Orientation Tips for Graduate Students

• The Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Library in 100 Hildebrand Hall is the library for chemical engineering and chemistry. Hours for all libraries are on the web. AirBears access is available.
• Search the literature:
  • SciFinder Scholar-- Access to Chemical Abstracts, the most comprehensive database in chemistry, with indexing back to 1907. Includes physical property data and spectra information for many compounds. SFS is available as either a client/server program or a web-based version. For the web version, you must first register with the publisher, instructions are here. Already registered? Use this direct link. For the client/server program, you must download and install a software program on your own computer in order to access the database. Instructions are here. For both versions, there are a limited number of ports so you may not be able to access the database at peak times. Also, please be sure to logoff promptly when you are finished searching in order to release the port for someone else to use.
  • Crossfire Beilstein/Gmelin - Online access to Beilstein and Gmelin databases. Like SciFinder Scholar, this is a client/server program that requires the downloading and installation of a software program in order to search the database.
  • Web Of Science Web version of Science Citation Index.
  • You have access to an immense number of other databases including Compendex, Inspec, Biosis, PubMed, Applied Science and Technology, NTIS, ABI Inform, etc. PubMed users be sure to use http://uclibs.org/PID/17708 in order to link to UCB electronic journal subscriptions.
• For off-campus access to library resources, use the campus Virtual Private Network (VPN) or the Library Proxy Server. The proxy server requires Internet access and a web browser and is relatively easy to set up with your CALNET ID or your student ID number. With the Library Proxy Server you can access almost all the library resources including the web version of SciFinder Scholar, but NOT the SciFinder Scholar client/server program or CrossFire Beilstein/Gmelin. If you want to access these two resources you must install the VPN.
• Avoid library bills. Use My OskiCat to renew library materials online. Log in using the number printed on your Cal 1 Card or Library Borrower's Card, and your Library PIN number.
• Request materials stored off-site at the Northern Regional Library Facility (NRLF) online through OskiCat. NRLF is a warehouse at the Richmond Field Station where the library stores low-use books and journals. Books will be sent to a campus library for you to pick up within two days and journal articles will be scanned and web delivered to you within two days.

• If what you want is not on campus and not at NRLF, you have a variety of options:
  • Use the UC-eLinks button in a database or in OskiCat to request books and journal articles
  • Use the UC-eLinks Citation Linker for journal articles, books and book chapters.
  • Use the UCB online Interlibrary Borrowing Service forms to request books and journal articles.
  • Use the Research Library Cooperative Program to request books and journal articles at Stanford and University of Texas.
  • Use the expedited document delivery program that the Chemistry Library operates for College of Chemistry faculty, graduate students and researchers if you need a journal article faster than the average time of two weeks for the above options. This is fairly expensive for the library so only use when the other options are too slow for your needs.
• For after-hours access, swipe your campus photo ID card on the unit to the right of the library doors. All rules regarding food and drink apply to after-hours use. Do not let anyone else in on your card. When you swipe your card, your access is recorded. There is a yellow emergency police call-down box in the reading room for use after-hours.
• The College has a photocopier in the library that will work with your College card, once your card is coded with a fund code. Until then, use the public photocopiers that operate on change or on a Cannon copy card. Copy cards can be purchased at the dispenser in the library. Student discount cards are sold in various denominations and are available only over-the-counter at full-service copy centers, for locations see Library Copy Services.
• ChemBioDraw has been licensed by the College for members of the College's research groups. Download at this site. You must have an email address that ends in @berkeley.edu or @cchem.berkeley.edu. For questions about how to use the program, contact Kathy Durkin. For technical problems, contact support@cchem.berkeley.edu.
• Bibliographic management software programs such as EndNote, RefWorks and Quosa allow you to easily store and manage all your citations, insert them into papers and generate lists of references.
• Keep current with library resources and services with the Science & Engineering Libraries News blog. Keep current with new articles published in your field by creating alerts in databases and by having selected journal table of contents sent to you via email or an RSS feed.
• Check the Chemistry Library instruction web page for classes on how to use many of these resources. Also take classes at the Teaching Library and at other libraries on campus.

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Last updated 08/18/09. Content maintained by: M. Mahoney.