Global Plants Details Plant Type Specimens

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Scientific information on plants is useful for a wide range of studies in the life sciences.  Global Plants, offered by JSTOR, is a very helpful tool in this regard.  Global Plants features plant type specimens that are found in about 300 herbaria located around the world.  The role of herbaria is to preserve plant type specimens.  Now, with Global Plants, it is possible to easily and conveniently learn about plants in a wonderful way.  The database contains over two million high-resolution plant type specimens, digitized with great care by various cooperating herbaria. Entries in the database point to reference books and other primary resources. Plant type specimens are very important as “original vouchers of nomenclature,” according to JSTOR.   Source:  Description by JSTOR.  Global Plants is ready for the entire UA community.  

 

Google Scholar Introduces Scholar Library

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Google Scholar introduced a new feature this week called Scholar Library. This new service is designed to help users of Google scholar develop a personal collection of scholarly materials.  While working in Google Scholar, “you can save articles right from the search page, organize them by topic, and use the power of Scholar’s full-text search & ranking to quickly find  just the one you want – at any time and from anywhere.”  Scholar Library incorporates all the functionality of Google Scholar, such as linking to content, citing articles, and formatting citations.   Check out Google Scholar Blog to learn more.

Books Are Very Helpful Too

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With so many scholarly materials available, some students may overlook the book collection.  Rodgers Library holdings include many intermediate- and advanced-level books in all disciplines in the sciences, engineering and nursing.  Whether you are just starting to learn a new subject or need important background information, books are a great resource.  Books often provide a full treatment of a special subject as well.  Such is the case with the title Physiography of the United States, by Charles B. Hunt.   Print books are housed on the north side of the second floor and are organized by the Library of Congress Classification.   A general guide to the classification scheme is shown in a large poster near the stacks.  Both online and print books are listed in Scout our online discovery system.  Scout offers a quick way to find books on any subject.  After doing a search in Scout, use the facet for “books” in the left-hand column to limit to that format.  Go to Scout.

MEDLINE Available for Finding Health Science Research

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Recently, UA Libraries subscribed to MEDLINE. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) produces MEDLINE, and NLM provides free access to MEDLINE through PubMed. MEDLINE is also accessed through an interface provided by Ovid, a commercial database vendor.

MEDLINE is an index that is used to find articles published in biomedical journals. MEDLINE covers the journal literature from 1948 to the present. It indexes article citations from over 4,000 medical journals and the entire database consists of over 11 million citations, many with abstracts.

Enhanced features make searching easier and more powerful. Each citation in Ovid indicates whether it can be found in a journal owned by the library. Alerting tools such as AutoAlerts and eTocs are available to keep up with new articles matching the search criteria and tables of contents for new journal issues.

To search Ovid MEDLINE, click on Databases/MEDLINE from the library’s home page. If you would like more information about this database, or if you would like a demonstration of it for a class, contact Mangala Krishnamurthy in Rodgers Library. Contact mkrishna@ua.edu.

Tags: database, Medicine, MeSH, NLM, Nursing

Faculty, Students, and Symbiosis

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When dining out, celebrities often sit at a table near the front door – to see and be seen.  Visibility is a large part of success in our world.   What does this have to do with libraries?  Assume for a moment that interaction (of any kind) between faculty and students can help boost student performance.  I want to make the case that our students who spend many hours in Rodgers Library would benefit if teaching faculty would visit the library more often.  For our part, casual interaction with students as we go about doing our regular work pays dividends.  Teaching faculty mingling with students at the library would likely do the same.  Rodgers Library is a nice and neutral ground to connect with others.   Faculty welcome!

Bio-Rad KnowitAll U Spectra Database

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We are currently running a trial of Bio-Rad’s KnowitAll U Spectra Database until June 28, 2013.

“KnowItAll U provides users with a wide array of chemistry tools and unlimited access to 1.4 million spectra (NMR, IR, Raman, MS, UV-Vis)—the world’s largest collection of spectral data.  Users can access the entire spectral collection via the KnowItAll AnyWare™ web browser interface—a full suite of tools to search, manage, and analyze spectroscopic, chromatographic and chemical information; predict NMR spectra; draw structures; create reports; and more.”

Check it out here:

http://www.lib.ua.edu/databases/trials/dbtrial.htm

And let us know what you think here:

http://www.lib.ua.edu/databases/trials/dbtfeedback.htm

Check-Out Reference Books Too

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Do you need a reference book? Our lending policy allows users to check-out reference books. The entire reference collection, located on the 2nd floor in the southeast corner, is ready for circulation. Users can check-out reference books at the Circulation Desk or at the self-checkout machine on the 1st floor. Many reference books are also available as e-books. When available in e-book format, reference books can be accessed from the Rodgers Library Web site. All reference books, both hardcopy and e-versions, are listed in Scout. A staff member of Rodgers Library is always available to assist you with finding materials in our collections. Enjoy!

