20 Questions – ASL Reference Training – March 23, 2007 [RBS = UBLIB Resources by Subject Pages]
1) I need to get an article in Z. Kris. a) Ulrich’s Periodicals Directory http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/ulrichs.html b) Jake - http://jake.openly.com/ - ‘title begins’, abbreviation, and ‘sounds like’ search options. c) CASSI: Chemical Abstracts Service Source (UGL/SEL Reference CD or Ref Z5523.C436)
Teaching Point: Use sources that allow searching abbreviations or highly truncated title words.
Great. How about? Baganz, H. “Phenol Production” B. 93, 784-791 (1910). d) Patterson’s German-English Dictionary for Chemists. UGL/SEL Reference QD5.P3
Teaching Point: Classic, discipline-specific print sources often succeed when other routes fail.
2) What does Zeitschrift mean in English? a) Try Google: ‘german dictionary zeitschrift’ b) Grab a foreign language dictionary off the reference shelf.
Teaching Point: Don’t always need a scientific source to answer a science question.
3) I need this reference immediately: Berthelot, M. Ann. Chim. Phys. 66, no. 3, p. 64 (1862). a) Bison – Listed, but in storage. b) French National Library Digital Archive http://gallica.bnf.fr/PeriosListe.htm
Teaching Point: Just because it is old, doesn’t mean you have dig out the hard copy. 4) Who was Rosalind Franklin? a) AccessScience (McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology) http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/as.html b) Bison Catalog – Subject Search (Franklin, Rosalind, 1920-1958) Results include a great PBS/NOVA video, The Secret of Photo 51. c) Biographical Information Guide [RBS (right-hand pane)] http://libweb1.lib.buffalo.edu/infotree/resourcesbysubject.asp? subject=Biographical+Information
Teaching Point: AccessScience is starting point for nearly any “ready reference” science question.
5) Do we have the 19th IEEE Congress on Semiconductor Lasers held in 2004?
KEY POINT: Do not attempt exact title/title begins search. Use various combinations of significant title words. Remember reoccurring conferences may have a “series” cataloging entry making date ranging dangerous. Actual event may be a conference, symposia/um, proceeding, meeting, congress, workshop, etc.
a) Bison Catalog – only a small percentage of all conferences each year (but all IEEE/IEE ones!) http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/bison/index.html b) WORLDCAT c) Technical Reports Guide (RBS: Right-hand Pane) http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/tech_repts.html d) Open access metasearch/repositories like Google Scholar, Oaister, Scirus.
Teaching Points: Many variant titles; many hidden in series records. Conference may occur in 1 year and be published 1-2 years later. Extra care needed to not miss catalog entries. Check open access/repositories.
6) I need the full-text of a patent, EP 1300077.
Hint: Countries/regional patent offices have standard two letter codes (e.g. EP European, GB Great Britain) – list at http://uspto.gov/patft/help/helpctry.htm. A reference with no readily identifiable source like a journal or conference name and starting with two letters followed by 5- to 10-digit number is most likely a patent, possibly a technical report. If the first 2 or 4 digits look like a year, it is even more likely a patent.
a) Patents Guide (RBS: Right-hand Pane) http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/engineering/patents.html b) Top Pick/always a good starting point: ESP@CENET http://ep.espacenet.com/ Teaching Point: Patents aren’t that hard. Just realize they come in families and different databases may space/format the number a little differently from the way you have it.
7) Where can I find the Infra-red (IR) Spectra of Benzotrifluoride? a) NIST Chemistry WebBook http://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/ (RBS: Chemistry: Encyclopedias, Directories, Handbooks) b) Spectra Guide (Resources by Subject: Right-hand Pane under Properties Data) http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/spectra.html c) Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry UGL/SEL Reference QD 71.5 listed on the UGL/SEL Ready Reference Guide. [For general questions about techniques & analyzing specific categories of materials like food or pesticides]
Teaching Point: Encyclopedias, Directories, Handbooks sections of RBS Guides & the UGL/SEL Ready Reference Guide are especially useful for ready reference science questions.
8) Do we have this report, NBSIR-79-1955 S. Pattal. National Engineering Laboratory. Jan. 1980. a) NTIS database – http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/ntis.html b) Technical Reports Guide (RBS: Right-hand Pane) http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/tech_repts.html c) Deciphering Report Codes Report Series Codes Dictionary Capen Multimedia Ctr Ref Z6945.A2.R45 Dictionary of Report Series Codes Capen Multimedia Ctr Ref Z6945.A2.S6 Any general acronym/abbreviations dictionary.
Teaching Point: Most technical reports have at least two numbers, one assigned by the agency funding the work and a NTIS (aka accession) number that usually starts with an (AD-, ADA-, N-, or PB-). Our mostly uncataloged microfiche reports may be filed under either number. Hence, after checking the catalog, one must check the physical microfiche cabinets under all numbers associated with the report. 9) I need ASTM Standard D1047-95(2001). a) Standards Guide (RBS: Right-hand Pane) http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/standards.html
Teaching Points: There are many thousands of standards most of which we do not own. Though not cheap, most can be purchased individually. Always ask if they want the most current standard or exactly the year cited.
10) What geological maps do we have of the Province of Ontario? a) BISON Advanced Search http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/bison/ Search as subject keywords: ‘geolog? and ontario’ with Format specified as ‘Maps’. Note: Stratigraphical maps (showing subsurface rock layering) can be retrieved by searching for ‘strat?’ as a subject keyword.
