A SELECTIVE GUIDE TO REFERENCE MATERIALS AT NDSU
FOR
PHYSICS

INDEX

I. FINDING MATERIALS IN THE NDSU LIBRARIES

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The NDSU Libraries use several classification systems for shelving material. The Dewey Decimal System is used for periodicals, the Library of Congress (LC) is used for books, and most U.S. government documents are shelved using the Superintendent of Documents (SuDocs) system.

Most library materials may be located using the MSUS/PALs online catalog. Exceptions are government documents and maps; not all of these materials are cataloged. Ask a reference librarian for help. MSUS/PALS can be accessed from public terminals in the Libraries, via personal computers with modems, and via the Web. Guides to the use and contents of the online catalog are available in the Main Library, or consult a Reference Librarian.

Key words may be used for searching topics. For more precision, use subjects terms. To find the correct subject headings to use in MSUS/PALS, consult the volumes entitled Library of Congress Subject Headings, located near the reference desk in the Main Library. For example, in MSUS/PALS, type: SU PHYSICS--HANDBOOKS, MANUALS, ETC. or SU PHYSICS--TABLES, ETC.

To find classification numbers, locations, and holdings for periodicals, conference proceedings, and other serials, consult File CAT of MSUS/PALS or the print copy of the Libraries' union list of serials (located at the reference desk).

Reference librarians are available to help you during most of the hours that the Libraries are open. Librarian subject specialists are also available by appointment. They are able to provide in-depth assistance in finding and using information resources in specific subject areas. They are also able to help you find and obtain material not at NDSU. The Physical Sciences Librarian is Lura Joseph. She may be reached by phone (231-1050) or e-mail (ljoseph@badlands.nodak.edu). The Engineering Librarian is Mark England. His phone number is 231-8141, and his e-mail address is: (Mark.England@ndsu.edu. The Government Documents Librarian is Kathy Thomas, phone: 231-8863, email: (kathomas@plains.nodak.edu.

II. GUIDES TO THE LITERATURE

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Guides to the literature are used to find bibliographies, indexes, directories, statistical sources, periodicals, handbooks, and other reference works related to a particular subject. Using these reference tools and consulting a reference librarian can save you hours of research time.

Gale Directory of Databases. Detroit: Gale Research, 1993-. (Ref.QA76.9 D32 G36)

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, 3rd ed. Phoenix. Ax: Oryx Press, 1994. (Ref. Q199.H35 1994)

Shaw, Dennis F. (ed.). Information Sources in Physics, 3rd ed. London; New Jersey: Bowker-Saur, 1994. (Ref QC21.2 .I54 1994)

Sheehy, Eugene P. Guide to Reference Books, 10th ed.. Chicago: American Library Association, 1986. (Ref. Z1035.1.G85 1986). (See also, Supplement, 1992)

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

III. RESEARCH HELPS

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

American Institute of Physics. AIP style manual, 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: American Institute of Physics, 1990. (Ref. QC5.45 .A45 1990).

Other books on research writing can be found in File CAT of MSUS/PALS by typing: ST REPORT WRITING or ST TECHNICAL WRITING or ST RESEARCH HANDBOOKS MANUALS.

You may also wish to consult a major periodical in your discipline, for example American Physical Review A, General Physics (530.5 P56.74A). Many publishers of journals now have pages on the Web. These often include guides for authors and style manuals.

