GE4100/5100, Susan Beske-Diehl
Hans Kishel, Librarian (Room 205, hfkishel@mtu.edu, 487-3118)
Guide to the Library - http://www.lib.mtu.edu/about/MTU_Library_Guide.pdf
Answers your questions about the basics of using the MTU Library.
For Assistance
For individual assistance or instruction from a librarian, visit or phone the Reference/Information Desk (487-2507), e-mail reflib@mtu.edu, or use the Ask a Librarian button on the Librarys web page.
Interlibrary Loan (
Requests are made through ILLiad, the personalized online ILL account system. After your initial registration is complete, use ILLiad to request books and articles. ILLiad also allows you to track the status of your requests and cancel requests.
ILL requests may also be made directly through most research databases such as WorldCat,
CSA Metadex,
and Compendex. Follow the HuskyFetch menu options and select "Get Item from
another Library via ILLiad." Please be
sure to check the JRVP Library holdings before submitting a request directly
from a database.
Locating Books & Periodicals
Books are located on the Third Floor in the Main Collection, shelved by Library of Congress call number.
Periodicals are shelved by Library of Congress call number in these locations:
CURRENT JOURNALS (1st Floor): Recent issues kept here until bound or reissued in microfilm/fiche.
SERIALS COLLECTION (Garden Level): Bound periodicals.
MICROFORMS AREA (2nd Floor): Microfilm & Microfiche cabinets located on west side of 2nd floor.
E-Journals: The Library subscribes to an increasing number of journals which provide electronic versions of their publications online. Access them through the Librarys web page.
Reference Collection - 2nd Floor
The Reference Collection is a good place to collect background information on an issue or start your research. The collection is arranged by subject, using the Library of Congress Classification System (LCCS) call numbers. An outline of the system is available at http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html.
Suggested reference materials
Encyclopedia of Geomorphology GB400.3 .E53 2004 REF
Glossary of Geology 4th Ed. QE5 .B38 1997 REF
Encyclopedia of Earth Systems Science QE5 .E514 1992 v.1-4 REF
Encyclopedia of Geology QE5 .E516 2005 v.1-5 REF
Magills Survey of Science Earth Science Series QE28 .M33 1990 v.1-5 REF
JRVP Online Catalog
Contains records of materials owned by the MTU Library.
Two search interfaces, Basic and Keyword allow the user to search for items by author, title, subject, call number, ISBN/ISSN, or keyword(s.) Catalog records include bibliographic and location information for items retrieved in your search. Use the Location, Status, Call Number information to find an item in the Library collections.
Journal, magazine, and newspaper article databases
Database Keyword Search Tips - http://www.lib.mtu.edu/reference/tutorials/databasekeyword.aspx
To find citations to recent articles from journals, conference proceedings, and other publications, go to the Librarys web page and select E-Resources & E-Alerts. The resulting screen offers four search options for finding databases or electronic journals: (1) Keyword search of database titles and/or descriptions, (2) E-Resources A-Z to browse an alphabetical list by title (3) Search by Subject Headings, (4) Search by Provider.
Here are some recommended databases:
Current Research @ Michigan Technological University
Scope: provides a searchable full text database of dissertations submitted by Michigan Tech to UMI's Dissertation database. Full-text PDF files are available for most dissertations from 1968. Also includes some theses.
Scope: contains citations with abstracts covering worldwide literature in geography, geology, and ecology.
Scope: covers the worldwide earth science literature with descriptive index terms and abstracts for journal articles, books, maps, and reports.
Scope: extensive and unique full-text collection covers authoritative titles from the core scientific literature. ScienceDirect is designed as a basic electronic version of Elsevier Science print allowing you to access full-text articles published since 2003.
Scope: contains reliable information resources selected by respective government agencies as their best science information. Two major types of information are included: selected authoritative science Web sites; and databases of technical reports, journal articles, conference proceedings and other published materials.
Scope: contains a large number of databases owned by Thomson Gale covering a large range topics.
Scope: offers Web of Science access to ISI Citation Indexes (Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index and Arts and Humanities Citation Index), which contains multidisciplinary, high quality research information from the world's leading science, social science and art and humanities journals. We now have unlimited access to WoS.
Suggested public websites
U.S. Geological Survey - An unbiased, multi-disciplinary science organization that focuses on biology, geography, geology, geospatial information, and water, we are dedicated to the timely, relevant, and impartial study of the landscape, our natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten us.
Evaluating Information Sources - Consult these sites provided by other institutions:
Identifying Research Articles: http://gateway.library.uiuc.edu/lsx/tutorial/section3.html
Identifying Refereed Journals: http://gateway.library.uiuc.edu/lsx/tutorial/section3_1.html
Identifying Scientific Journals: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_journal
Evaluating Web Sites: http://www.library.cornell.edu/okuref/research/webeval.html
Citation style guides: http://library.concordia.ca/help/howto/citations.html- A site on citation styles produced by Concordia University Libraries.