Emerging Scholars Posters

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Congratulations to all of the UA Emerging Scholars (over 500!) that presented at the Sixth Annual University of Alabama Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference. We were very proud to be able to participate in this event and also display a number of the posters after the conference in Rodgers Library.

If you have not heard of the Emerging Scholars program, check it out here:

http://emergingscholars.ua.edu/

We are looking forward to working with the new and seasoned emerging scholars next year. Feel free to contact us anytime during the course of your research. Check out our Libguides for an overview of our services:

http://guides.lib.ua.edu/home

Access to Library resources

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Access to UA Libraries electronic resources on campus is straightforward; computers on the network are recognized as UA affiliated and are permitted access. Off-campus access is easy too.  After you enter the UA Libraries Web site, you may be asked to authenticate.   This is done simply by executing a login with your myBama ID and password.  Once this is completed you are ready to search, read, and download electronic resources.

Use of UA VPN for off-campus access to library resources isn’t necessary, so this approach is not recommended. 

Enjoy Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering.

A Snapshot of PubMed Database

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This snapshot of PubMed database will give you basic information about this most relevant and beneficial online resource in the field of medicine and nursing.

A service of the National Library of Medicine, PubMed provides access to over 11 million MEDLINE citations back to the Mid-1960s.  It provides links to many sites providing full text articles and other related resources.

Coverage: full text articles (only up to the most recent six months). You can use the UA libraries collections and Interlibrary Service to get full text of articles that are not linked to in the PubMed database.

Link: http://www.lib.ua.edu/databases/ and use the alpha list on the right side to get to “P” to look for PubMed.

Direct Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?db=pubmed

Tips for searching:

Begin a basic search by entering a keyword (Medical Subject Heading – MeSH Term) into the search field. Then narrow the results with related keywords or by using filters (to limit) offered on the sides of the search results page. Manage Filters link is on the on the right side and more additional filters on the left side of the results page. You can select language, type of publication, years of publication and more to filter the search results

What is MeSH terms in PubMed?

Medical Subject Headings – MESH

MeSH is the National Library of Medicine’s controlled vocabulary thesaurus. It consists of sets of terms naming descriptors in a hierarchical structure that permits searching at various levels of specificity. Each bibliographic reference is associated with a set of MeSH terms that describe the content of the item. Similarly, search queries use MeSH vocabulary to find items on a desired topic.

If you would like more information about this database, or if you would like a demonstration of it for a class, contact Mangala Krishnamurthy in Rodgers Library. Contact mkrishna@ua.edu.

About E-Book Collections

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Rodgers Library is systematically adding electronic books to the collection. Like electronic journals, ebooks allow you to open the item at your computer for immediate viewing.  Also like ejournals, ebooks are produced by a variety of publishers and vendors, so the platforms vary; rules for downloading and printing may differ from one to the next. Ebooks are added to Scout and the catalog and can be searched and accessed there alongside the print books. They can also be searched on the E-Resources search page, the same location where you search for electronic journals. 

This post by Karen Chapman, modified to fit Rodgers Library, recently appeared in the Bruno Library Newsletter.

Don’t forget about Dissertations!

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Published Dissertations/theses are extremely useful when researching a field. They often provide a very nice basic introduction to the subject, a great collection of references, and excellent insights for future work. I have found that many dissertations also provide a level of detail which you will not find in peer-reviewed journals, for example, a worked calculation or sample data analysis. You may also glean information about how you would like to organize your own dissertation/thesis. So don’t forget about searching for your research topic in our ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Database!

http://goo.gl/OMBtj

Rodgers Library Fall 2012 Workshops

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We are excited to announce the first five scheduled workshops for the Fall 2012 Semester.  All scheduled for 5-6 pm on Thursdays, Rodgers Library first floor Scholars Station. RSVP to vfscalfani@ua.edu if you plan on attending or would like more information. We should be able to accommodate about 20 people in the Scholars Station.

  1. September 27th – Searching Literature, Chemicals and Reactions with SciFinder Database
  2. October 11th – Introduction to ChemBioDraw Software
  3. October 25th – Strategies  For Efficiently Searching and Reading  Scientific Literature
  4. November 8th – Strategies for Creating Awesome Scientific Posters and Presentations
  5. December 6th – Citation Management For Scientists

Makeover at Rodgers Library 99% Complete

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Welcome new and returning students to this UA Fall 2012 semester. The renovations at Rodgers Library are nearly complete, save for a few accessories that need to be mounted and/or configured. We are very excited and pleased with the renovated 1st floor of Rodgers Library. New furnishings, new group study rooms, new computers, new technology, we’ve got it all.  The redesigned south end of the Rodgers Library first floor houses multiple work tables and computers loaded with scientific software. The area is completely surrounded by windows, likely one of the best views on campus. If you have not already seen the new Rodgers library, come check us out – you won’t be disappointed. Incidentally, we have a new Science and Engineering Librarian (yours truly). I just finished a graduate Ph.D. chemistry program myself and know how challenging it can be to navigate library resources. We are all very much looking forward to helping you succeed with your classes and research. Roll Tide.