IV. DICTIONARIES

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Ballentyne, Denis William George. A Dictionary of Named Effects and Laws in Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, 4th ed. New York: Chapman and Hall, 1980. (Ref. QD5 .B32 1980)

Concise Science Dictionary, 3rd ed. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. (Ref. Q123 .C68 1996)

Denney, Ronald C. A Dictionary of Spectroscopy, 2nd ed. New York: Wiley, 1982. (Ref. QC450.3 .D46 1982)

Drazil, Jaromir Vaclav. Dictionary of Quantities and Units. London: L. Hill, 1971. (QC82 .D7)

Glass, R.C., Hughes, D.J., and Meetham, A.R. Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Physics: General, Nuclear, Solid State, Molecular Chemical, Metal and Vacuum Physics, Astronomy, Geophysics, Biophysics, and Related Subjects. New York: Pergamon Press, 1961-1964. (Ref QC5 .E52) (See also, Supplement)

Gray, Harold James, and Isaacs, Alan (eds.). A New Dictionary of Physics, 2nd ed. London: Longman, 1975. (Ref QC5 .G7 1975)

Human, D.J. (ed.). Dictionary of Physics and Allied Sciences. New York: F. Unger, 1978. (Ref. QC5 .D52 1978) [English-German, German-English]

Lapedes, Daniel N. (ed). McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Physics and Mathematics. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978. (Ref QC5 .M23)

Lerner, Rita G., and Trigg, George L.(eds). Encyclopedia of Physics, 2nd ed. New York: VCH, 1991. (Ref. QC5 .E545 1991)

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Physics and Mathematics. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1978. (Ref. QC5 .M23)

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994. (Ref. Q123.M34 1994)

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition. (Print: Ref. PF1628. M36 1993)

Oxford Concise Science Dictionary, 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996. (Ref. Q123 .C68 1996)

Schubert, Joachim. Dictionary of Effects and Phenomena in Physics: Descriptions, Applications, Tables. New York: VCH, 1987. (QC5 .S3513 1987)

Thewlis, James. Concise Dictionary of Physics and Related Subjects, 2nd ed. New York: Pergamon Press, 1979 ( Ref. QC5 .T5 1979)

Walker, P. M. B., ed. Larousse Dictionary of Science and Technology. New York: Larousse, c1995. (Ref. Q123 .C482 1995)

Weik, Martin H. Fiber Optics Standard Dictionary 2nd ed. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1989. (Ref. TX5102 .W45 1989)

Other dictionaries can be found by using File CAT of MSUS/PALS, and typing: SU PHYSICS--DICTIONARIES, or SU TECHNOLOGY--DICTIONARIES.

V. ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS

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Acronyms, Initialisms & Abbreviations Dictionary, 5th ed. Detroit: Gale Research, 1997. (Ref P365 .A3)

Ballentyne, Denis William George, and Lovett, D.R. A Dictionary of Named Effects and Laws in Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, 4th ed. London ; New York : Chapman and Hall, 1980. (Ref. QD5 .B32 1980)

Dictionary of Physics and Allied Sciences. New York: F. Unger, 1978 (v. 1. German-English, edited by C. J. Human, supplement by R. Idlin.--v. 2. English-German, edited by R. Idlin with a supplement by the editor.) . (Ref. QC5 .D52 1978)

Mehra, Raj (ed). Dictionary of Physics and Mathematics: Abbreviations, Signs, and Symbols. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1965. (QC5 .D55 1965)

Periodical Title Abbreviations: By Abbreviation. Detroit: Gale Research, 1996. (Ref. Z6945. A2 P47)

VI. THESAURI

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Thesauri can be used to find the proper term for searching.

EI Thesaurus. Hoboken, NJ: Engineering Information Inc., 1992 (Ref. TA1 .E655)

Thesaurus of Scientific, Technical, and Engineering Terms. Philadelphia: Science Information Resource Center; Cambridge, Mass.: Hemisphere, 1988. (Ref. Z695.1 .S3 T52 1988)

VII. ENCYCLOPEDIAS

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Encyclopedias are good starting points for research when you are not familiar with a particular topic. The following are some relevant encyclopedias at NDSU. Others may be found in File CAT of MSUS/PALS by typing SU PHYSICS--DICTIONARIES, or by substituting another relevant term for "Physics".

