ECE 401, Library Research Lab

This page will be available during academic year 2007-2008 at

http://www.library.unh.edu/branches/ECE401LibResearch.htm

Library Research Tools and Techniques: ECE 401, Fall ‘07 (biography project)

Outline and Web Links

I. When you have a question, ask yourself ... do I need specialized information?

If so, use specialized sources. Consider the scope, timeframe, and quality of the information you need.

Types of sources:

A. Printed and online resources (books, journal articles, data books, etc.);

primary and/or secondary sources

<http://www.library.unh.edu/branches/littypes.html>

Some articles in primary sources have been peer-reviewed, or refereed. This gives them more credibility.

B. Recommended Internet sites

(free or fee?) -- evaluate extra carefully!

C. Ask people for guidance

(instructors, library/info specialists, professional associations)

II. Tools to save your TIME!

A. UNH Library web site <http://www.library.unh.edu>

B. Branch Library web sites <http://www.library.unh.edu/locations.shtml>

C. UNH Library Catalog <http://library.unh.edu/>

1. Sample search by Subject: Fermi, Enrico

Another Subject search: Scientists

[hint: scroll down to Biography…look at Biography-Dictionaries]

One more: Science - History

2. Title, Author, Keyword searches

3. How to find the book and what does that call number mean?

Example: Q141 .D5 (Dictionary of Scientific Biography)

Q = Science (in general)

141= biography section of Q

.D5 stands for the author's name, or the title sometimes

4. Library of Congress classification outline

<http://lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html>

5. Types of sources and where to look:

<http://www.library.unh.edu/branches/littypes.html>

6. BONUS! Course reserves (look up in catalog)

7. More catalog features: Use book cart to export records; Request checked-out books;Renew books

III. Online and print tools & techniques for your project

(these are mostly subscription resources – you need to be at a site that subscribes, such as the UNH Library. Off-campus, you'll be prompted for your UNH ID number (or you can use VPN).

Question: What is a database?

An answer: "... a collection of interrelated data of different types" (Olle, 2000)

A. Biographical information in online databases

UNH Library listing <http://www.library.unh.edu/researchtools/databases/>

Or selective branch library listings: http://www.library.unh.edu/about/location.shtml

1. Access Science and Encyclopaedia Britannica Online (both are encyclopedias)

2. Searchable online biography collections: Biography Resource Center, American national biography, and Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

3. Recommended print sources: Dictionary of Scientific Biography (at Dimond Reference, Q141 .D5).;
A selective list of print collective biographies focused on scientists, mathematicians and engineers is available here.
There is also Biography Index (in print, at Dimond) for finding more biographical material.

B. Selected indexes for journal articles

1. Web of Science You can search for journal articles that cite an article authored by your chosen scientist/engineer/mathematician (Cited Ref Search) OR you can use the General Search to look for articles authored from 1965-present.

2. MathSciNet

You can search for articles authored by your chosen person. This resource focuses on Mathematics, 1940 to present (online)

2. Compendex and INSPEC

You can search for articles authored by your chosen person. These two resources focus on Engineering (Compendex) and Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computers and Controls (INSPEC). Online: 1970/1969; Print: late 19th century forward

C. Getting the actual material

1. Use “Find It At UNH” or UNH Library Catalog. Is it available at UNH?

2. If the UNH Library doesn't own a publication that you need, if you are a member of the UNH student/faculty/staff community:

For books:

Virtual Catalog (see UNH Library Home Page, Services)

(http://www.library.unh.edu)

InterLibrary Loan

(https://uofnewhampshire.hosts.atlas-sys.com/illiad/logon.html)

For articles:

InterLibrary Loan

IV. Finding and evaluating web sites

A. What is a search engine? (ex.: Google <http://www.google.com>)

B. What is a directory (ex.: Google directory, Yahoo directory)

C. To compare search engines, use Search Engine Showdown

<http://www.searchengineshowdown.com> (compiled by a human being)

D. To evaluate web pages, think about their source, possible bias,

timeliness, etc. -- see Guide <http://www.reference.unh.edu/guides/eval.html>

Recommended site for scientific biography:

Librarian’s Internet Index

Section: “Scientists” <http://www.lii.org/pub/subtopic/4514>

Citing sources:
        Give credit where it's due. If your sources are good, it makes YOU look good. Cite your source and use quote marks if you include direct quotations.

          1. For electrical and computer engineering, use IEEE citation style, see pp.4-5.

          2. A frequently-recommended guide for science writing (in print):
   A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, by Kate Turabian,
   available at the library.

          3. Example of a citation for a web site:
UNH Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science Library.      University of New Hampshire; last updated 5 October 2006.      [Online]. Available:      http://www.library.unh.edu/branches/engmathcs.html; Internet;      accessed 14 August 2007.

Questions? Library staff are here to help. That's our job.

Emily Poworoznek, Engineering & Physical Sciences Librarian, University of New Hampshire

el –at- unh –dot- edu rev. 9/07