Teaching Point: All our maps are cataloged. Find out the type of map needed and identify the appropriate, standard keywords/LC subject headings.
11) Where can I get information on the Tungurahua volcano and other volcanoes in that region? Where can I access the most recent volcanic activity report? a) Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program Database http://www.volcano.si.edu/ (RBS: Geology: Databases & other Web Resources)
Teaching Point: Don’t neglect fine governmental and other top notch free web sources, especially ones listed on the RBS pages.
12) How can I research endangered species? a) BISON Expert Search: ‘wrd=endangered and wcl=ref’ [all reference books with ‘endangered’ as a keyword. Note the collection prefix is wcL=, not wc1]. The link to expert codes appears right on the Expert Search web page (http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/help/longccl.html).
Note: Species (or animals) was not used in search query so as to not miss books on endangered plants, flowers, etc. To limit just to UGL/SEL Reference, add ‘wsl=Bufsi’ [Capen Libraries] to query. b) BIO 200: Evolutionary Biology Guide http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/bio/evol-bio-web.html This guide is an inventory all UB class-specific and laboratory project- specific web sites created for the Biology Dept. This is a good place to find a lot of biological information from the multi-disciplinary/topics of a general biology class. One of the classes is on Biodiversity and Endangered Species. Click on that topic and you’ll get a fine inventory of resources on endangered species, including several from the Federal government and New York State, who maintain species inventories.
13) What is the scientific name for the walleye? a) Since this is a common species, many standard dictionaries will contain this information, including the Oxford English Dictionary. Usually the bigger the dictionary, the more species listed. b) Integrated Taxonomic Information System http://www.itis.gov/ (Web site found via Google search)
Teaching Point: Short and simple often works.
14) Role of Genetics in Alzheimer Disease
a) OMIM: Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/OMIM.html Full-text, online catalog of human genes and genetic disorders, containing text, references, MEDLINE links, Entrez sequence information, and additional National Center for Bioinformatics info. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)
Search “Alzheimer’s” and click on the top record for “Alzheimer’s Disease.” You will get a FREQUENTLY updated state-of-the-art literature review with links to PubMed records. In the top right corner are two sites for “Gene Tests” (research labs, additional reviews, external links to advocacy groups) and “Links” (to other NCBI resources to identify nucleotide or protein sequences, gene expression, and a host of other detailed genomic data).
b) MEDLINE or PubMed are good bibliographic backups.
Teaching Point: Genetic information? Think NCBI. 15) I need info on the ecological effects of global warming.
a) BISON ‘Global warming’ is a good LC subject term. However, you should add other appropriate LC subjects: ‘Climatic change’ OR ‘Greenhouse gases’ OR ‘Global environmental change’. Ecosystem type(s) are used as LC subheadings, such as ‘Arctic regions’. In the BISON Advanced Search mode, place global warning terms in the 1st search statement box. Then put the ecosystem type(s) or location in the second search statement box, e.g., ‘boreal forest?’, ‘rainforest?’, ‘desert?’, etc.
b) Global Climate Change Guide (use search box on RBS page for ‘climate’) http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/environment/ecochange.html . Sample listing: NASA’s Global Change Master Directory, http://gcmd.nasa.gov/, a treasure trove of data and information resources produced by various research communities working under the auspices of the U.S. Federal government agencies and laboratories.
Teaching point: Effective LC subject searching can greatly enhance the quality of a search. Our web guides can be useful and remember the RBS search box.
16) How do I find GIS census files for NYS counties? a) GIS Data Resources (RBS: Geography-Physical: Library Guides: Data Resources) http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/asl/guides/GISdata.html Scroll to Census data>Tiger Files>Preview & Download>NYS>Erie
17) Where can I find the flash point of cyclohexane? [All from Resources by Subject/ Engineering: Chemical] a) CRC Handbook of Chemistry & Physics http://www.hbcpnetbase.com/ Search: flash point cyclohexane b) Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials http://www.knovel.com/knovel2/Toc.jsp?BookID=707 Search: “flash point” and cyclohexane c) Chemical properties handbook http://www.knovel.com/knovel2/Toc.jsp?BookID=49 Search: “flash point” and cyclohexane
Teaching Point: The Encyclopedias, Directories, Handbooks sections of Resources by Subject Guides are especially useful for engineering, materials, and property questions. 18) How do they make phenol? a) Chemical and Process Design Handbook http://www.knovel.com/knovel2/Toc.jsp?BookID=620 Search: phenol b) Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/ullmanns.html Search: ‘phenol and production’ (or browse Phenol article)
Teaching Point: Encyclopedias and Knovel come through again.
19) Where do I find articles on Hurricane Katrina’s impact on Texas? a) Geobase http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/geobase.html Advanced Search: Katrina and Texas [geographic description (GE) field] Note: Search ‘natural hazards’ in descriptor (DE) field to get all natural disasters.
Teaching Points: Geobase covers all topics broadly related to geography including ecology, biology, and environmental sciences. Make good use of “Advanced Search” fielded searching to get precise results.
20) I need the composition of Aluminum alloy AA 1035. a) ASM Online Handbook http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/e-resources/asmhandbooks.html
Teaching Points: Many engineering questions can be answered with digital handbook collections. The place to start: ASM Online Handbooks, Knovel, and EngNetBase. Each of these databases contains extensive data, diagrams, and textual descriptions giving much background information and review material.