Finding Materials in the Libraries

The NDSU Libraries utilize several classification systems: periodicals are classified in the Dewey Decimal System, books are classified using the Library of Congress (LC) system, and most government documents are classified in the Superintendent of Documents system.

Library materials may be located using the MSUS/PALS online catalog. MSUS/PALS is available from public access terminals in the Libraries, and from personal computers equipped with a modem. A Web version of MSUS/PALS is also available. Guides to the use and contents of the catalog are available in the Main Library. Please consult these guides or a librarian if you need information about using MSUS/PALS or any of its files. Note: Some government documents and maps are not cataloged at NDSU. Consult a Librarian.

Use the volumes entitled Library of Congress Subject Headings, located near the reference desk in the Main Library, to find the correct subject entries to use in MSUS/PALS. Standard subdivisions may be used following most subject headings, e.g. GEOLOGY- -BIBLIOGRAPHY or CHEMISTRY--TABLES, CALCULATIONS, ETC.. Keyword searching is also possible in the MSUS/PALS system.

To find classification numbers, locations, and holdings for periodicals and conference proceedings, consult MSUS/PALS or the Libraries' union list of serials, a computer print-out, copies of which are scattered throughout the reference area.

Professional librarians knowledgeable in the subject collections in the Libraries are available to assist you during most of the hours the Libraries are open. Library subject specialists are also available by appointment to provide in-depth assistance in locating and using information resources in specific subject areas. Using their knowledge and experience in searching bibliographic indexes and databases, they can also help you identify and obtain material not owned by the University. The Physical Sciences subject librarian is Lura Joseph. Her office is located in room 218B on second floor of the Main Library, telephone ext. 1050. The Government Documents and Maps Librarian is Kathy Thomas. Her telephone extension is 8863. Mark England is the Engineering Librarian, and his phone extension is 8141.

Guides to the Literature

Guides to the literature help the researcher determine what bibliographies, indexes, directories, periodicals, statistical sources, core texts, and other reference works pertain to a subject. Consulting a librarian and using these and similar works early in a research project can usually save hours of research time.

Gale Directory of Databases. Detroit: Gale Research, 1993-. (Ref. Z699.22.C66)

Information Sources in the Earth Sciences, 2nd ed. London' new York: Bowker- Saur, 1989. (QE26.2.Z99 I55 1989)

Malinowsky, Harold Robert and Jeanne M. Richardson. Science and Engineering Literature: A Guide to Reference Sources, 3rd ed. Littleton, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1980. (Ref. Q158.5.M28 1980)

Owen, Dolores B. Abstracts and Indexes in Science and Technology: A Descriptive Guide. 2nd ed. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1985. (Ref. Q158.5. O95 1985)

Powell, Russell H., ed. Handbooks and Tables in Science and Technology, 2nd ed. Phoenix, Az: Oryx Press, 1983. (Ref. Q199 .H35)

Sheehy, Eugene P. Guide to Reference Books. Chicago: American Library Association, 1992. (Ref. Z1035.1.G85)

Subramanyam, Krishna. Scientific and Technical Information Resources. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1981. (T10.7 .S93)

Ward, Dederick C. Geologic Reference Sources: A Subject and Regional Bibliography of Publications and Maps in the Geological Sciences, 2nd ed. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1981. (QE26.2 .W35 1981)

Research helps

GSA Online Style Manual

Hansen, Wallace R., ed. Suggestions to Authors of the Reports of the United States Geological Survey, 7th ed. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1991. (Doc. I 19.2: Su 3/5/991)

Lester, James D. Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide, 5th ed. Glenview, Ill.: Scott, Foresman, 1987. (LB2369 .L4 1987)

Dictionaries

American Geological Institute. Dictionary of Geological Terms, 3rd ed. New York, N.Y.: Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1984. (QE5 .D55 1984)

Bates, Robert Latimer. Glossary of Geology, 3rd ed. Alexandria, Va: American Geological Institute, 1987. (Ref. QE5 .B38 1987)

Challinor, John. A Dictionary of Geology, 5th ed. Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1978. (Ref. QE5. C45 1978)

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. (Ref. Q123. M34)

Abbreviations and Symbols

Acronyms, Initialisms & Abbreviations Dictionary. Detroit: Gale Research.

Periodical Title Abbreviations: By Abbreviation, 4th ed. Detroit: Gale Research.

