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Do I Really Need To Use the Library?

Do I Really Need To Use the Library?. Presentation to Materials Science and Engineering Grad Students October 3, 2007 by Linda Michtics, Liaison Librarian for Engineering michtic@mcmaster.ca , ext. 23882. Objective of this Presentation.

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Do I Really Need To Use the Library?

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  1. Do I Really Need To Use the Library? Presentation to Materials Science and Engineering Grad Students October 3, 2007 by Linda Michtics, Liaison Librarian for Engineering michtic@mcmaster.ca, ext. 23882

  2. Objective of this Presentation • To provide you with information on sources and services available through the McMaster Library which will assist you with your research

  3. Challenge • I am looking for articles on ‘solute drag’ and I want to know the most efficient way of searching for them

  4. How Do I Find a Database? • by subject (Materials Science) under the Databases tab on the Library’s homepage • by list of Primary Science and Engineering Databases on Thode’s homepage left nav bar (Note: this is a small subset of many electronic databases to which the Library subscribes) • by contacting the Library or your Liaison Librarian

  5. How Do I Find a Database?

  6. Materials Science Databases at Mac

  7. Favourite Database Choices • favourite choices of Materials Science profs in your department: • Engineering Village – Compendex and Inspec • SciFinder Scholar • Web of Science: Science Citation Index Expanded

  8. Constructing a Search • identify main concepts • identify synonyms for these concepts (tip: use online thesaurus) • when phrase searching, enclose phrase in quotation marks eg. “solute drag” • use boolean operators: and, or, not • use proximity operators eg. near • use asterisk symbol * (truncation) for plurals or alternative endings : * eg. canad* gets canada, canadian, canadians • use wildcard symbol ? eg. wom?n for woman and women

  9. Compendex (Engineering Index) • most comprehensive bibliographic database of research for all engineering disciplines • includes references from over 5,000 engineering journals, conferences and technical reports • online coverage from 1969 to the present • updated weekly • use online tutorial and online help in Compendex

  10. Compendex Quick Search

  11. Compendex Expert Search

  12. Searching Compendex

  13. Searching Compendex and Inspec Simultaneously

  14. Results of ‘solute drag’ search in Compendex

  15. Tips for Too Few Results

  16. “One Good Article” Strategy • find one good article • use hyperlinked words from descriptors (main heading; controlled terms, uncontrolled terms, etc.) or authors to find other relevant articles

  17. Detailed Compendex Record

  18. Detailed Compendex Record con’t

  19. Getting the Reference by Clicking on

  20. RACER • use RACER if article is not available at or through McMaster libraries • RACER = online Interlibrary loan system • searches other Ontario university libraries as well as many others • average of 5 to 10 days to receive material • FREE

  21. RACER from Thode’s Homepage

  22. Database Alerts • receive emails to keep up-to-date on latest research in your area(s) of interest • offered by various database producers, societies and journal publishers • registration required but it’s FREE • for list, click on Database Alerts from the left nav bar on Thode’s homepage

  23. Thode Database Alerts Webpage

  24. Compendex Alerts Registration

  25. Saving Your References in RefWorks • web-based citation management software • FREE to Mac students • create one or several accounts • store unlimited number of references • registration required • can move your RefWorks database into another database programme (eg. Endnote, ProCite, Reference Manager, etc.)

  26. RefWorks Login Screen

  27. Searching the Library’s Catalogue

  28. Library Catalogue • contains all material in all four campus libraries • includes materials the Library owns or has access to such as: print books, e-books, print journals (by title only), e-journals, government publications, conference proceedings • check location information and status from a catalogue record

  29. e-Journals Portal • Contains online full-text journals, magazines and newspapers • Note: always check the Library Catalogue if you can’t find something as we may have it in print or even online

  30. Google Scholar • searches across many disciplines and sources from one place • includes peer-reviewed articles, theses, books, etc. published by professional societies, preprint repositories, universities • if on-campus, can link directly to full-text papers that McMaster subscribes to as result of Library’s link resolver • use get it @ Mac link if it’s available

  31. Google Scholar from Thode Library’s Homepage

  32. Need Help? Just Ask! • Visit: Research Help Desk in Thode Library, 1st Floor • email: thoderef@mcmaster.ca • Call: ext. 24256, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. • MSN: library@mcmaster.ca M – F 11 -3 • AOL/Yahoo!: maclibraries M – F 11 -3 • Contact Linda Michtics, Liaison Librarian for Engineering: michtic@mcmaster.ca or ext. 23882

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