About | National Jewish Health Library

About the Library

National Jewish Health's Library & Knowledge Services Team, 2024

National Jewish’s first library space was housed in the Joesph E. Shoenberg Memorial Building, built in 1912, and containd more than 2,000 volumes. The Shoenberg building housed the vocational training school, classrooms for children, and recreational facilities in addition to a large reading and writing room. Selections of books were collected on carts and wheeled around to bed-ridden patients. The names of any early librarians that worked at National Jewish have been lost to history.

A former tuberculosis patient, Ned Eig, became the institution’s first recorded librarian in 1942 and remained at National Jewish until his retirement in 1975. A collection of reference books was kept in the Neustadt Building until 1977. At that point, Ken Tucker and his family and friends donated funds to remodel the medical library in memory of Ken’s brother, Gerald. The library was built in the Goodman building and renamed the Gerald Tucker Memorial Medical Library. In 2017, the library moved to its current location in the Smith Building. See more library and NJH history here.

Location

1400 Jackson St.
May Bldg, Rm L110
Denver CO, 80206-2671
Library front desk: 303.398.1482
Fax: 303.270.2149
library@njhealth.org
M-F: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Located in Smith side building, near the cafeteria entrance.

	Liz Kellermeyer, MSLS, AHIP Director Phone: 303.398.1483 KellermeyerL@njhealth.org https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6115-4343 Liz has worked at National Jewish Health since 2010 and joined Library & Knowledge Services in April 2014. She believes strongly in the library as in integral part of the research process, as an ally to patients and caregivers in health literacy and patient self-advocacy, and as a steward of NJH’s rich history. Liz’s professional research has touched on impostor syndrome, systematic review tools, and caregiver referral behaviors in relation to the medical library. Liz was the recipient of the 2024 Colorado Council of Medical Librarian's Marla Graber Award, which is given in recognition of members who have made outstanding contributions to the organization and to health sciences librarianship at the local level throughout their careers. She was also awarded the 2024 Barbara McDowell Award for Excellence in Hospital Librarianship, presented by the Midcontinental Chapter of the Medical Library Association. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Medical Library Association.
	Ruby Nugent, MA LIS Biomedical Research Librarian Phone: 303.398.1343 NugentR@njhealth.org https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8426-4729 Ruby became part of Library & Knowledge Services at National Jewish Health in December of 2021. With over 20 years of working in public, academic, and medical libraries, she utilizes her unique experience and background to support staff, faculty, clinicians, and patients in her role at NJH. Ruby’s scholarly interests include reinforcing the librarian’s role in providing tools and resources to increase health literacy and improve healthcare outcomes for patients both visiting and from the local community. Ruby is a member several professional organizations such as the Medical Library Association, Colorado Council of Medical Libraries, and the Midcontinental Chapter of the Medical Library Association where she recently served as 2024-2025 Chair.
	Carole Durst, MLS, MSHS Senior Library Technician Phone: 303.398.1484 DurstC@njhealth.org Carole was a Library Program Associate for the Denver Public Library system for three years, and worked for DPL off and on for a little over 12 years. In May 2022 she graduated from Texas Woman's University with a Dual Master's in Library Science and Health Studies. Carole has earned both levels of certification as a Consumer Health Information Specialist.

Paid databases
The Library purchases over 900 electronic journals.
The Library has 4,500 print books and over 1,000 electronic books.
The Library maintains some historical bound journal collections specific to National Jewish Health or the history of tuberculosis research.
Clinical reference books are available in print and online. Additionally, we maintain a non-circulating print reference collection, including almanacs, bibliographies, core health science textbooks, dictionaries, and drug and toxicology resources.
Our consumer health collection can be found in our patient library, in the Helen L. Rider Health Information Center. This collection contains print books on health-related issues and is available for use by patients and families visiting National Jewish Health.
Our free lending library carts can be found near the library entrance. Books for the free lending library carts are acquired solely through donation and are available free-of-charge to all patrons. Donations of appropriate items are encouraged and greatly appreciated.

Vision & Mission

We support the clinical, research, and educational programs of National Jewish Health as a preeminent health care institution. Our mission is to provide accurate and timely information, where and when it is needed, in the most useful format.

We pursue this mission by providing access to worldwide biomedical information networks and supplying an organized collection of electronic and print materials. We support informed patient care, provide current information for the conduct of novel, basic, translational, and clinical research, and provide educational resources for health care and research professionals.

