Named after the honorable congressman, who fought health disparities for thirty years, stands the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library. This library serves Howard University’s medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, and allied health sciences students plus faculty. It also helps individual patients, healthcare providers, the community, and researchers.
The Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library spans 80,000 square feet. It stands four stories high in an iconic campus building. Two elevators provide easy access to all floors. The library offers spaces that meet the varied needs of the Howard University community.
In 2014, the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library transitioned from print to digital. It now provides online access to many digital resources. Patrons can access 4,791 electronic journals, 3,879 eBooks, and 72 databases. These are available both on-campus and remotely.
The Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library is a resource library for the National Networks of Libraries of Medicine. It also belongs to the Washington Research Library Consortium. This consortium enhances member libraries and information services. It supports universities in the Washington, DC area. The WRLC coordinates collections and ensures the preservation of information resources.
The library is affiliated with the Medical Library Association. It also works with the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries. The AAHSL comprises libraries serving accredited U.S. and Canadian medical schools. These schools belong to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
The Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library is staffed by six librarians including the Executive Director. A facilities manager, events coordinator, two technical assistants, and several student workers also contribute. The Executive Director reports to the University’s Provost.
Need research help? Contact a liaison librarian for a research consultation. Faculty can request a librarian visit their classroom. They can also schedule a library visit for their class.
Students can book group study rooms on the library’s website. Small study rooms accommodate up to four people. Large study rooms seat up to ten. Single study rooms are available for one person. Priority access goes to students studying for boards.
The Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library offers access to circulating books on the first floor. Reserve books are also on the first floor. These can be checked out for three hours for use inside the library.
Medical materials are available for three-hour checkouts. These include bone boxes and anatomy flash cards. The library is located at 501 W Street NW. It sits at the corner of 4th St NW and W St NW.
Street parking is available around the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library. Paid garage parking is also nearby. Remember the parking lot behind the library is for authorized vehicles only.
All Howard University students, faculty, and staff can use the Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library. WRLC members are welcome too. Food is allowed in the café area on the first floor.
The Louis Stokes Health Sciences Library provides problem-based learning classrooms. It offers communication and computer study spaces. State-of-the-art multimedia presentation rooms are also available. The four-story atrium is a focal point. A barrel-vaulted reading room on the fourth floor offers views of the campus.