Contents:
- Databases
- Sage/Prospector
- Knovel
- Patents
- Engineering Standards
- Style Manuals
- Engineering Resources at CSU Libraries Web Page
Databases
Databases can be used for finding articles in professional journals and trade magazines, papers from conferences, reports and other materials. To get to them go to the library's home page (Colorado State University Libraries) and select Databases.
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Compendex - This is a particularly good starting point for research in engineering. It provides excellent coverage of professional journals and conference proceedings.
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Web of Science - This database includes major engineering journals and also indexes journals in other science disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, etc.
You have access to a number of other engineering databases through the CSU Libraries. For a list of them go to CSU Libraries: Databases.
These databases can be searched using keywords and subject headings. Generally speaking, using subject headings will produce more focused results.
To access full text of the articles and papers referenced in Compendex (and most other CSU databases) use the FindIt button. FindIt will provide links to electronic full text. It will also provide information, through the Sage Catalog, on print copies available in the library.
In short, use databases to find the articles, then FindIt or Interlibrary Loan to access the full text.
Sage/Prospector
Use the Sage catalog to find books, reports, government documents and conference proceedings in the CSU library. The materials are organized by subject using Library of Congress call numbers. (The general number for engineering is T.) A map showing the location of engineering materials in Morgan Library is available at CSU Libraries: Engineering Resources- Map to Engineering Books. Materials that we don't have at CSU can be requested from other libraries in Colorado through Prospector. Delivery usually takes two to three working days.
Knovel
Knovel is an online reference library for engineering. You can use it to get to equations, data, information, drawings, etc. that are found in engineering encyclopedias, handbooks and manuals. Knovel also includes tools for compiling data from different sources and manipulating it.
Patents
The U.S. Patent Office has a search engine for locating patents. From 1976 to the present they are available full text online. For other patent information go to the library's Patents page at CSU Libraries: Engineering Resources - Patents.
Engineering Standards
The library maintains a current set of American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) standards. The ASTM standards are located in the Reference area in Morgan Library under the call number TA 401 .A653. ASCE standards can be located by searching the title or the number of the standard on the library's catalog, Sage. IEEE standards are available online by going to the Databases link on the library's home page, then going to the "I" link under Title. Standards from other societies can be obtained through the library's Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service.
Style Manuals
Style manuals provide ways to organize information within bibliographic citations. Some examples of style manuals include Chicago Manual of Style, Turabian (a version of Chicago Manual of Style, APA (American Psychological Association) and MLA (Modern Language Association). Highlights from these style manuals can be found at the library's Style Guides page, http://lib.colostate.edu/research/style/. The EndNote Program, which converts citations into specific style formats, is available on several of the computers in the library's Electronic Information Center (EIC).
Engineering Resources at CSU Libraries Web Page
For further information see the Engineering Resources at CSU Libraries page located at http://lib.colostate.edu/research/engr/.
Content: Mike Culbertson