Besançon, Robert M., ed. The Encyclopedia of Physics, 3rd ed. New York : Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1985. (Ref. QC5 .E546 1985)

Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology. Orlando: Academic Press, 1987. (Ref. Q123.E497 1987) (See also, Yearbooks)

Lerner, Rita G., and Trigg, George L., eds. Encyclopedia of physics, 2nd ed. New York: VCH, 1991. (Ref. QC5 .E545 1991)

McCrone, Walter C., and Delly, John Gustav. The Particle Atlas; An Encyclopedia of Techniques for Small Particle Identification, 2nd ed. Ann Arbor, Mich: Ann Arbor Science Publishers, 1973-1979. (FOLIO QH251 .M32 1973)

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology: An International Reference Work in Twenty Volumes Including an Index, 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1992. (Ref. Q121 .M3 1992)

Meyers, Robert A., ed. Encyclopedia of Lasers and Optical Technology. San Diego: Academic Press, 1991. (Ref. TA1509 .E53 1991)

Thewlis, J., ed. Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Physics: General, Nuclear, Solid State, Molecular Chemical, Metal and Vacuum Physics, Astronomy, Geophysics, Biophysics, and related subjects. New York: Pergamon Press, 1961-1964. (Ref. QC5 .E52) (See also Supplement, 1966-75)

VIII. HANDBOOKS, DATA SOURCES, AND OTHER REFERENCE SOURCES

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Handbooks, tables, and other data sources are useful, compact sources of information. Below are a few examples at NDSU. Other sources of data may be found by using the "Guides to the Literature" section of this list, or by using MSUS/PALS: In File CAT, type SU PHYSICS--TABLES, ETC. or SU PHYSICS--HANDBOOKS, MANUALS, ETC. or by substituting some other subject for "physics" such as SU ASTRONOMY--HANDBOOKS, MANUALS, ETC.

Allard, Frederick C., ed. Fiber Optics Handbook: For Engineers and Scientists. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1990. (Ref. TK5103.59 .F54 1990)

American Institute of Physics. AIP Institute of Physics Handbook, 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1972. (Ref. QC61 .A5 1972)

Anderson, Herbert L., ed. A Physicist's Desk Reference. New York: American Institute of Physics, 1989. (Ref QC61 .P49 1989)

Blake, Michael P., and Mitchell, William S., eds. Vibration and Acoustic Measurement Handbook. New York: Spartan Books, 1972. (TA355 .V5)

Brevard, C., and Granger, P. Handbook of High Resolution Multinuclear NMR. New York: Wiley, 1981. (Chem. QD96 .N8 B75)

Clark, Sydney P. Handbook of Physical Constants. Rev. ed. New York: Geological Society of America, 1966. (QE1 .G4x no. 97)

Condon, Edward Uhler, and Odishw, Hugh (eds.). Handbook of Physics, 2nd ed. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1967. (Ref. QC21. C7 1967)

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Cleveland, Ohio: CRC Press, 1996-97, 1995-96. (Pharmacy QD65 .H3, Ref. QD65 .H3)

CRC Standard Mathematical Tables. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press., 1996. (Ref. QA47 .M315)

Everest, F. Alton. The Master Handbook of Acoustics. Blue Ridge Summit, Pa.: TAB Books, 1981. (QC225.15 .E93)

Fisher, David, ed. Rules of Thumb for Engineers and Scientists. Houston, TX: Gulf Pub. Co., 1991. (Ref. Q199 .F57 1991)

Fisher, David J. Rules of Thumb for Physical Scientists. Aedermannsdorf, Switzerland; Brookfield, VT: Trans Tech Publications, 1988. (Ref. Q199 .R85 1988)

Gray, Peter. Handbook of Basic Microtechnique, 3rd ed. New York, McGraw-Hill, 1964. (QH231 .G8 1964)

Griekan, Rene E. van, and Markowicz, Andrzej A., eds. Handbook of X-ray Spectrometry: Methods and techniques. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1993. (Chem. QD96 .X2 H36 1993)

Kaye, G. W. C., ed. Tables of Physical and Chemical Constants, 16th ed. New York: Longman, 1995. (Ref. QC61 .K3 1995)

