Library Tips for Undergraduate Students
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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.
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Use OskiCat to find books and journals on the UC campus. Use the Next-Generation Melvyl Pilot catalog to find materials on all the UC campuses. Your student ID card is your library card. There is a Guide to Library Catalogs.
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Most journals in chemistry and chemical engineering are available electronically. To locate:
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An increasing number of reference books are becoming available electronically:
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Search the scientific literature. You have access to an immense number of article databases on all subjects, chemistry, engineering, medicine, business, etc:
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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.
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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.
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Two other core databases in chemical engineering are Compendex and INSPEC.
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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. 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.
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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 including the web-based version of SciFinder Scholar. If you want to access the client/sever version of
SciFinder Scholar or the CrossFire Beilstein/Gmelin databases, 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.
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If what you want is not on campus and not at NRLF, you have a variety of options:
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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.
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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.
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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.