Thesauri

GeoRef Thesaurus and Guide to Indexing, 5th ed. Alexandria, Va.: American Geological Institute, 1989. (Ref. Z695.1.G43 G46 1989)

Subject Headings for Engineering. Engineering Index.

Thesaurus of Scientific, Technical, and Engineering Terms. Philadelphia: Science Information Resource Center; Cambridge, Mass.: Hemisphere, 1988.

Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias are useful starting points for those who are beginning research, especially if one is unfamiliar with the research topic. A listing of useful encyclopedias in the geosciences follows. Others can be found by consulting sources listed in the "guides to the literature" section of this paper or using MSUS/PALS. Look in MSUS/PALS under appropriate subject headings for your topic and add the subheading --DICTIONARIES.

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences. New York: Crown Publisher/Cambridge University Press, 1981. (Ref. QE26.2 .C35 1981)

Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Physics... Oxford, New York: Pergamon Press, 1966- 75. (Ref. QC5 .E52)

Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology. Academic Press, 1987. (Ref. Q123 .E497 1987)

Fairbridge, Rhodes W., Ed. The Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences. (This Series will eventually comprise 24 volumes. NDSU has numerous volumes.)

Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Evolution. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1976. (QE711.2.G79)

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology: An International Reference Work in Twenty Volumes Including an Index. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1987. (Ref. Q121 .M3 1987)

The Planet We Live On: Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Earth Sciences. New York: H.N. Abrams, 1976. (Ref. QE5 .P55 1976)

Handbooks, Data Sources and Other Reference Sources

Handbooks, tables and other data sources exist to serve as compact sources of information useful to those practicing in a subject area. The following handbooks and data sources are listed merely as examples of works in the NDSU Libraries. Others can be found by consulting sources listed in the "guides to the literature" section of this paper, consulting with a librarian, or using MSUS/PALS. Look in MSUS/PALS under topic subject headings and appropriate standard LC subdivisions (E.G. --TABLES, CALCULATIONS, ETC. or --HANDBOOKS, MANUALS, ETC.)

AGI Data Sheets. 3rd ed. Alexandria, VA: American Geological Institute, 1989. (QE52 .A36 1989)

Clark, Sydney P. Handbook of Physical Constants. Rev. ed. New York: Geological Society of America, 1966. (QE 1 .G4x no. 97)

Geologic Names of the United States Through 1975. Washington, D.C.: U.S. G.P.O., 1981. (DOC. I 19.3:1535)

Handbook of Environmental Chemistry. New York: VanNostrand Reinhold.

Lexicon of Geologic Names of the United States, 1936-. Washington: U.S. G.P.O. (Ref. QE7 .K4)

The National Gazetteer of the United States of America. Washington: U.S. G.P.O; Alexandria, VA: U.S. Geological Survey, 1982. (Doc I19.16:1200-)

Wilmarth, Mary Grace. Lexicon of Geologic Names of the United States. Washington, U.S. G.P.O, 1938. (Ref. QE5 .W5)

Abstracts and Indexes (Printed and Computerized)

Each year tens of thousands of scientific papers are published in the world in the geosciences. Much of this primary literature can be accessed using several printed and computer-searchable tools: indexes, reviews, abstracts, and bibliographies. This is a very selective list of appropriate indexes and abstracts. For guidance to additional tools, look in the subject index of the Gale Directory of Databases (Detroit: Gale Research, 1993-); consult the publications listed in the "Guides to the Literature" section of this guide; or contact a librarian.

APILIT/APIPAT. 1964+. Produced by the American Petroleum Institute. These databases contain citations to the non-patent and patent literature pertaining to the petroleum and the petrochemical industries.

Applied Science and Technology Index. 1958+. A less comprehensive subject index to about 300 periodicals from all branches of science and technology. Computer searchable from 1986 on MSUS/PALS in the "Gen" file. Former title: Industrial Arts Index.

Bibliography and Index of Geology. 1933+. AGI. Monthly. Derived from the GeoRef database.

Books in Print: Accessed through MSUS/PALS as FILE BIP. Books in Print gives information on books published in the United States, and which are still in print. Entries include bibliographic information, ISBN, and price. The subfile, PAF, gives publishers' addresses. Updated monthly. Very useful for finding books which NDSU does not have and which may be ordered through interlibrary loan.

CARL UNCOVER. A table of contents based index to approximately 12,000 journals held by libraries belonging to the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries. CARL can be accessed via the Web: Consult a reference librarian if you need help.

