedex, obtain the current mobile access code from HSL pages and renew it when prompted, typically annually.

Liaison Librarians and Consultations

Liaison librarians support specific schools, departments, and service lines with tailored instruction, search strategies, and research guidance. They can help you choose the right tool, refine searches, manage citations, and plan literature reviews.

Find your liaison by your program or department on the HSL website and book a 1:1 consult; most requests get a response within one business day, with appointments available in 2–5 business days. For immediate needs, use chat or call the service desk—staff will triage and connect you quickly.

Instruction, Workshops, and CE/CME

HSL offers live and virtual sessions on database searching, citation management, research impact, data management, and clinical tools. Some offerings qualify for CE/CME credit when co-sponsored or accredited.

Register via the events calendar to receive the Zoom link or room location, pre-work (if any), and materials. To claim CE/CME, complete the required evaluation or learning assessment; certificates or transcripts are sent after attendance is verified. If your unit needs a custom session, request an instruction consult and include your goals and audience.

Evidence Synthesis and Data Services (NIH DMS)

HSL partners on evidence syntheses from scoping reviews to full systematic reviews, with clear intake steps, roles, and timelines. Data services cover planning, documentation, sharing, and compliance with the NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Policy, which took effect on January 25, 2023, per the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy.

Before you start, contact HSL with your research question, team, timeline, and any protocol or registration plans. Librarians will recommend a service tier, outline deliverables, and define authorship or acknowledgment expectations so responsibilities are clear. For NIH DMS, staff can review your plan, suggest repositories, and help you budget data curation or sharing costs.

Systematic Review Tiers and Timelines

Service tiers range from consultative support (strategy review and training) to full collaboration (protocol development, search execution, documentation, and PRISMA reporting). Typical timelines vary by scope: targeted reviews may take 4–8 weeks, while full systematic reviews often take 8–16+ weeks depending on team capacity and screening volume.

Deliverables commonly include reproducible search strategies, database logs, de-duplicated result sets, and a methods appendix. Intake forms help align expectations early; submit yours well ahead of grant or publication deadlines.

NIH DMS Compliance: Templates and Repositories

For NIH-funded work, DMS plans must describe data types, standards, access, sharing timelines, and preservation. HSL can provide editable DMP templates aligned to NIH elements and help tailor them to your project and budget, including costs allowable for data management and sharing.

Select repositories based on funder and community norms, data type, and any privacy or PHI constraints; librarians can recommend generalist or domain repositories that meet NIH expectations. Use the NIH policy guidance to check your plan against required elements, then share a draft with HSL for review before submission.

Scholarly Communication, Citation Managers, and Research Impact

HSL advises on where to publish, open access routes, sharing rights, and how to comply with funder and publisher policies. You’ll also get help choosing a citation manager and building research profiles that surface your work and simplify biosketches.

Whether you’re preparing a manuscript, renewing your grant, or reporting impact to your department, librarians can recommend tools and metrics appropriate to your goals. Start with a brief consult describing your discipline, target journals, and any funder or institutional requirements.

Open Access and APC Discounts

Open access options include depositing accepted manuscripts in repositories when allowed, choosing fully OA journals, or publishing under transformative agreements that reduce or cover article processing charges (APCs). Eligibility depends on your affiliation, the journal, and the agreement terms in place.

HSL can help you verify whether your target journal is covered and how to acknowledge funding and data availability. If fees apply, librarians can advise on APC waivers, discounts, or alternatives that keep your paper compliant and discoverable.

Citation Managers: EndNote vs. Zotero vs. Mendeley

EndNote is powerful for large, complex libraries, advanced Word integration, and shared group libraries in lab environments. Zotero excels for quick capture from the web, collaboration, and flexibility across devices at low or no cost. Mendeley offers solid PDF organization and annotation with social discovery features but may be constrained in some enterprise settings.

For most students and interdisciplinary teams, Zotero is a great default; for lab groups with heavy manuscript pipelines, EndNote’s advanced features can pay off. HSL provides training and migration help—book a session and bring a few references so you leave set up and synced.

Research Profiles and Metrics

Create and maintain your ORCID iD to disambiguate your name and streamline manuscript and grant workflows. Use SciENcv to build NIH- and NSF-compliant biosketches that pull from your ORCID record and reduce retyping.

HSL can help you track citation counts, h-index, and alternative metrics, and interpret them responsibly in context. Ask for a profile tune-up or a quick demo on setting alerts so you’re notified when your work is cited.

Consumer Health, Clinical Support, and Outreach

HSL supports patients and the public with trustworthy consumer health information and health literacy programs. Staff can help translate medical jargon into plain language and point to reliable sources so patients and families can participate in decisions.

Clinicians can request rounding support, point-of-need literature searches, and scheduled evidence updates or alerts. Schools and community partners can book outreach sessions on topics like evaluating health information online or navigating library resources.

Policies, Safety, and Quiet/Collaboration Zones

The library balances quiet study with collaborative work through designated zones and room policies. Food and covered drinks are typically allowed in moderation, with restrictions near specialized equipment and collections. Clean up promptly and be considerate of others.

Safety is a shared responsibility: keep belongings attended, follow staff instructions during emergencies, and report concerns immediately. Review posted conduct policies before your visit; repeated disruptions or policy violations may lead to loss of privileges.

Contact and Response Times

Get help fast via chat, email, phone, or by booking a consultation. Chat and phone offer the quickest triage for time-sensitive questions; email is best for complex requests that need attachments or citations.

Most general inquiries receive a first response within one business day, and consultations are typically scheduled within 2–5 business days. If your need is urgent—such as a clinical question or grant deadline—state your timeline so staff can prioritize or propose the fastest alternative.