Huge Makeover Coming to Rodgers Library

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It’s going to be a busy summer in Rodgers Library, even with most of the students away.  For several months, the library has been planning for a major makeover of the public areas on the 1st floor.  Actual work will begin in about mid-May and last until early August.   With this project, we will completely transform much the area at the south end of the building.  After removal of the book stacks and demolition and removal of the existing reference desk, new carpet will be installed.  Once this is done, new furnishings will be added along with lots of new technology.  Our goal is to increase technology and accommodate more users, while at the same time create spaces which are more conducive to learning and research.  We aim to make the library more suitable for collaboration, recognizing that many students work on teams to complete assignments.  The addition of two new dedicated group study rooms are part of the project.   This is a huge development and the outcome, as distinguished by enhanced appearance and functionality, signals an auspicious beginning of the 21st century in Rodgers Library.

A Tool for Finding Animal Science Research

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Rodgers Library for Science and Engineering subscribes to the complete file of Zoological Record, the premier database for finding references in animal science.

According to the publisher, Thomson, “Zoological Record is the world’s oldest continuing database of animal biology. It is considered the world’s leading taxonomic reference, and has long acted as the world’s unofficial register of animal names. The broad scope of coverage ranges from biodiversity and the environment to taxonomy and veterinary sciences.”

Zoological Record covers over 5,000 periodicals and includes as well books, reports and meetings. The database dates from 1864 to present. And we will add more years as time moves along.

Zoological Record is accessed from the ISI Web of Knowledge platform along with BIOSIS Previews, Biological Abstracts, Journal Citation Reports, and the Web of Science.

On the Rodgers Library databases page, Zoological Record is listed under the letter “Z” on the lower-right side of the page. On the ISI Web of Knowledge home page, a tab on the top, “select a database,” points to Zoological Record.

This is a major resource for UA faculty and students. It will benefit many for decades to come.

Enjoy! Databases.

UA Arboretum- A Place to Learn About Trees and Shrubs

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The UA Arboretum is a wonderful place to learn about and enjoy trees and shrubs.

Located on a 60-acre site near the Tuscaloosa Veterans Hospital, the UA Arboretum is “a safe haven where the University grows and protects rare, old and endangered　species of both native and exotic plants,” says Mary Jo Modica, arboretum horticulturist.

The UA Arboretum is a part of the College of Arts and Sciences, operated by the Department of Biological Sciences, and the bulk of UA students who use the arboretum in their studies are from the biological sciences. Each semester a few interns work at the arboretum with Modica and caretaker Ken Robinson. But the arboretum also is popular with students focusing on writing, geology, geography and art.

 Tuscaloosa residents also enjoy the arboretum. Visitors can choose from offers greenhouses filled with exotic plants, and two miles of trails for walking among shade trees, wildflowers, a large collection of Southern azaleas and a variety of gardens, from the whimsical children’s garden to a community garden dedicated to promoting the popularity of sustainable, local food crops.

 Modica welcomes faculty and staff use of the UA Arboretum.

Submitted by Cathy Butler
Dialog Editor

24/5 at Rodgers Library

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Rodgers Library will offer 24/5 service for the fall semester 2011. 
Starting on September 18, Rodgers Library will open at 1:00 pm on Sunday afternoon  and remain open continously until 7:00 pm on Friday evening during 24/5.  All students must have a current UA Action Card to enter the library from 10:00 pm to 7:45 am during 24/5.  Enjoy!

New Version of Scout Arrives on August 10

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A new version of Scout, the UA Libraries online catalog, will be available on August 10.  The all new Scout offers enhanced searching, more content, superior presentation, and lightning speed.   More significantly, the new edition of  Scout indexes many kinds of content, including books, journal articles, and technical reports.   

 When using Scout, patrons can: 

  • Search for and download electronic books and technical reports
  • Search for and download electronic scholarly articles
  • Easily create  links to specific content
  • Search for and locate hardcopy books in libraries’ collections
  • Locate bound journal titles in the libraries’ collections
  • Request journal articles and books housed in the UA Libraries Annex 

Scout is a robust, modern discovery system.  From a clean and simple interface, patrons can search for and acquire much of the content they need for study, instruction, and research.  Scout delivers!  Try it today.      

Scout

Physics Faculty and Students Love Books

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Book circulation is a common measure of success for libraries.  Recently we did a quick study on the use of physics books in Rodgers Library.  We wanted to know if the books we acquired are meeting needs of students and faculty for learning, instruction and research.  Are books being checked-out?  Well the answer if you believe in the MO test, yes.  An experiment was run in class QC (physics) in May 2011.  Test A:  at random pulled three books from the shelves and examined date due slips.  Results showed that all three books circulated since 2002.  Repeat the experiment.  Test B:  again at random pulled three QC books from the shelves and checked the date due slips.  In the 2nd test, results showed much the same as all three books circulated since 2005.  Even while the data is a bit thin, the study demonstrates the value of the physics collection.  Results from this study are not at all that surprising, since Rodgers Library seeks to closely match new book selections with instruction and research going on in UA’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.