Hardin Library for the Health Sciences supports the educational, research, and clinical needs of the students, faculty, researchers, and staff of the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and the health sciences colleges and departments of the University of Iowa, including the colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health, as well as the departments of Communication Sciences & Disorders and Health & Human Physiology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In addition to the campus health sciences community, Hardin Library serves all on campus who have an interest in the health sciences. Users not affiliated with the University of Iowa are welcome to use the Library and its collections on site.
As the only health sciences research library in the state of Iowa, a comprehensive collection is essential both now and in the future. Hardin Library does not discard items from the collection, except to eliminate unnecessary duplicates or seriously damaged materials. Most current books and journals are available in electronic format. Most older materials are located at the Library Annex and can be requested for delivery to Hardin or to your home or office.
Hardin Library is part of the University of Iowa Libraries. Because of this, Hardin’s users have access to all campus library collections. These collections include the basic sciences, engineering, business, social sciences, and humanities. The Law Library is not part of the UI Libraries and some materials from the Law Library are restricted to Law School affiliates.
Suggestions for additions to the Hardin collection are appreciated. Please use the Collection Purchase Request Form to make purchase or subscription suggestions. Although electronic resources are usually preferable to print, they are not always available or affordable. The preferences of the requestor are also considered.
The John Martin Rare Book Room generally collects works of value on topics related to the health sciences published before the 20th century. It also includes selected materials dealing with the history of medicine at the University and in the state of Iowa. It does not collect papers or archival materials; the University Archives at Main Library serves as the archives for the entire UI campus.
For more information about Hardin’s collection policies, please contact Janna Lawrence at janna-lawrence@uiowa.edu or 319-335-9870.
Donating Materials
In most cases, Hardin is unable to accept additional copies of books or journal volumes already owned. If materials are accepted, they are done so with the understanding that upon receipt, the material becomes the property of the University of Iowa. The Library reserves the right to determine the disposition of all gifts, including the right to give away or discard items that do not fit our needs. Please contact Janna Lawrence at janna-lawrence@uiowa.edu or 319-335-9870 before donating materials.
If you have books that you feel are appropriate for donation to the John Martin Rare Book Room, please contact Damien Ihrig at damien-ihrig@uiowa.edu or 319-335-9154.
The UI Libraries’ page on Gifts-in-Kind provides more information, including a list of organizations that accept the donation of books.
Financial Donations
If you wish to make a financial donation, please visit the University of Iowa Foundation’s Libraries page. In the search box, search for Hardin to see the options to contribute to Hardin Library. Gifts from private individuals make an enormous difference in the quality of collections and services we can offer to our community — and they give us a measure of flexibility to respond to unexpected opportunities that state-appropriated funds cannot match. We are grateful for financial gifts of any size.