How do I find the AHEC Digital Library?
There are several ways to find the site:
Do residents have access to other libraries, such as the UNC Health Sciences Library or the Wake Forest Carpenter Library?
No. This may change as the Atrium relationship with the Wake Forest School of Medicine grows, but currently residents only receive access to the AHEC Digital Library (ADL). if you believe you should have access to another academic library you will need to work with your resident coordinator and the library in question. Charlotte AHEC cannot assist you in obtaining access to other libraries.
How do I request a literature search?
The quickest way to request a literature search is to email us with your request. Please be as specific as possible and include the topic, the approximate number of articles you need, and the date you need these articles by. Please allow us enough time to do the search for you! Note that the librarians are only available during normal business hours and do not work on the weekends, so any requests made during the weekend will be answered in the order in which they were received on the following business day.
Remember that the fastest way to request a search is to email us.
How do I reserve one of the smaller study rooms on the 2nd floor of the library?
All of the study rooms on the 2nd floor are available on a first come, first served basis. However, for larger groups the Charlotte AHEC Library has two conference rooms and a computer lab that can be reserved. These rooms can hold approximately ten people and have A/V hook ups available. E-mail the library to reserve a room.
I'd like to use a [chart, graph, infographic] that I found in a textbook. Is that okay?
You'd be better off making your own graph, chart, infographic, illustration, etc. Numbers and well-established facts aren't covered by copyright law, but how they are presented are. It may be a pain, but taking the extra step can help you avoid bigger headaches in the future.
If you have questions about copyright or fair use, check out our copyright guide.
This article isn't available through the ADL. How can I get a hold of a copy?
Ask us! If the article isn't available through any of our library's resources, we can probably find it through interlibrary loan (ILL). There is usually a $10 fee charged to your department (not you personally) if we are able to get the article for you from another library. Please provide us with a full citation (author, title, journal title, etc.) or at least as much information as you have. Do not send us links to the article as our firewalls will cause issues and frequently cause broken links. This will result in delays getting your article back to you.
What databases do you recommend for my literature search?
That depends on the type of literature search you are doing. If you're unsure of where to start, you can always make an appointment to talk about your project by emailing us with your request. That said, there are some "go to" databases found through the ADL that may help you get started:
Where can I find free images and clip art?
There are several places on the web that offer free images. You can try using some of the websites highlighted through Creative Commons, such as Pixabay and OpenClipArt.
So, I can use Pixabay and OpenClipArt for anything without worrying about copyright? Really? What about...?
Yes. Really. Anything. According to Pixabay:
You can copy, modify, distribute, and use the images, even for commercial purposes, all without asking for permission or giving credits to the artist. However, depicted content may still be protected by trademarks, publicity or privacy rights.
We try to make it clear that you may use all clipart from Openclipart even for unlimited commercial use. We believe that giving away our images is a great way to share with the world our talents and that will come back around in a better form.
If you have questions about copyright or fair use, check out our copyright guide.
Who can I call or email if I have a general (not legal) question on copyright?
Ask a librarian if you have any questions, or call us at: 704-355-3129. Any of the librarians will be happy to answer your questions, but if you want to contact the "copyright nerd" directly, you can reach out to Brenda Almeyda. (No, really. She loves copyright stuff. It's weird, right?)
Can I get help designing a poster for a conference?
While we no longer print posters, the Charlotte AHEC Medical Media Graphic Designer can assist you with the creation of your poster.
Will my request be processed faster if I email/call the librarian directly?
No. The fastest way is to email the main library email address so that the first available librarian can assist you. Remember that if a librarian is on vacation or away from the office, they will not get back to you until they return. By emailing the group email (which is regularly checked throughout the day), the first available person will be on hand to help you.
Who do I contact about an issue with the UpToDate database?
The Charlotte AHEC Library only links to UpToDate. UpToDate is purchased and maintained by Atrium Health Information Services. Please contact Atrium IAS at (704) 446-6161 with any issues accessing UpToDate.