LAREDO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LIBRARY INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

Science attempts to discover truths about the natural world through the application of rigorous methods of investigation, whether in the physical or biological realms.  Technology is an applied science in which discoveries are used to produce inventions to improve the quality of life.

Finding Books [using our online book computer]:

The Library of Congress (LC) Classification System is used by most colleges and university libraries to classify and arrange books on the shelves. The following letters from the LC Classification system are useful in researching these topics.

Science                                   Q

Mathematics                                     QA

Physics                                   QC

Chemistry                              QD

Geology                                 QE

Biology                                   QH

Technology                           T

Mechanical Engineering     TJ

Electronics                             TK

Go to these sections in Reference or the general stacks to browse these topic areas.  For  more detailed information, ask the librarian on duty for a handout describing the complete range of the LC Classification System.

Sample Search Terms [for use in the online book catalog or other databases]:

earthquakes, quantum mechanics, algebra, Albert Einstein, double helix, DNA, quasars, telescopes, Hubble space telescope, biomedical engineering, nuclear power, steam engines, computers, cell phones, genetics, natural selection, Charles Darwin, second law of thermodynamics, special relativity, tsunamis, inorganic chemistry, nucleotides, black holes

 

 

Suggested Print Resources [in the Reference section]:

 

*      American Men & Women of Science

*      The Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and Evolution

*      Chambers Dictionary of Science and Technology 

*      Collins Web-linked Dictionary of Mathematics

*      CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics

*      Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary

*      McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science & Technology

 

Use the online book catalog to determine the call numbers for the above items, or ask for help at the Information Desk.

 

 

Online Databases:

 

Online databases yield important information published in the periodical literature, including magazines, professional journals and newspapers.  Some of our most authoritative resources for this type of information are:

*      AccessScience   [includes material from the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology]

*      WilsonWeb        [includes Applied Science & Technology and General Science databases]

*      EBSCOhost        [includes the  Science & Technology Collection, EBSCO Animals and Academic Search Complete]

*      The Oxford Reference Online Premium Collection includes:

A Dictionary of Animal Behaviour
A Dictionary of Biology
A Dictionary of Genetics
A Dictionary of Plant Sciences
A Dictionary of Scientists
A Dictionary of Earth Sciences
A Dictionary of Ecology
A Dictionary of Geography
A Dictionary of Astronomy
A Dictionary of Chemistry
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics
A Dictionary of Physics
A Dictionary of Scientists
A Dictionary of Weights, Measures, and Units                                                                             

The Oxford Companion to the History of Modern Science

Click on our home page under “Online Databases” to access these resources.  All of them contain full-text capabilities, allowing selected articles to be printed out in their entirety.

Internet Resources [selected]:

These content-rich websites contain much useful data.  However, as with all Net-based resources, students should be discriminating about what they are finding and using.  Not all resources on the Internet are equal.  These have been found to be reliable. 

*      National Science Foundation

            http://www.nsf.gov/

 

*      SciCentral

            http://www.scicentral.com/

 

*      Library of Congress Science Reference Guides

      http//:www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/sci-ref-guides.html

 

*      Scirus

      http//:www.scirus.com

 

Citation Style:                                  Varies. APA, MLA

 

Correct citation form is that preferred by your teacher.  APA style is frequently used in the sciences, MLA style more rarely, though it may be used for general student research papers on science topics. Check with your instructor for the proper scientific citation form to use for your paper.

 

Tutorials:                                           [under construction]

 

For further information, call the general library reference number at the Main Yeary library at 956-721-5274 or 956-794-4261 at the Zaffirini (South) library.  We are available for assistance during all hours the library is open. 

 

You may also reach us by email at reference_desk@laredo.edu.