Magill, Frank N, ed. The Nobel Prize Winners: Physics. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, c1989. (Ref. QC25 .N63 1989)

Maissel, Leon I., and Glang, Reinhard, eds. Handbook of Thin Film Technology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1970. (TK7871.15 .F5 H34)

Marshall Alan G. Fourier Transforms in NMR, Optical, and Mass Spectrometry: A User's Handbook. Amsterdan, Netherlands; New York: Elsevier, 1990. (Chem. QD96 .F68 M37 1990)

Polianin, A. D., and Zaitsev, V. F. Handbook of Exact Solutions for Ordinary Differential Equations. Boca Raton: CRC Press, c1995. (QA372 .P725 1995)

Richardson, James H. Handbook for the Light Microscope: A User's Guide. Park Ridge, NJ: Noyes Publications, 1991. (QH205.2 .R53 1991)

Robinson, J.W. Practical Handbook of Spectroscopy. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 1991. (Chem. QD95 .P73 1991)

Simons, William W., ed. The Sadtler Handbook of Proton NMR Spectra. Philadelphia: Sadtler, 1978. (Chem. Ref. QC762 .S3 1978)

Wong, George S. K., and Embleton, Tony F. W. AIP Handbook of Condenser Microphones: Theory, Calibration, and Measurements. New York: American Institute of Physics, 1995. (TK6478 .W66 1995)

IX. ABSTRACTS AND INDEXES (PRINT AND ELECTRONIC)

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Abstracts, indexes, reviews, and bibliographies provide awareness of and access to the many thousands of scientific papers that are published each year. Below are some of the resources available at NDSU. For additional tools, consult the subject index of the Gale Directory of Databases (Ref. QA76.9 .D32 G36).

BOOKS IN PRINT is available as File BIP via MSUS/PALS. Books in Print contains information on books in print in the United States. It includes bibliographic information as well as price, and ISBN. The database is useful for finding books not held by NDSU, but which may be obtained through Interlibrary Loan. It also provides publisher addresses and phone numbers in the subfile, File PAF.

COMPREHENSIVE DISSERTATION INDEX, 1861-1972 [microform]. Ann Arbor, Mich. : Xerox University Microfilms, 1973. (v. 6. Astronomy and physics, A-L -- v. 7. Physics, M-Z.) (Ref.Microfiche Z5053 .D58)

CARL UNCOVER . CARL (The Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries) provides access to over 50 library catalogs. Uncover is a database containing information about current articles from over 12,000 multidisciplinary journals. Both can be accessed through the MSUS/PALS System (SET HOST CARL), or via telnet (pac.carl.org) or the Web (http://www.carl.org/reveal/index.html). Consult handouts or a librarian for more information on CARL or Uncover.

Also, NDSU faculty, staff and students can use Uncover Reveal, an electronic mail alert service for tables of contents of research journals. Consult the Libraries Web Page, or a reference librarian for information concerning how to set up a Reveal Profile.

CURRENT CONTENTS: Current Contents is a current awareness, tables-of-contents database produced by ISI (Institute for Scientific Information). "It displays the tables of contents from the world's most influential scholarly journals, providing complete bibliographic data for every journal item". Current Contents covers approximately 7,000 journals and books.

Current Contents is published weekly in seven multidisciplinary editions. The version offered at NDSU also includes author abstracts and author addresses. It covers articles, editorials, corrections, meeting abstracts, commentaries, reviews, and letters to the editor.

Current Contents is one of the SPIRS group of databases offered at NDSU. SPIRS databases can be accessed from computers connected to the NDSU campus ethernet, PROVIDED you have installed SPIRS software including Current Contents.

Search strategies can be saved, and rerun with each new issue of CC. Searches can include tables of contents of particular journals, keyword/subject searches, author searches, or any combination.

New information about Current Contents, including notification when a new issue can be viewed, is available by subscribing to a listserv. Ask a reference librarian for more information.

