Birmingham-Southern College
 Charles Andrew Rush Learning Center & N. E. Miles Library

 BI 101 -- Explorations in Biology
~ Library Research Tips ~ 

Start from the Library homepage at http://www.bsc.edu/bsclibrary

To find books on your topic:

• Use the Library Online Catalog to find books available in the BSC Library

• Use WorldCat (under Indexes & Databases) to find books available worldwide

To find journal articles on your topic:

Use the following databases, most of which are specific to the biological sciences.

All are listed under Indexes & Databases. BasicBIOSIS & GEOBASE are password-protected--see reference librarians for the password.

• General Science Full Text (1984- ) includes primary and secondary literature, some full-text

• BasicBIOSIS (Current year and most recent four update years ) covers 375 core life science journals

• AGRICOLA (1970- ) includes material acquired by the National Agricultural Library

• GEOBASE (1980- ) identifies research on geography, geology, and ecology

• JSTOR contains the full text of several scientific journals not indexed in BasicBIOSIS. (Note: JSTOR is not a current issues database. There is a gap, typically from 1 to 5 years, between the most recently published journal issue and the content available in JSTOR.)

• BioOne  (2000 - ) includes full-texts of high-impact bioscience research journals. Sponsored in part by The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS)

• HighWire (1948- ) enables keyword searching of over 350 science journals (plus Medline)

• Wiley InterScience (1998- ) covers biological, earth, and other sciences - all full-text articles

To see if a journal or magazine is available full-text, in print, or in microfilm at BSC:

Always look up the journal title in  Periodicals @ BSC, a comprehensive list of journals and magazines available in all formats.

• Current issues of journals are in alphabetical order on the Main Floor.

• Back issues are in alphabetical order on the Ground Floor, either bound or on microfilm (consult Periodicals @ BSC)

• Full text articles from many journals are available - see Periodicals @ BSC

To see if a local library has the material you need:

Use WorldCat (under Indexes & Databases) or consult the library catalog of your choice under Other Libraries.  

If the book or journal you need is not available at BSC:

Use the Interlibrary Loan service.  Fill out the forms online at  Library Request Forms.  Submit requests early--it takes several days, at least, to get material from other libraries.

To find websites on your topic:

• The Search Engine Guide, identifies science websites such as science.gov, Scirus (www.scirus.com) or the Biology Browser (http://www.biologybrowser.com).

• Before you rely on material found in these sites, evaluate what you have found!  Guidelines are available at http://orgs.bsc.edu/libref/evalweb.htm

• When in doubt, consult your professor.

  For help with citation style:

• Use the Biology Lab Manual for the "Guidelines for laboratory reports in the biological sciences."

• Consult The Everyday Writer, available in the Bookstore and in  the Library (Ready Ref. PE1408 .L86 2005).

• The CBE (Council of Biology Editors) manual of Scientific Style and Format is a useful source of information on scientific style (Ready Ref. T11 .S386 1994)

• Bedford-St. Martin's also offers basic documentation tips online at  http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/citex.html.