Introduction to Polymer Engineering (ChE 701/801)

"Using the UNH Library for Polymer Engineering"

Emily Poworoznek, Engineering & Physical Sciences Librarian ( el @ unh.edu )
                                                                         [polymer formation image from: neutrons.ornl.gov]
2/11/08
For polymer engineering: finding information at UNH and beyond

     A Web outline of this session (with links) is posted at
http://www.library.unh.edu/branches/che701-801spr08.html

     After discussion in the classroom, students will have an opportunity to look at library resources and have guided hands-on practice with databases and Boolean search techniques at the Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science Library, Kingsbury Hall S236.

Useful links:

UNH Library web site

Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science Library web site

Selected Online Resources for Engineering

UNH Library master list of databases

Database searching comparison sheet


Finding and using library resources:

Types of literature: primary, secondary, tertiary

Encyclopedias: Encyclopedias are useful for finding background information and topic overviews. There are specialized encyclopedias for every subject.
Two that are useful for polymer engineering are:



Properties Data: Usually found in printed or online handbooks and online databases. Most printed handbooks are in the Reference section of the Engr/Math/CS Library or on reserve there. Some are online. You can find handbooks in the Library Catalog by title, subject, or keyword, or by asking the Library Associate or Librarian to help you find what you need.

     Print examples:


     Online examples:


Journal articles and conference papers:

These are the main written record for most fields of science. Some journals and conference proceedings are accessible online (by subscription or open access); others may be available only in print.

Examples of major research journals (periodicals) for Polymer Engineering are:




In the Library catalog, you can look up the title of a journal or do a keyword search for a conference name. However, the titles and authors of articles or papers are NOT in the catalog. Instead, use indexes and abstracts to look up articles by keywords, authors, article titles, and more. These days, the ones used most often are online and are known as bibliographic databases.

Bibliographic Databases: Search for articles, reports, and other published material. Most are online now. For older materials, may need to use printed indexes.

COMPENDEX -- stands for Computerized Engineering Index
-- Fairly comprehensive coverage of engineering literature, including journal articles, conference proceedings, and more. This goes back to 1884 in print under the title Engineering Index. At UNH, you can use from 1970-present online, but for earlier literature you need to use the printed volumes. The online version includes article abstracts and links to "Find it @ UNH" to locate materials, as well as many special features like alerts and citation sharing.

SciFinder Scholar (download page)
-- Excellent resource covering all aspects of pure and applied chemistry and much related literature, including journal and conference articles, reports and patents. Can be searched by topic, substance identifiers (such as compound name or CAS registry number), molecular formula or structure, and author. Links to fulltext through ChemPort -- try the "Find it @ UNH" links. Includes chemical regulatory and commercial availability information. Literature coverage starts with 1907; reaction information starts with 1974.

You can find more resources for Engineering literature searches at the Selected Online Resources for Engineering page and for all topics on master list of databases.

Other literature databases that can be useful for Chemical and Polymer Engineering are:
Web of Science

Digital Dissertations -- indexes dissertations (mostly U.S.) and provides online access to UNH dissertations from 1997 forward.
For patent information, see the NIST Virtual Library Patents page, which includes links to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office site as well as international patent web sites. Most are searchable; they vary in the type of searching you can do.

Finding books and journals:

Often, you need to find books, which provide more background than journal or conference articles. All materials owned by or accessible through the UNH Library are listed in the Catalog, including books, journals, AND databases.

UNH Library catalog
--search by journal title, book title, author, subject, keyword, etc. (NOT article title)
--make requests for items from Storage, other locations, or for materials that are checked out (can also use Virtual Catalog)

When you find material listed in the catalog, you’ll see the Location, Call Number, and Status. In the example below, “Engr/Math Library” is the Engineering, Math & Computer Science Library in Kingsbury Hall. “Archives” is a non-circulating collection you can use in the Special Collections area at Dimond Library.

Example:


In this call number, TP is the section for Chemical Engineering, and TP155.7 is number for chemical processes. This system keeps books on similar topics near each other.

If the resource is online, you will see a ""Connect to" link instead of a location and call number.

On the library shelves, books are organized by location and call number; journals are in order by title in the branch libraries or by call number at Dimond Library.
Library of Congress call number system: Outline

How to get material the UNH Library does not own:
(any time you are not sure whether we own an item, please ask us)

Books:

Boston Library Consortium (BLC) Virtual Catalog -- search and request books; you can get them in 4 days from member libraries in the region (search by title, author, subject, ISBN)

Interlibrary Loan: borrow books and media; get articles from conference proceedings or journals

Infotrieve (for grad students & faculty): journal article ordering; Table-of-Contents email alerts


You can get to all of these sites from menus on the UNH Library home page

Evaluate open access information critically

Cite all of your sources, no matter whether they are online, print, etc. Save, email, copy-and-paste or jot down the information as you search. Include the URL and date accessed for Web sites.

     A frequently-recommended guide for science writing:
A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, by Kate Turabian, available at the Library.

     Citation example for a web site:
UNH Physics Library.
     University of New Hampshire; last updated 30 January 2008.
     [Online]. Available:
     http://www.library.unh.edu/branches/physlib.html; Internet;
     accessed 4 February 2008.



How to get more help:

   Your professors, your librarian (me), and staff at the Engineering/Math/Computer Science Library. The library manager is Alan Bryce and Barbara Morris is the library assistant -- 862-1740 or 862-1196.

Comments or questions to Emily Poworoznek, UNH Engineering and Physical Sciences Librarian (please modify with @ symbol and no parentheses): el(at)cisunix.unh.edu or 862-4168

February 2008.