The Health Sciences Library (HSL) was established as a unit of the Division of Health Affairs at the University of North Carolina in 1952. However, it was not named Health Sciences Library until 1968. It served as the central library for the University hospital and the division's five schools (Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health) and their associated programs, consolidating the holdings of several smaller libraries that had existed prior to 1952. Originally located in MacNider Hall and later in the Clinic Wing of North Carolina Memorial Hospital, the library moved in 1970 to a new building constructed in MacNider Hall's courtyard to accommodate a growing student enrollment and added programs. Myrl Ebert (1913-2001) served as director of the HSL from its founding until her retirement from the University in 1975. She led the effort to develop the new library building, and she was also involved in the creation of MEDLARS, the biomedical bibliographic retrieval system that later became the online database MEDLINE.
Dorothy Long, Head of Readers' Services, served briefly as acting director of the Health Sciences Library following Ebert's retirement. Sam W. Hitt became director in 1976 and served until 1986; he was succeeded by Carol Jenkins.
From the guide to the Health Sciences Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Records, 1951-2001, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives.)
