CH 115: General Chemistry I

Library Tutorial 1: Introduction to Library Research Resources

Library Tutorial 1 introduces the Library and some of the Library's best resources for science and engineering research. The activity for this tutorial gives you the opportunity to get further acquainted with these resources through an example search.

ACTIVITY

The Library provides access to a lot of research resources, both in print, such as books, and digital, including journal articles and ebooks. These digital articles and ebooks are collected and made available through academic databases.

While "academic database" is a general term, the types of information you will find in these resources will vary based on the purpose and content of the database.

• Some are meant for research, a collection of scholarly journals, conferences, and other materials designed for browsing and deeper searching.
• Others are meant for reference, information about doing a task or job.

Your assignment is to do a keyword search in one of each: Search for the term pyrotechnics in the two databases listed here and answer the related quiz in Canvas.

Library Databases

1. AccessEngineering

What it is: A reference database from the publisher McGraw-Hill.

What you'll find: Textbooks and reference books for all of the subfields of engineering.

2. IEEE Xplore

What it is: A research database from the nonprofit society publisher IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).

What you'll find: Journals, conference proceedings, magazines, newsletters, courses, and IEEE standards for fields including electrical engineering, electronics, and computer science.

Glossary

Academic database: An organized collection of information commonly used for research, often available only by subscription. Academic databases vary by purpose and content.

Keyword: A word or term that helps you find more information on a subject.

More About... Library Databases

RESEARCH DATABASE

A research database usually contains digital journals and/or ebooks. We can categorize these databases by the content they contain, as well as by who makes them.

• Journal Publishers: Many academic journals are published by a small number of publishing companies, and these companies often provide subscription access to these journals through their own databases. These resources are best if you know you're looking for a specific journal or field of study that the publisher is known to focus on.
  • Example: IEEE Xplore, a product of the publisher IEEE
  • Example: ScienceDirect, a product of the publisher Elsevier
• Database Vendors: Some database companies collect the information published by other companies and in doing so, provide a broader means to find information on a topic. These databases are best if you want to find out what's been published on a topic.
  • Example: ProQuest Central
  • Example: EBSCOhost

REFERENCE DATABASE

Reference databases include handbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, manuals and/or other sources for general information related to a field.

• Example: AccessEngineering, a product of the publisher McGraw-Hill, with a focus on engineering reference
• Example: Knovel, a product of the publisher Elsevier, with a focus on handbooks, chemical information, and textbooks

Tutorial Materials