Physics and Astronomy
Library Handbook 2004
PDF
The University's collections of more than one million volumes in pure
and applied sciences and in the history of science and medicine are housed
in the John Crerar Library and two departmental libraries. Some of the
many subjects covered in the collection include astronomy, physics, astrophysics,
geophysics, chemistry and cosmology. The John Crerar Library, which merged
with the University of Chicago Library in 1984, was originally an independent
scientific research library. The combined collections make it one of the
largest science libraries in the country and is used by researchers internationally.
Welcome to the John Crerar Library
If you would like to schedule an appointment to discuss
Library services, research instruction, resources for physics and astronomy,
please contact Andrea Twiss-Brooks (Bibliographer for Chemistry, Physics,
Geophysical Sciences and Technology, 773-702-8777, atbrooks@uchicago.edu)
or Barbara Kern (Bibliographer for Astronomy and Astrophysics, 773-702-8717,
bkern@uchicago.edu).
Hours | Contact
Information | Finding Information | Services
| Facilities | Purchase Recommendations
| Feedback
Hours
www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/crerar/using/hours/
Library Contact
Information
Reference Desk
www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/crerar/using/reference/
Phone: 773-702-7715
E-mail: crerar-reference@lib.uchicago.edu
Circulation and Course Reserves
www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/crerar/using/
Phone: 773-702-7409
E-mail: crerar-circulation@lib.uchicago.edu
Computer Search Services
www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/crerar/using/jclcomp.html
Phone: 773-702-8337
E-mail: akander@midway.uchicago.edu
Finding Information
Research Assistance
If you need subject-specific research assistance involving library
materials please contact the subject librarian for that discipline. The
librarians are available to help individuals with sources, or to do sessions
for classrooms or labs on library tools which may be helpful. Contact
a librarian based on their subject specialty:
Finding Books
Books in the physical sciences (Q-QE, T-Z) that circulate are shelved
by call number on the third
floor and on the lower level (in moveable compact shelving). All library
materials are now listed in the online catalog and may be found by searching
the catalog on the web. Do not hesitate to talk with a Reference Librarian
to determine what materials are owned by the library and how to find them.
Finding Journals
Recent journal issues shelve by title on the first
floor of the library. Older physical science journal volumes shelve
by call number on the third
floor or on the lower level. Biological science journal volumes shelve
by title on the second floor.
Consult the online catalog to determine which journals the library subscribes
to.
The Science Libraries also subscribe to over 3000 electronic
journals. To determine what e-journals are available consult the online
catalog and note the line for Web Access or visit the science
electronic journals list.
Finding Journal Articles
Select a database from the campus network that covers the literature
of your research field. Below are some brief descriptions of databases
used by researchers in geophysical sciences. These can all be reached
directly on the Crerar home page:
www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/crerar/
INSPEC:
based on Physics Abstracts for 1969 to current. Covered topics include
physics, astrophysics, cosmology, chemical physics, and information technology.
Includes journals, conferences, reports, dissertations, books, and periodicals.
Compendex
the internet of Engineering Index. Covers 1990 to present. Subjects
covered include chemical, environmental, industrial, optical, electrical,
mechanical, nuclear, materials, metals, hydrology, biotechnology and other
related applied disciplines.
Web of Knowledge/Science
Citation Index: provides access to the ISI citation
databases, which includes Science Citation Index Expanded. You can search
for papers that have cited important articles from the past to expand
your literature searching. Coverage is from 1947 to current.
GeoRef:
covers the world's literature in geology and the geosciences. GeoRef covers
the geology of North America since 1785 and the rest of the world since
1933. Covers over 3,000 journals, as well as books, maps, reports, most
U.S. Geological Survey publications, and U.S. and Canadian master's theses
and doctoral dissertations.
Current Contents:
lists tables of contents for over 6500 journals. Includes bibliographic
data for each article, and includes abstracts for about 85% of the articles.
Search by journal title, article title, authors, keywords, and corporate
source.
SciFinder Scholar/Chemical
Abstracts: a client software which allows full searching of
Chemical Abstracts from 1907 to present. May be searched by substance,
structure, reaction, registry number, author, and many others. Includes
over 21 million substances and covers journals, conferences, reports and
patents. Ask at the Reference Desk or check the link above for details
about downloading the client software.
Dissertation
Abstracts: includes
citations for the first U.S. dissertation, accepted in 1861, to present;
theses from 1980 forward also include 350-word abstracts, written by the
author. Citations for master's theses from 1988 forward include 150-word
abstracts. Numerous current dissertations are available full-text. Includes
authors from over 1,000 North American graduate schools and European universities.
About 47,000 new dissertations and 12,000 new theses are added to the
database each year.
SFX: Once you've located articles in a database, look
for the SFX button or Full Text link.
But, if you don't find it online, don't forget to check the Online
Catalog to see if the library subscribes to the journal.
Services
Can't find a Book or Journal on the Shelf?
If you've looked for a book or journal and don't locate it on
the shelf, try these steps: ·
- If the book is checked out, place
a recall to have it returned. ·
- See if the journal is shelved by call number or by title (there will
be a note in the online catalog "Shelves by title in Sci stacks" for
the latter)
- Look in the re-shelving areas and on the book trucks parked at the
entrances from the stairwells on the second and third floors
- Look in both photocopier rooms on each floor
- Check at the Reference Desk to be certain of your information
- Stop at the Circulation Desk and fill out a Search
Form. (We'll do the looking from this point on.)
Interlibrary Loan
www.lib.uchicago.edu/h/ill
Phone: 773-702-8706
E-mail: Interlibrary-Loan@lib.uchicago.edu
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) services are available to obtain a journal
article or book not owned by The University of Chicago Library. University
of Chicago faculty, students and staff can use ILL at no charge. Please
make sure to check in the online catalog before placing ILL requests.
Requests can be submitted either electronically via the web, by email,
or at the Reference Desk. Most article requests will be delivered electronically
to you -- instructions will be provided in your email notification.
Facilities
Photocopiers
There are two photocopier rooms available on each floor in the
library. Copies cost $0.15 if using cash or $0.12 if using a copy card
or your Chicago Card.
Copy Cards
There is a machine in the first floor copy room which vends copy
cards. These cards work in photocopiers and computer printers in all of
the University of Chicago Libraries. Additional value may be added at
any copier that accepts BOTH cards and cash (such machines are located
on the first and second floors).
Computers
PCs, Macs, and Unix machines are available for desktop software (Word,
Excel, e-mail, etc.) use in the USITE/Crerar
Computer Lab on the lower level of the library. There are also many
computers near the Reference Desk which are for library-related research
only -- no desktop software is available at these machines.
Food and Drink Policy
Drinks in covered containers may be consumed in the Crerar Library.
Please do not drink near electronic equipment (computers, copiers, etc.)
or while using library books and journals. Dispose of all containers in
a trash can. Food is not allowed in the library.
Purchase Recommendations
A form for recommending titles you think should be in the UC collections
is available at: www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/using/purchaserequest.html
and in print at the Reference Desk.
While we can't guarantee that your request will be purchased, our subject
bibliographers will give these requests careful consideration and will
do their best to fulfill your needs. You may also feel free to contact
a subject librarian directly for more complex book
recommendations.
Feedback
The John Crerar Library is here to serve researchers in the sciences
at the University. We hope that our efforts meet your needs. If you have
concerns about library policies, see a need for library services which
are not provided, or see a gap in our collections, we'd like to know about
it. There are several ways to communicate with the Library.
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