Library Tips for Students

• The Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Library in 100 Hildebrand Hall is the library for chemical engineering and chemistry, but you can use any library on campus. Moffitt Library, our undergraduate library, has the longest open hours and even stays open 24 hours a day before finals. Hours for all libraries are on the web. AirBears access is available in most libraries.
• Use the PATHFINDER catalog to find most books and journals on the UC campus. Use the MELVYL catalog to find materials on all the UC campuses. Your student ID card is your library card. There is a Guide to Library Catalogs.
• Most journals in chemistry and chemical engineering are available electronically.
  • Browse the Chemistry Library's Selected Electronic Journals for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering page.
  • Search All Electronic Journals A-Z .
  • Search PATHFINDER or MELVYL as catalog records will have links to the online content.
  • Use the UC-eLinks Citation Linker
• An increasing number of reference books is becoming available electronically.
  • Browse the Chemistry Library's Electronic Books page
  • Use the UCB Library system's compilation of Electronic Resources
  • Search PATHFINDER or MELVYL to locate the title and link to the online content.
  • Use the UC-eLinks Citation Linker
• Search the scientific literature. You have access to an immense number of article databases on all subjects, chemistry, engineering, medicine, business, etc:
  • Web Of Science is one of the easiest databases to use and it covers all areas of science and engineering. PubMed is another easy to use database that covers chemical and molecular biology.
  • SciFinder Scholar is the online version of Chemical Abstracts, the premier database for chemical information. It is an excellent database for all aspects of chemistry and chemical engineering. Search by text, by structure or substructure. SFS is a client/server program so you must download and install a software program on your own computer in order to access the database. You can also search the database on any of the library's public PC’s where the software program has been installed. Search early in the morning, as it is very hard to get a connection at other times.
  • Two other core databases in chemical engineering are Compendex and INSPEC.
  • Crossfire Beilstein/Gmelin provides access to Beilstein and Gmelin databases, a great resource for synthesis information and physical properties. Search by text, structure, or substructure. 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 on your own computer, or you can use the public PCs in the library.
  • All other article databases.
• Use the campus Virtual Private Network (VPN) or the Library Proxy Server to access electronic resources from off-campus. The proxy server requires Internet access and a web browser and is easy to set up. With the Library Proxy Server you can access almost all the library resources but NOT SciFinder Scholar or CrossFire Beilstein/Gmelin. If you want to access these two resources you must install the VPN.
• Avoid library bills. Check your library inventory and renew online. Also, be sure email notification is turned on for you so that you get library notices in a timely manner.
• Request NRLF materials online. Northern Regional Library Facility (NRLF) is a warehouse at the Richmond Field Station where the library stores low-use books and journals. Use the NRLF Request feature on PATHFINDER to electronically request material at NRLF. Books will be sent to a campus library for you to pick up within two days and journal articles will usually 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 MELVYL Request feature in MELVYL to request books electronically.
  • Use the UC-eLinks button in databases to request 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.
• There are three public photocopiers in the Chemistry Library that operate on change or with 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.
• Make creating bibliographies a breeze. Bibliographic management software programs like RefWorks allow you to store and manage all your citations, insert them into papers and easily generate lists of references. The campus has a site license for RefWorks so you don't have to pay anything to use it.
• Check the Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Library instruction web page for additional classes on how to use many of the resources discussed here. Also take classes at the Teaching Library and at other libraries on campus.
• The UCB library system hires student workers. More information is available online.

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The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Last updated 08/14/07. Content maintained by: M. Mahoney.