Our Values

Integrity

We adhere to the highest standards of fairness, justice and equality in our work.
We relate to each other with honesty and candor.
We maintain a strong work ethic, taking responsibility for our work and actions, keeping our word, and following through on our commitments.

Respect

We treat everyone with equal consideration and courtesy.
We encourage differences in perspective and maintain an openness to new ideas and adventures.
We engage others with compassion, empathy and tolerance.
To reach our full potential in intellectual vitality, innovation and flexibility, we are committed to an environment that is inclusive and diverse.

Excellence

We are committed to excellence.
We employ the best tools, people and resources to accomplish our work.
We are dedicated to ongoing learning for individual and organizational growth.
We continuously improve our processes, procedures, and services to exceed the expectations of those we serve.

Creativity and Flexibility

We meet the changing needs of the library and its users by developing innovative solutions, practices, and services in a creative work environment.
We support flexibility, collaboration, and openness to new ideas and practices.

Open Communication

We promote an environment where communication is encouraged, open, and two-way.
We share information that keeps stakeholders actively involved in decisions and actions that affect the success of the Library, because we recognize the importance of institution-wide participation.

Library Access

The Library is reserved for patients and their families, employees and affiliates. Employees have 24/7 access to the library with an ID badge. Due to our limited staff and resources, we are unable to support daily computer, copier, phone or fax use by guests who are not otherwise visiting campus for their daily appointments. To check out materials complete a Patron Data Sheet, located at the library front desk.

Computer & Printer Access

The library maintains computers for faculty and staff. Two PCs in the Health Information Center are reserved for patients. For all computers, a 45 minute limit will be imposed as needed. Printers are available for printing health and science-related information. Recreational or non-health research related use of the library's computers and printers is prohibited.

Remote Access

Remote access to subscription resources is available only to National Jewish Health employees and affiliates with an NJH email address and VPN access. To submit a request for VPN access, use the IST work form.

Access to University of Colorado Strauss Health Sciences Library

If you have a joint faculty, research or student appointment with UCD and NJH, you may have access to the Strauss Health Sciences Library resources.
To inquire about a library account check their informational page.

Library Policies

Access

The library is open to patients and their family members, faculty and staff, and affiliates of National Jewish Health. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. Employees can request after-hours access to the library through Facilities or at the library's service desk. Due to our limited staff and resources, we are unable to support daily computer, copier, phone or fax use by guests who are not otherwise visiting campus for their daily appointments.

The Libraries and its staff will provide:

Space for users that is effective for research and study
Tools for users to find information quickly and efficiently
Courteous and respectful service
New services and changes to existing services, as needed, to fill users’ informational needs
Access, within specific guidelines, to the library collections and collections owned by other institutions

Library users are expected to treat staff and other users with courtesy and respect. In order to ensure a welcoming environment for all users, the following rules apply:

Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Disruptive behavior includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Language or action that is intimidating or disrespectful to library staff or users
- Refusing to leave a library unit at closing time.
- Behavior that is unreasonably distracting or impedes staff or users’ ability to use the library for its intended purposes
Spaces are designated as collaborative or varying levels of quiet; users are expected to respect those designations.
Solicitation, the selling or promoting of goods or services, is not allowed.
Adults who bring minors into the library are responsible for monitoring their conduct at all times.
The destruction of library material and property will not be tolerated.

Circulation

National Jewish Health faculty and staff may check out books and journals from the library. Patients and all employees may check out books from the Health Information Center in the patient library. Fill out a Patron Data Sheet, available at the library's front service desk.

Books are loaned for two weeks
Patrons may be billed for material after 2 overdue notices

Computer & Printer Use

The library maintains computers for faculty and staff to access work email and research medical and health topics. Two PCs are provided in the Health Information Center for patients and their families. Printers are available for printing health-related information. Recreational or non-health research related use of the library's computers and printers is prohibited.

Interlibrary Loan

All National Jewish Health employees may request books or articles we don't own through interlibrary loan. This is available at no cost. Learn more.

Remote Access

Access to University of Colorado Strauss Health Sciences Library

If you have a joint faculty, research or student appointment with UCD and NJH, you may have access to the Strauss Health Sciences Library resources.
To inquire about a library account check their informational page.

Cell Phones

Library users wishing to use cell phones are asked to move into the hallway directly outside the front entrance.

Food and Drink

We ask patrons not to eat or drink in the library. The cafeteria seating area next door is available to patients and their families wishing to eat or drink.

Collection and Donation policy