Human skeleton and skull models are available for medical studies at the UL Library

In addition to offering the books for borrowing, the university libraries in other parts of the world lend teaching aids and models for individual studies. Until now, the academic libraries in Latvia have not offered such materials.

“It is difficult to teach anatomy abstractly, one needs to take the bones in one’s hands, feel and examine them,” explains Professor Valdis Folkmanis, Dean of the UL Faculty of Medicine. “The faculty has at its disposal various models, as well as biological preparations and human bodies of the deceased, which these people have bequeathed for research and training of future doctors. These are intended for the study process. In medical studies, the individual studies which are carried out by the student independently are also essential. These studies take place outside the auditorium or laboratory, and here such models, for example, the bones of the skull and their connections, will really transform and facilitate learning,” adds V. Folkmanis.

The director of the Library of the University of Latvia, Mārīte Saviča, is also pleased with the arrival of the human skeleton and skull models in the library: “Now our students will be the first in Latvia to have the opportunity to use not only printed books, huge anatomy atlases and electronic resources, but also anatomy models, – this is routinely practiced in the libraries of leading universities in Europe. This is one of our first steps and realised plans in our aspiration to continuously improve the library service in order to provide maximum support for university study programmes in a study-centred environment.”

The model of the human skeleton is available in the reading room of the UL House of Sciences Library, whereas 30 models of skulls can be reserved electronically in the PRIMO system.