Introduction to Physics Research (Physics 706/806)

Introduction to Physics Research (Physics 706/806)

"Using the UNH Library for Physics Research"

Emily Poworoznek, Engineering & Physical Sciences Librarian
Associate Professor, University of New Hampshire -- email: el(at)unh.edu

3/23/09
UNH Library resources and beyond (discussion)

A Web outline of this session (with links) is posted at
http://www.library.unh.edu/branches/phy706-806spr09.html

3/30/09
UNH Library resources (practice)

You will have guided hands-on practice with databases and Boolean search techniques.
This session will be held in DeMeritt 301.

Useful links:

UNH Library web site

Selected Physics and Astronomy e-Resources

UNH Library master list of databases

Database searching comparison sheet

Finding and using library resources:

Standard Data: Usually found in printed handbooks or online. Most handbooks are in Reference section of Physics Library or on reserve there. Some are online. You can find physics handbooks in the Library Catalog by title, subject, or keyword, or by asking the Physics Library Associate or Librarian.

Print examples:

Table of Isotopes (sample title search); Three editions at the Physics Library; latest edition is at Physics Reference QD601.2 .F57 1996

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (Physics Reference QD65 .H3; also at all other branches and Dimond Library)

Review of Particle Physics

NIST Chemistry Webbook

Journal articles and conference papers: The written record of science. Some journals and conference proceedings are accessible online (by subscription or open access); others may be available only in print.

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.

ADS -- Astrophysics Data System
-- Produced by NASA; overlaps to some extent with INSPEC but many unique references and links. Open access.

INSPEC
-- includes physics and astrophysics, electrical and electronics engineering, computers and controls, IT; starts with 1969. Has "Find it @ UNH" links. Includes chemical, numerical and other limits. In printed form: Science Abstracts extends back to 1898. UNH Library subscribes.

Web of Science (Science Citation Index)
--General & cited reference searching, starts with 1956. Has "Find it @ UNH" links. UNH Library subscribes.

See list of Selected Physics and Astronomy e-Resources or the UNH Library master list of databases for more databases.

Other databases for Physics and Space Science include: ARIBIB (astronomy), INIS (nuclear), SPIN Web (physics in general, includes better coverage for physics education) and of course arXiv and SPIRES-HEP, which cover/include pre-prints as well as final versions of articles. You can find links to all of these on the Physics list above.

For related areas:
Chemistry literature: SciFinder Scholar
Engineering literature: COMPENDEX and INSPEC; IEEE Xplore
Math literature: MathSciNet
Statistics: Current Index to Statistics
Computer Science: ACM Digital Library
Computer applications: Safari Tech Books Online
Imaging: SPIE Digital Library
Dissertations: Dissertation Abstracts

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, “Physics Library” is the Clark Physics Library in DeMeritt. The book is due on 04-17-09, so it's probably checked out to a graduate student or faculty member. You can use the Request feature to request that it be put on Hold for you. Or, you can borrow it from our Virtual Catalog (see below).

Example:

Click here for a link to this example.

In this call number (T11 .A37 1996), T is the classification code for Applied Science, and T11 stands for scientific and technical writing. The next line of the call number, .A37, simply keeps the books in order within the T11 group -- in this case it stands for the author's last name, Alley.1996 is the year the book was published. The Library of Congress classification system keeps books on similar topics physically near each other for browsing. However, because books may be checked out, or in different campus libraries, check the catalog to know what is truly available.

If the resource is online, you will see a ""Connect to" link instead of a location and call number. For example, the Library offers Alley's book on scientific presentations online as well as in print.

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 that you are not sure whether the Library owns an item, please ask us. When the Library doesn't own material that you need, you can usually get it through the following Library services, at no charge.

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 and the If We Don't Have It 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), or Heather Gagnon at the Physics Library, 862-2348.

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

March 2009.