Chemical Abstracts. 1907+. Produced by the American Chemical Society. Biweekly. The world's largest index/abstracting service for chemistry and chemical engineering. Computer searchable from 1967. Located in the Chemistry Branch Library.

Current Contents. 1970+. Reproduces the tables of contents from several thousand important journals. Keyword index provides subject access to the most current material available. Searchable on computers connected to the NDSU campus ethernet, including those in the library, via the WinSPIRS group of databases. MacSPIRS is also available.

Energy Research Abstracts. 1948+. Semi-monthly. Annual author and subject indexes. Computer searchable from 1975. ( Ref. TJ1632.X1 U544b)

Engineering Index. 1898+. Monthly. Annual cumulations. Covers all branches of engineering. Computer searchable from 1970 to the present as CSA Engineering Databases. The CSA Engineering Databases database contains records from approximately 4,500 journals. Indexes reports, conferences, and books as well.

General Science Index. 1958+. A less comprehensive subject index to about 100 important and popular periodicals from all branches of science.

GEOARCHIVE. 1974+. Computer bibliographic database indexing more than 5,000 serials, books from over 3,000 publishers, conference proceedings, reports, etc. Thousands of maps are also indexed. Covers all aspects of the geosciences. Make an appointment with a subject librarian; searched via Knight- Ridder. Inquire about possible charges.

GEOBASE. 1980+. Corresponds to all Geographical Abstracts, International Development Abstracts, Mineralogical Abstracts, Ecological Abstracts, and Geological Abstracts publications. Indexes over 2.000 journals, books, dissertations, reports, and conference proceedings. Computer searchable via Knight-Ridder. Make an appointment with a subject Librarian, and ask about possible costs. Also computer searchable via FirstSearch. Students will need to be trained and logged on to FirstSearch by a Subject Librarian.

GEOREF. 1785+. A huge bibliographic database covering over 4,500 serials, and many other forms of geosciences literature including maps. Produced by the AGI. Corresponds to the Bibliography and Index of Geology, Geophysical Abstracts, and several other abstracting journals.

Government Reports Announcements and Index. 1946+. Produced by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS). Published twice monthly with annual cumulated author and subject indexes. The foremost index to technical reports available through the United States government.

METEOROLOGICAL AND GEOASTROPHYSICAL ABSTRACTS. Society (45 American Meteorological Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108). 1972+. Covers research literature in atmospheric and related hydrospheric sciences including aspects of meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, glaciology, and environmental sciences. Indexes numerous journals, reports, books, conference proceedings, and other materials from approximately 120 countries.

Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 1895-. This index serves as a guide to the publications of U.S. Government departments and agencies. It is available for computer searching from 1976 to the present on MSUS/PALS (use the command: SET FILE GPO ALL).

NTIS. 1964+. Covers U.S. government sponsored research and development, and technical reports generated by federal agencies, contractors, and grantees. Approximately 600 U.S. government agencies are covered, including NASA, DDC, DOE, HUD, DOT, and DOC. Some state and local government reports are also included, as well as research results of some countries outside of the U.S. Searchable via Knight-Ridder with the assistance of a subject librarian. Inquire about costs.

Petroleum Abstracts. 1960+. Weekly. Produced by the University of Tulsa. Abstracts of worldwide technical literature pertaining to the production, storage, transportation and use of oil, natural gas, and related mineral commodities.

Physics Abstracts. Science Abstracts, Series A. 1969+. Produced by the Institution of Electrical Engineers, London. Monthly. Semiannually cumulated author and subject indexes. Available for computer searching with Computer and Control Abstracts and Electrical and Electronic Abstracts as INSPEC from 1969. Ask a reference librarian.

Pollution Abstracts. 1970+. Published bimonthly with annual author and subject indexes. Guide to the world's scientific and technical literature on environmental pollution.

Selected Water Resources Abstracts. 1968+. Semi-monthly with annual author and subject indexes. Covers all aspects of water resources engineering. (Ref. TC1 .S45)

Science Citation Index. 1961+ Bimonthly. Citation index. Published quarterly and cumulated annually by the Institute for Scientific Information. Its structure, which consists of a Citation Index, a Source Index, and a Permuterm Subject Index, enables a researcher to discover other published papers which have cited an original paper of known interest. Computer searchable since 1974 via Knight -Ridder, it indexes approximately 3,000 major scientific and technical journals.

Compiled by Mark England, NDSU Libraries

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