Administrative History: The Medical Library
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The Medical Library was originally set up in the Temporary Buildings on the Memorial University of Newfoundland campus. June Leath Huntley, consultant in residence, and Dr. K. B. Roberts, associate dean of medicine and head of physiology, were instrumental in the development of the library, ensuring that it met standards that led to its official recognition as a Medical Library in 1969.

In 1975, the Medical Library moved into the Health Sciences Centre the week of February 3, becoming operational one week later on Monday, February 10. The library increased its mandate when it assumed responsibility for library services to Memorial University School of Nursing in 1977. That summer, books and journals relating to nursing were moved from the main university library to the Medical Library. Shortly after these changes the name Medical Library was replaced with Health Sciences Library in recognition of its expanded role in providing library services to a broad range of health sciences disciplines.

Today, the Health Sciences Library collection includes material on medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry and allied health. In addition to students and faculty in the health sciences, the Health Sciences Library also acts as a resource centre for all health practitioners in the province, with electronic resources provided through the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Knowledge Information Network (NLHKIN).

Medical Library Photographs, 1969-1979
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Medical Library Service for Newfoundland Physicians
By June Leath Huntley, Consultant-in-Residence, NMA Newsletter, Vol. XII, No. 2, April 1970
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History of Medicine Collection at the H.S.C. Library
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Doug Brophy interviewed Dr. K. B. Roberts on Brophy’s Corner, a half hour CBC program in 1980.  Dr. Roberts, the first John Clinch Professor of the History of Medicine at Memorial University, was instrumental in establishing the Health Sciences Library. His particular interest in the History of Medicine led him to establish a special collection of books in this area.  In the video, Dr. Roberts talks about the Historical Collection, which was collected from various locations in the Health Sciences Library (HSL) and placed in its own room, The K. B. Roberts Historical Collection (HSL), where it remains to this day.

Copyright
Permission to reproduce a CBC episode of Brophy’s Corner, 1980 was granted by the following source:
Material reprinted with the express permission of: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Donna Wicks (Program Manager, CBC Television).