Chemistry
1. Library Catalog - Find Books, Media and Pamphlets
PCC's library catalog is a database of books, media, pamphlets and course reserves located in the library's collection. To find resources in the library by subject, you will need a call number which is based on the Dewey Decimal Classification System and leads you to the specific item on the shelf. To find the call number, use the library catalog.
Basic Search
Use the Basic Search to look for an item using its exact subject heading, title or author's name (last, first).
To find information about a person, use Basic Search by subject.
To find information on a topic, use Basic Search by subject.
To search by subject, select 'Subject Search', then type in the subject heading.
Examples of subject headings:
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Check related subjects too:
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To search by title, select 'Title', then type in the first few words of the title. Skip the first word of the title if it is an article, e.g. 'a', 'an' or 'the'.
To search by author, select 'Author', then type in the author's last name, then first name, e.g. 'Pauling, Linus'.
Advanced Search
If Basic Search is unsuccessful use Advanced Search to combine topics.
- Examples: UNITED STATES HISTORY (phrase, subject) AND INDIANS (all, keyword) STAMP ACT (phrase,keyword)
Use the KEYWORD Search to look for an item using part of the title or to combine topics:
To search by keyword, type in the words you want to search for then select from the menu whether you want to search for ALL THE WORDS, ANY OF THE WORDS (e.g., RNA or ribonucleic acid), or the WORDS AS A PHRASE (e.g., chemical elements). You can also use the KEYWORD search to combine topics.
Examples of combined searches:
Search for: Molecule molecular [ |
Search for: Mass spectrometry [ |
2. Reference Books
Basically, there are two kinds of reference books: general resources, which are broad in scope and deal with all fields; and specialized resources, which deal with specific disciplines such as Chemistry. The titles cited below are only a representative sample of many specialized reference books that are available in the library (Main floor, reference section).
Specialized Dictionaries
- The Cassell Dictionary of Chemistry REF 540.3 H 3
- Concise Chemical and Technical Dictionary REF 540.3 B 2
- The Condensed Chemical Dictionary REF 540.3 C 2-3
- A Dictionary of Chemistry REF 540.3 D 1
- Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary REF 540.3 H 2-2
- McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Chemistry REF 540.3 M 2
Specialized Encyclopedias
- Concise Encyclopedia of Chemistry REF 540.3 C 3
- The Elements REF 546 E 1
- The Encyclopedia of the Chemical Elements REF 546.11 H 1
- Encyclopedia of Spectroscopy REF 543.0858 P 1
- International Encyclopedia of Chemical Science REF 540.3 I 1
- Macmillan Encyclopedia of Chemistry REF 540.3 M 1
- McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Chemistry REF 540.3 M 2-2
- Van Nostrand's Encyclopedia of Chemistry REF 540.3 V 1
- World of Chemistry REF 540.3 W 1
Handbooks, Manuals, Directories
- The Chemist's Companion: a Handbook of Practical Data, Techniques, and References REF 540.2 G 1
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics REF 541.9 H 1 (older copies available for check out are on the 3rd floor 541.9 H 1)
- Handbook of Tables fro Organic Compound Identification REF 547 R 2
- Lange's Handbook of Chemistry REF 541.9 L 1
- Thermodynamic Constants of Inorganic and Organic Compounds REF 541.36 K 1
3. Databases and Indexes - Find Articles
- Start by selecting Databases by Name (http://www.pasadena.edu/library/dbtitle.htm)
- Off Campus Access Information
- Proquest Direct Thousands of journal, magazine, and newspaper articles covering all disciplines.
Includes scholarly journal articles. If the full text of the article is not included in ProQuest check our Library Periodical Title List. (http://dv2dw2vb3l.search.serialssolutions.com/) This list can also be browsed by subject. Select "Physical Sciences and Mathematics" - then select "Chemistry, General" or another subcategory.
- SIRS is a database of both periodicals and government resources. Look under "Government Reporter", Scientific Research, Physical Sciences, Chemistry or search by government department (eg. Energy Department, Interior Department or National Science Foundation).
- Science Full Text Select Full text science database that covers approximately 320 journals in a broad range of science topics. Includes scholarly journal articles.
- Encyclopedia Britannica Online The complete Encyclopedia Britannica with related web links.
4. Resources on the World Wide Web
Finding reliable information on the web can be difficult.
Use the Librarians' Index to the Internet www.lii.org or see recommended websites below.
- Chemistry 1411 Lab: Library Research Tutorial (Austin Community College)
- http://library.austincc.edu/help/chem1411/beginning.htm
A web-based tutorial on conducting library research. They have also developed a worksheet that can help you organize your research. http://library.austincc.edu/gen-info/infolit/assignments/Chem1411_assign.pdf - Greener Education Materials for Chemistry (GEMs)
- http://greenchem.uoregon.edu/gems.html
GEMs is an interactive collection of chemistry education materials focused on green chemistry. Searchable by keyword or category (eg. Chemistry Concepts, Laboratory Techniques, Chemistry Subdiscipline). - SIRCh: Selected Internet Resources for Chemistry
- http://cheminfo.informatics.indiana.edu/cicc/cis/index.php/SIRCh:_Selected_Internet_Resources_for_Chemistry A comprehensive and well-organized site originally created by Gary Wiggins @ Indiana University, now a wiki.
- American Chemical Society
- http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content
- Science.gov: Chemistry and Chemicals
- http://www.science.gov/browse/w_129A.htm A Web directory of science resources from U.S. government agencies.
last updated: 06/19/2009 by A. Colby and P. Johnson revision #1