EI CSA Engineering Databases PLUS is the electronic version of The Engineering Index. It provides citations and abstracts of information from approximately 4,500 engineering and technology journals, government reports, and books. Available for searching via Knight-Ridder Information/DIALOG, 1970 to present. Contact a Reference Librarian for further information, and possible charges.

EI TECHNOLOGY INDEX. This database is a subset of CSA Engineering Databases, a database that indexes core literature of major areas in engineering and technology. The database contains citations from over 400 journals in major engineering and technology specialties. EI Technology Index also indexes major engineering conferences. Although the number of journals indexed is rather limited, this is a good place to start a search for periodical and conference literature of most applied sciences. Coverage is 1987 to present. EI Technology Index is computer searchable as a part of the SPIRS group of databases available at NDSU.

ENGINEERED MATERIALS ABSTRACTS. This database is produced by Materials Information. It covers literature related to the science of polymers, ceramic, and composite materials, primarily nonmetallic materials. Available for computer searching via Knight-Ridder Information/DIALOG, 1986 to present. Contact a Reference Librarian for further information, and possible charges.

EXPANDED ACADEMIC INDEX, File EAI, a subfile of File GEN in MSUS/PALS. This database provides indexing of more than 900 scholarly and general interest publications. Coverage represents the most commonly held titles in over 120 college and university libraries.

INSPEC, The Database for Physics, Electronics and Computing. Corresponds to three print science abstracts: Physics Abstracts, Electrical and Electronic Abstracts, and Computer and Control Abstracts. Available for computer searching via FirstSearch or via Knight-Ridder Information /DIALOG. Contact a Reference Librarian for further information.

METEOROLOGICAL ABSTRACTS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY. Boston: American Meteorological Society, 1950-1985. (Ref. QC851 .A62)

MONTHLY CATALOG OF UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS (File GPO of MSUS/PALS): The electronic equivalent of Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications. This database provides citations to reports, maps, studies, fact sheets, conference proceedings, handbooks, etc. issued by U.S. government agencies and the U.S. Congress. Citations to Senate and House hearings on bills and laws are also included. Topics include agriculture, business law, economics , energy research, public policy, tax reform, health, etc.

NTIS provides results of U.S. government-sponsored research, and research sponsored by other governments. It covers reports of over 600 U.S. agencies, as well as some state and local government agencies. NTIS is available for searching via Knight-Ridder Information/DIALOG for the years 1964 to present. The database is updated biweekly. Contact a Reference Librarian for further information. There will be charges for searching this database.

SCIENCE ABSTSRACTS. Series A. Physics Abstracts. London: Institution of Electrical Engineers, 1968-1996. (QC1 .P48) [Continues Science Abstracts (1928-1940), and Physics Abstracts (1941-1968)]

SCIENCE CITATION INDEX (Q158 .S365) is available at NDSU, 1961 to present. . From 1997 forward, Science Citation Index will be in CD-ROM format. Science Citation Index is a multidisciplinary index, and covers the literature of science and technology, both pure and applied. It is compiled by ISI, Institute for Scientific Information. It is the only major index that includes citation indexing. Using it, a researcher can trace references to a seminal article forward in time. This database is also available for searching via Knight-Ridder Information/DIALOG, 1974 to present; contact a Reference Librarian for further information, and possible charges.

Notes:

1. FirstSearch: The NDSU Library has purchased a block of searches from FirstSearch.

2. Knight-Ridder/DIALOG: A Reference Librarian can search a number of online databases for you through Knight-Ridder Information. You will be charged for the cost of the search. You will usually need to make an appointment and be present during the search. It will speed up the search process if you already have a specific search strategy, however a librarian will be glad to help you refine your search.

3. SPIRS databases can be accessed from computers connected to the NDSU campus ethernet, PROVIDED you have installed SPIRS software. WinSPIRS can also be accessed in the Libraries.

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X. INTERNET LINKS

NDSU Libraries

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Physics Department Home Page