Link to NDSU Hydrogeology Course; Geolgy 496

Steps for Finding Information on Your Topic

Step 1. Choose your search terms. You will add to your list as you search and evaluate your search results.

Hydrogeology	Model	Specific Model	NOT
hydrogeology	model	flownet	abstract*
hydrology	model*	flow net
groundwater	software
ground water	mathematical model*
	computer program*
	computer model*
	numerical model*
	software
	simulation

Step 2. Define your search strategy. (This will partly depend on the search engine you use).

• Search tools:
  • Boolean Searching: and, or, not (and not, but not)
    
  • Truncation: * (SPIRS, CARL), # (PALS), + (FirstSearch)
    
  • Nesting

• Example of a complex search strategy:
  ((hydrogeology or hydrology) and (model* or computer program* or simulation or software) and (english in la) not abstract*

• It might be useful to limit the above search by adding: and U. S. Geological Survey in so
  since the NDSU library has most of the USGS material. This is especially useful if you have procrastinated until there is not enough time for Interlibrary Loan (DON'T PROCRASTINATE!)

• Example of problems using truncation: rock* (returns rock and rocks, but also rockets, rockers, etc.)

Step 3. Choose your database

• GeoRef
  • Available via the Web (WebSPIRS):
    • Go to the Library HomePage: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/
      or directly to: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/WebSpirs/
    • Advantages: Available from any computer
    • Disadvantages: Slower; refinements more awkward
    • Note, both versions of SPIRS now indicate NDSU holdings. (Even if "holdings" shows we have a journal, we still may not have the specific volume you need. So, don't wait until the last minute to gather your material.)
  • Available via computers connected to the NDSU "backbone" (WinSPIRS)
    • Go to computers in the Libraries or computer clusters across campus
    • Advantages: Fast; many refinements
    • Disadvantage: computer must be connected to campus ethernet and software must be present.
  • Due to licensing, GeoRef is limited to a maximum of four simultaneous users at NDSU, UND, and NDGS.
  • Indexes geological information published from 1700's to present; includes government documents
  • Searching:
    • Boolean: and, or, not
    • Truncation: *
    • Nesting
    • Fields: "in ti de ab"
• Current Contents (CC Search)
  • Available via WebSPIRS and WinSPIRS
  • No limit on number of users
  • Indexes thousands of journals in all disciplines
  • Updated every few weeks
  • 1996 through present
  • Searching: same as above
• EI Technology Index
  • Available via WebSPIRS and WinSPIRS
  • Max 4 users
  • Indexes a few hundred journals; deals with applied science and engineering
  • Searching is the same as above

• CARL Uncover
  • Available via the Library Homepage, or: http://uncweb.carl.org:80/
  • Indexes thousands of journals in all disciplines
  • Updating is sometimes slow
  • 1988 through present
  • Searching:
    • Boolean: and, or, and not
    • Truncation (right hand only): *
    • Nesting
  • Disadvantage: Sometimes not consistently up-to-date.

• U.S. Government Documents
  • Available via WebPALS (go to the library homepage and click the WebPALS button)
  • No limit on number of users
  • Indexes material distributed to Depository Libraries
  • Search the same way as all PALS databases
  • Boolean "and" is assumed between terms
  • Truncation: #

• FirstSearch databases:
  • Available via the Library home page or: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/FirstSearch/
  • Databases include: Environment, AppSciTechAb, and Geobase.
  • Truncation: + (plural and singular only)
  • Disadvantage: Only two "or"s allowed in a search; make sure the correct fields are selected for your complete search (watch the defaults!).
  • Sample search: (water or groundwater) and (chemistry or geochemistry) and model+

• Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey:
  • Available via the Web at: http://usgs-georef.cos.com. This is a subset of the GeoRef database, and is provided free due to an agreement with Community of Science. The database includes references to USGS publications for 1880 to date, and also references to non-USGS publications which were authored by USGS personnel from 1983 to date. If publications were available via the Web at the time that they were indexed, the URLs are given.

• Selected Water-Resources Abstracts:
  • Available via the Web at: http://water.usgs.gov/public/swra/. This is not a complete set of abstracts for USGS Water Resources, but it is searchable, and a place to start looking if GeoRef is not available for some reason.

• Many other databases are available. Take a look at: Electronic Databases & Computer Systems: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/research/libdatab.php

Step 4. Conduct your search

Step 5. Evaluate search results, note additional terms and unwanted terms.

Step 6. Refine search and re-do.

Step 7. Find out whether NDSU has the material; if not, use Interlibrary Loan (ILL).

• To find out whether NDSU has the material, use the online catalog. I find that the old Classic PALS works better for checking on journals. You can use the ISSN number from SPIRS output ("IS"). Also, you can get NDSU holdings information directly from either WinSPIRS or WebSPIRS. (This does NOT tell you if we have the specific issue of a journal).
• For ILL, fill out a card at the ILL desk, or fill out the online form at: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/ill/

Other:

• Library Home Page: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/
• Geoscience Information Resources: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edugeopage.php
• Selected Government Document Resources for Geology: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edugeosudocs.php
• Current Geoscience Journals and Serials at NDSU: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.edugeojour.php
• GSA Style Guide: http://www.geosociety.org/pubs/contrib.htm#S5
• Suggestions For Citing And Referencing Web Sources For Geoscience Papers: http://www.lib.ndsu.nodak.eduWWWScienceCitations.php
• USGS Water Resources of the United States: http://water.usgs.gov/
  
• References in AGU Publications: http://www.agu.org/pubs/references.html
  
• AGU Tips and Tools for Authors: http://www.agu.org/pubs/inf4aus.html
  

Some Helpful Print Resources:

Alexander, D.E., and Fairbridge, R.W., eds., 1999, Encyclopedia of environmental science: Boston, Kluwer Academic, 741 p. [REFERENCE GE10 .E53 1999]

Collin, P.H., ed., 1998, Dictionary of ecology and the environment, 3rd ed.: Chicago, IL, Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 253 p. [REFERENCE QH540.4 .D53 1998]\

Herschy, R.W., and Fairbrige, R.W., 1998, Encyclopedia of hydrology and water resources: Boston, MA, Kluwer Academic, 803 p. [REFERENCE GB655 .E53 1998]

Jackson, Julia A., 1997, Glossary of geology, 4th ed.: Alexandria, VA, American Geological Institute, 769 p. [REFERENCE QE5 .G56 1997]

Maidment, D.R., ed., 1993, Handbook of hydrology: New York, McGraw-Hill. [GB662.5 .H36 1993]

Task Committee on Hydrology Handbook of Management Group D of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 1996, Hydrology handbook, 2nd ed.: ASCE manuals and reports on engineering practice no.28. New York, ASCE, 784 p. [REFERENCE GB661.2 .H93 1996]

Todd, D.K., ed., 1970, The water encyclopedia; A compendium of useful information on water resources: Port Washington, N.Y., Water Information Center, 559 p. [REFERENCE TD351 .T63]

Please come see me if you need any help. If you'd like to make an appointment, contact me by phone (231-1050) or e-mail (ljoseph@badlands.nodak.edu). If I'm not available, check at the library reference desk (231-8886) for someone else who will be able to help.

Physical Sciences Librarian
NDSU

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NDSU Hydrogeology Course; Geolgy 496

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