Reference Works | How to Locate Books (Print and Electronic) | How to Locate Articles | Periodicals
Websites | Citing Your Work | Reference Assistance
As you work on research it is important to critically evaluate your resources to determine their appropriateness. The guide Evaluating Information can help with this.
Reference Works
Reference works are good places to start if you are not familiar with your topic. For example, dictionaries provide definitions of terms and encyclopedias have short summaries. These resources can be general or subject specific. They are also available in print and/or electronic formats.
- Encyclopedia of Physical Science (2010)
- Dictionary of Physics, Ref QC5 .D53 2009
- Encyclopedia of Physics Ref QC5 .E545 2005
- Encyclopedia of Physics Ref QC5 .R596 2004
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (93rd ed.) Ref QD65 .C72 2012
- Gale Virtual Reference Library (multi-disciplinary collection)
- CREDO Reference (multi-disciplinary)
- AccessScience This database includes online access to: the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology, the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, plus more.
How to Locate Books (print and electronic)
Search the Online Catalog or the Online Classic Catalog to find print and electronic books. The catalog can be accessed from the Library's computers, campus computer labs, or through online access from off campus.
The following are examples of searches:
- applied physics
- albert einstein
- thermodynamics
- laws of motion
- string theory
- parallel universes
- astrophysics
Other sources for SUNY Broome Library eBooks (electronic books) are: ebrary, eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), Gale Virtual Reference Library
For further assistance with eBooks (electronic books) see: EBOOKS at the BCC Library.
How to Locate Articles
The following databases provide access to full-text articles (search by your topic in the search boxes):
- ScienceDirect A science database. Journal articles from more than 2,500 journals and book chapters from almost 20,000 books.
- Academic Search Complete A multi-disciplinary database, e.g., sciences, social sciences, humanities.
- Applied Science & Technology Full Text Coverage of research and development within the applied sciences.
- Energy & Power Source Coverage of research and development within the applied sciences.
- Environmental Studies and Policy Collection This database contains articles from different perspectives, e.g., the scientific community, government policy makers, corporate interests.
- Google Scholar
Periodicals (magazines, journals, newspapers)
* a list of electronically accessible physics periodicals
The Library has many magazines, journals, and newspapers. To get an idea of current topics it is often helpful to browse these resources. The following are available in the Library (and online):
- Physics Today Online only. Full-text has one year delay (embargo)
- Discover
- Science
- Science News
- Scientific American
- New Scientist
- Astronomy
- The New York Times The Tuesday paper has a science section.
Websites
When working on research it is important to critically evaluate your resources to determine their appropriateness. Again, the Library’s guide, Evaluating Information, can help you with this. Some websites with information on physics are:
- American Institute of Physics
- American Physical Society
- Science.gov - U.S. government science information from over 60 databases and over 2200 selected websites from 15 federal agencies.
Citing Your Work
It is important to cite where you find your information, quotations, and ideas. For examples of how to format your citations see the following: MLA Style Guide and APA Style Guide.
Also in the Library’s reference and circulating collections you can find the following books:
- MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th edition. PN147 .G53 2009
- Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA), 6th edition. BF76.7 .P83 2010
- Cite Right: a Quick Guide to Citation Styles - MLA, APA, Chicago, the Sciences, Professions, and More, 2nd edition. PN171 .F56 L55 2011
Reference Assistance
If you need help with your research, reference assistance options are available.
D. Curtin 8/4/11; latest update 12/13/14