Food and drinks are permitted in Rudolph Matas Library of the Health Sciences. Drinks should only be in covered cups, spill-proof mugs, or similar containers. Please place your trash in the receptacles. If you observe a spill, please notify a staff member.
For everyone’s safety, please do not use any outside appliances for heating food or drinks (small coffee pots, electric kettles, etc.) while inside the Matas Library. We appreciate your assistance in helping to keep our facilities clean and secure.
Many people come to the Matas Library to find a quiet place to read and to study. Please respect others' need for quiet and observe these guidelines for mobile phone use in the Matas Library:
- Please refrain from making mobile phone calls in the 24/7 Quiet Area.
- Please turn ringer off or switch to vibrate mode upon entering the Matas Library.
- When discussing a medical case please consider the privacy of the patient and their family when in an public area or elevator.
- Please use a low voice when using a mobile phone in the acceptable areas of the Matas Library (the information desk area or in the Library Commons).
- The Matas Library reserves the right to ask patrons to move to a more acceptable place in the building if they are using mobile phones in restricted areas or disturbing others in any area of the library.
There are three house phones in the Matas Library: one in the Commons area near the magazine rack, one in the 24/7 area near the after-hours entrance/exit (available at all hours), and one in the Mezzanine Computer Lab. Please follow the same guidelines as for mobile phone use. The Matas Library house phones do not allow calling outside of the 504 area code.
The 24/7 Quiet Area phone available for emergencies; but as this is also a quiet study area, please be considerate and use this phone sparingly and in a considerate manner.
The Matas Library Information Desk staff will also page physicians and students as needed.
The Matas Library uses a University-wide networked printing system called Pharos. Tulane Students, Faculty, and Staff can use the printing system with their Splash Cards. Some departments may provide a print credit, but the Matas Library does not control the print credit process. Contact your department if have a problem with your print credit. Funds may be added either on Gibson Online (https://gibson.tulane.edu) or at the card vending station in the Matas Library (cash only). Visitors to the Matas Library may purchase a reusable printing card at the card vending station for $1.00.
Print jobs can be sent using any Windows computer in the Matas Library or remotely from pharos.tulane.edu. When you are ready to retrieve your print job, proceed to the printers in the 24/7 Quiet Area. At the Print Station, run your card through the card reader and select your print job. That's it! Note that the system tells you how much each print job will cost as well as how much value is available on your card.
Problems with print credit on Splash Cards or cards purchased in the Matas Library should be reported to Card Services at (504) 865-5629 or splashcard.tulane.edu. Problems with printers should be reported to the Information Desk.
Printing Costs:
- Black & White: $0.10
- Color: $0.70
Matas Library computer users must abide by Tulane Univeristy's Acceptable Use Policy and all other applicable information technology policies. Anyone using the computers or wireless network inappropriately will be required to immediately cease the activity. Repeated violations by students, staff or faculty will be referred to the appropriate campus disciplinary body. Violations by non-affiliated users will be reported to the Tulane University Police Department and may be removed from the campus.
A limited number of computers are available for guest use in the Commons area. The Matas Library asks that visitors bring a letter stating their need to pursue academic research on letterhead from a business, firm, or other library. The School of Medicine Building is not open to the public; therefore, prior arrangement is required, especially on nights and weekends. The Matas Library reserves the right to limit guests' computer time.
There are two designated quiet study areas in the Matas Library: the 24/7 Quiet Area on the 2nd floor and the entire Mezzanine Level. Please be considerate of those studying nearby, as sound may carry outside of the group meeting areas.
Basic Guidelines:
- Please refrain from disrupting others with mobile phone rings or by talking on the phone in the quiet areas.
- Patrons should refrain from talking or working in groups in 24/7 Quiet Area or on the Mezzanine level.
- Students who wish to work in groups should use the designated group study rooms if possible.
- Groups of three or more take precedence in the study rooms. The rooms may be reserved for groups of three or more 24 hours in advance by using the online form.
- Matas Library patrons who fail to abide by the quiet study policy will be asked to leave the quiet area.
Public Access Policy
- The Matas Library is a private library in a restricted-access building, whose primary mission is to serve the students, faculty and staff of Tulane University Health Sciences programs. The Matas Library does welcome those with a specific need related to the library holdings and collections. A letter stating the need and purpose should be provided from the business, firm or library referring the individual. Researchers should contact the Matas Library Information Desk for an appointment, especially when planning a research trip from out of town. Researchers planning to work in the Matas Library on nights and weekends should also plan in advance so that the security desk will allow them entrance to the building. A related Computer Use Policy (see above) applies to the computers provided for library research and as a means of access to the Matas Library's online catalog and digital resources.
Other User Groups
- The Matas Library welcomes LSU Health Sciences Center graduate students and faculty with valid LSUHSC IDs. The Matas Library has a reciprocal borrowing agreement with John P. Ische' Library at LSU Health Sciences Center. LSUHSC Library users must be registered users of the Ische' Library and must also register with the Matas Library to charge materials (and vice versa). Physicians and health practitioners may check out materials by registering with the Matas Library and providing a copy of their medical license.
