What Is the Stony Brook University Hospital Library
The Stony Brook University Hospital Library is a health sciences library located within the Stony Brook University Hospital campus in Stony Brook, New York. It supports clinicians, residents, students, researchers, and patients by providing access to clinical guidelines, research databases, patient education materials, and curated print and digital resources. Its collections focus on medicine, nursing, allied health, and related biomedical fields, and the library collaborates with campus partners to support learning, practice, and patient care.
Collections and Core Resources
The library maintains a mix of print and digital materials curated for healthcare professionals and trainees. Collections typically include:
- Core clinical textbooks and reference works
- Up-to-date databases for literature searching (e.g., PubMed, Embase, Cochrane)
- Evidence-based resources such as UpToDate and DynaMed
- Patient education materials in multiple formats
- Historical archives and select monographs related to health sciences
Resource holdings are periodically reviewed to align with curricula, clinical priorities, and accreditation requirements, ensuring that the collection remains relevant for both learning and patient care.
Key Services for Clinicians and Trainees
The library offers a range of services designed to support clinical work, research, and education, including:
- One-on-one reference and consultation appointments
- Literature searching and systematic review support
- Instructional sessions and workshops on evidence-based practice
- Access to licensed clinical decision-support tools
- Interlibrary loan and document delivery when needed
These services are often coordinated through the library’s liaison program, in which librarians embed into departments or curricula to provide targeted support at the point of care or learning.
Services and Resources for Patients and Families
Recognizing the role of information in care, the library provides materials that help patients and families better understand conditions, treatments, and next steps. Services may include:
- Access to vetted patient education resources
- Guidance on how to discuss prognosis and treatment options with clinicians
- On-site and remote access to selected consumer-friendly databases
- Referrals to complementary support services, such as counseling or social work
While the library does not provide medical advice, staff can direct patients to reliable sources and clarify how to use health information in conversations with their care team.
Hours, Location, and Access Policies
Library Hours and Contact Points
Operating hours typically align with hospital and academic schedules, with variations for holidays, exam periods, and summer months. The library is often accessible via the hospital’s main campus entrance, and its proximity to clinical units supports quick consultation and study needs. Individuals without hospital credentials may need to present identification or request guest access through hospital security.
Contact information for the library, including phone, email, and online chat when available, is usually listed on the Stony Brook Medicine website or near library entrances. Before visiting in person, it is recommended to confirm current hours by phone or the library website, as service models can change in response to operational or public health considerations.
Accessing Digital Resources Off-Campus
Many of the library’s electronic resources can be accessed remotely by current students, faculty, and staff through the institution’s VPN or single sign-on credentials. Off-campus access typically involves logging in through the Stony Brook library proxy or the hospital’s secure network. Remote users should consult the library’s guides for instructions, which may include steps for connecting to licensed clinical databases from home or while traveling.
Instruction, Research Support, and Educational Partnerships
The library plays a central role in supporting curricula for health professions programs, including medicine, nursing, and physician assistant education. Librarians contribute to the design of assignments, offer tailored workshops, and provide one-on-one coaching in evidence-based practice and information literacy. For researchers, services may include support for grant applications, data management planning, and systematic review methodology.
Through formal partnerships with academic departments and clinical programs, the library helps ensure that information skills development is integrated into professional training. These collaborations also facilitate the use of cutting-edge tools for literature review and data analysis, bridging the gap between learning, research, and high-quality patient care.
Evaluating Health Information and Avoiding Misinformation
In an environment with abundant online health information, the library emphasizes critical evaluation of sources and transparency about evidence quality. Staff can guide patients and clinicians in assessing the reliability of websites, interpreting study headlines, and understanding conflicts of interest. By promoting information literacy, the library helps users navigate uncertainty and avoid misinformation that could affect decision-making.
These efforts often include curated links to trusted resources, plain-language summaries of clinical topics, and guidance on when to consult a clinician for individualized advice. The library’s role is to support informed conversations, not to replace direct medical evaluation or treatment recommendations.