About the Health Sciences Library

At the Health Sciences Library, we power curiosity, discovery, and connection. We take a collaborative approach, bringing our expertise, engagement, critical content, and cutting edge technologies to prepare the next generation of health care providers. Together we make the difference. 

What we do

The University of Minnesota Health Sciences Libraries include the contemporary Health Sciences Library and the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine, which houses a renowned collection of over 73,000 rare books and 8,000 artifacts representing health, medicine, and the biological sciences from 1430 to 1945.  

The work of the Department is realized through the deep disciplinary expertise of its staff, who bring specialized knowledge related to evidence-based practice, systematic reviews and evidence synthesis, and the application of the history of biology and health to current practices, along with broad skills related to information literacy and evidence-based practice. 

Our staff bring forward an overarching programmatic vision in alignment with the research, teaching, learning, clinical, and interprofessional information needs of the six schools and colleges of the Health Sciences across the Twin Cities, Duluth, Rochester, and St. Cloud campuses. Additional liaison responsibilities include the Program in the History of Science and Technology, a department within the College of Science and Engineering.

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Our work, in action

Archival scan of a page from a book featuring an illustration of a wolf with a bushy tail. Page is entitled "Of the wolfe"

A Shakespearean recipe for Witch’s Brew

It’s almost Halloween, our favorite holiday in the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine (WHL), so we’re busy thinking about all the spooky things in our collections. Since much of our material focuses on the histories of pharmacy (making medicines) and nutrition (making food), many of these books are full of recipes. The WHL’s recipe books, dating from the 1430s-to the 1900s, contain both mundane and creepy recipes for cures and comestibles.

All Health Sciences Library news

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Annual reports

Find high-level highlights, facts, and figures, and learn more about our innovative projects through our annual reports.   

Impact and Initiatives of the Health Sciences Libraries: July 2024 - June 2025

Our HSL Annual Report from 2024-2025 highlights how the Health Sciences are joining in partnership with colleagues from across the health sciences to reinforce learning, help students understand the patient experience, and contribute to health science research and evolving practices.

Previous annual reports

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By the numbers

Courses taught

231
Our librarians and curators reached 5,776 students in 231 courses across the health sciences, with NEW integration into Politics of Reproduction and Intro to Epidemiology.

Visitors

340K
Our spaces welcomed 340K visitors last year, enough to fill Huntington Bank Stadium 4.24 times. Ski-U-Mah!

Student savings

$1.27 Million
We provided electronic access to required textbooks and saved students money. That’s $183 of savings for each health sciences student.

Supported study

45K Hours
Students booked our 19 group study rooms for 45,205 hours (5.1 years), with ready access to library expertise, technology-rich spaces, and state-of-the-art collections.

Systematic reviews

43
We collaborated with researchers across UMN, the US and 15 countries worldwide to conduct studies that advance practice on broad topics—from complementary medicine in pediatric oncology to companion animal welfare.

3D printer filament

48 Miles
Our 3D printers used 48 miles of filament (enough to reach from Minneapolis to Red Wing), creating everything from dental anatomy models to assistive devices.

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Library staff

Find your librarian Connect with a librarian that has expertise in your subject area. Browse all staff Contact information for all members Health Sciences Library's team.

Administration

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Job Opportunities

Professional Opportunities Find all professional job opportunities from across the University of Minnesota Libraries. The University of Minnesota is an Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. Student jobs The University of Minnesota Libraries hires hundreds of students in many types of jobs all over campus. Find current student job openings and sign up for updates on new job openings.

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Giving opportunities

The Health Sciences Libraries work collaboratively to advance interprofessional education through our expertise, engagement, critical content, and cutting edge technologies that advance teaching, learning, and research, and care. 

Your gift to the Health Sciences Libraries helps us invest in collections, services, technology, spaces, programing, and initiatives that advance health practice and prepare the next generation of health providers. 

Together we make the difference. 

Health Sciences Libraries Gift Fund Support the collections, services, technologies, and spaces in the Health Sciences Libraries and advance learning and research throughout the Academic Health Center Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, Dentistry, and Veterinary Medicine. Wangensteen Historical Library Fund Support the Wangensteen Historical Library’s collections, exhibits, services, technologies, and spaces that enhance scholarship and support critical thinking through the study of the history of medicine and biology. University Libraries Engagement and Outreach Fund Support programs and services engaging students, faculty, and the community in hands-on learning and research through Makerspaces, Virtual Reality, and media services tools and expertise.

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