Tulane Affiliates
- Tulane students, faculty, and staff are given priority assistance. Tulane students, faculty and staff affiliated with programs supported by the Tulane libraries on the uptown campus, such as undergraduate programs, business and law are entitled to all services and privileges except Interlibrary Loan. Tulane health sciences alumni in health sciences practices are entitled to most services except Interlibrary Loan, document delivery, and off-campus access to subscription resources.
Visiting Researchers
- For use of the Matas Library's print collections, visitors and special borrowers may expect basic assistance that includes a brief introduction to searching the local catalog and/or another resource most appropriate to the visitor's needs. For use of the unique materials at Special Collections, visitors and special borrowers should pre-arrange a visit. Contact the Matas Library so that needed assistance with materials in the historic collections may be scheduled as staff time permits. Visitors and special borrowers served by other local libraries are expected to use their home library for in-depth instruction or detailed help with research topics.
Use of the Matas Library by unaccompanied minors is not permitted at any time.
In an emergency call 55555 from any Health Sciences Center campus phone. From phones not on the Tulane University Health Sciences Center system, you must call (504) 988-5555 (911 is also an option off-campus). For non-emergencies call (504) 988-5331.
There is 24-hour Security Desk on the first floor of 1430 Tulane Avenue near the main entrance of the Hutchinson Building/School of Medicine. All visitors must check in with Security upon arrival. Access to the building is by Tulane Splash Card. Tulane uptown campus library users who wish to use the Matas Library should make prior arrangements with Card Services to insure access to the building. Please call the Matas Library at (504) 988-2405 if you have questions or to make arrangements to visit.
Upon request at all hours, TUPD officers provide foot and/or vehicle personal safety escorts within the New Orleans Regional Medical Center (NORMC) area for anyone associated with Tulane. Please consider contacting Safe Ride at (504) 314-7233 (SAFE) when leaving the Matas Library after dark.
Click here for the Tulane University Health Sciences Center Police Department web page.
A valid Tulane University Splash Card is required to enter the 24/7 Quiet Area of the Matas Library after normal business hours. Simply swipe your Splash Card at the entrance/exit. Quiet study space, computers, printing, scanning and VTS system (to purchase or add money to a print card) are available after hours. Problems with your Tulane Splash Cards should be reported to Card Services at (504) 865-5629 or go to the Security Desk on the first floor of the Hutchinson Building/School of Medicine.
There are five group study rooms and one computer lab/classroom that are available for group or class use in the Matas Library. Matas Library seminars or curriculum-related events receive scheduling priority. Each group study room is equipped with a whiteboard, network connections, power outlets, and a table and chairs.
Two of the group study rooms are located on the 2nd floor of the Matas Library in the 24/7 area: Room 2228 (6-8 people) and Room 2230 (10-12 people). Three additional group study rooms are located on the Mezzanine Level: Rooms M201 (4-6 people), Room M203 (4-6 people) and Room M205 (4-6 people). The Mezzanine Computer Lab/Classroom (M207) is for hands-on computer usage and accommodates up to 18 people with individual desktop computer access. Matas Library classes and seminars take precedence over other classroom use.
To reserve a room 24 hours in advance:
- Use the online form
- Call the Matas Library Information Services Desk at (504) 988-2403
- Stop by the Information Services Desk in person
Please abide by the room use and reservation policies:
- Reservations need to be made 24 hours in advance using the webform on our website under ‘Requests’. Those requests must be received by library staff Monday-Friday 8am-4:45pm.
- Rooms can be reserved for a maximum of 6 hours.
- Single users can only book the mezzanine study rooms.
- If you leave the room for more than a few minutes, you need to take your possessions with you.
- If you are an hour late for your reservation, you forfeit the room.
- Rooms are first-come first-served if it is empty and hasn’t been reserved. Time limits still apply.
- Please be mindful of others and fair in your use of the space.
If using video conferencing software (i.e. Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Webex) in the library common areas, headphones are required. You may reserve a study room to use Zoom without headphones.
The Matas Library appreciates the offer of Tulane memorabilia, photographs of Louisiana physicians, health science institutional information and photographs from Louisiana, historic and rare medical books, especially those authored or published in 19th century Louisiana and early works on yellow fever or tropical medicine. Please provide a listing of the books, (include the title, editor/author and the date of publication for each item) so Matas Library staff can determine if the content is appropriate for the historical collection. The offer of current medical books and texts not currently owned by the Matas Library, especially those that were Tulane-authored or have Tulane contributors, is also appreciated. Medical supplies and instruments are not able to be accepted at the current time.
Donors are requested to sign a copy of the Matas Library Gift Policy prior to delivery of books or other gifts in kind. Donors may also be interested in the information regarding IRS substantiation. Records of all gifts to the Matas Library are reported to the Tulane Office of Development. The Matas Library appreciates your interest in Tulane and especially for your interest in the library's historical collections.