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Getting Research Assistance

Library Catalog

Catalog Tips

Databases

Database Tips

Websites

 

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Just getting started?

Start by doing some background research. Take time to engage in some brainstorming exercises that will help you identify key subject terms. Encyclopedias and other reference resources can be used to help you refine your subject terms and the citations in these sources can be used to find more information on your topic.

Consider how much time you have to complete your assignment and how hard it will be to get the resources you need for your topic. If you are finding your research difficult to manage, narrow your topic or break your research down into manageable sub-topics. If you are not finding enough information on your topic, try using broader subject terms.

Other Useful Guides

 

Guide to the Library

Using Databases

Citation Guide

 

Library Catalog: Books, Videos, e-Books and more!

 

Call number areas to browse

Subject Area	Call Number Range	Subject Area	Call Number Range	Subject Area	Call Number Range
Physics	QC	Atomic Physics	QC 170-197	Acoustics & Sound	QC 221-246
Electricity and Magnetism	QC 501-766	Nuclear and Particle Physics	QC 770-798	Meteorology & Climatology	QC 851-999

 

The books in the library are organized by subject. You can browse these call number areas to find related books. So, if you are searching the library catalog and find a book that looks interesting or particularly relevant to your research, you can search the shelves in the library in the same call number area to find related items.

 

Reference Sources

Title	Call Number
Encyclopedia of Physics	REF QC5 .E545 2005
Handbook of Physics	REF QC61 .H37 2002
The Facts on File Physics Handbook	REF QC61 .F33 2000
A Dictionary of Physics	REF QC5 .C56 2000
Find More

 

The reference collection is located at the back, right-hand side of the library. Items in this collection cannot be checked out, but a copier is conveniently located so you can make copies of the resources you find.

To search the Library Catalog for reference books about Physics, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select "Advanced Search" on the "Catalog" tab. Enter "Physics" or a related subfield into the "Subject" field and then limit your search by selecting "Collection: Reference Books" from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items located at Montgomery Library, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

Circulating Books

Title	Call Number
Physics of the Future: How Science will Shape Human Destiny	Q175.5 .K257 2011
An Illustrated Guide to Relativity	QC173.55 .T35 2010
A User’s Guide to the Universe	QC24.5 .G65 2010
The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe	QC20 .P366 2007

 

 

 

To search the Library Catalog for books about Physics, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select "Advanced Search" on the "Catalog" tab. Enter "Physics" or a related subfield into the "Subject" field and then limit your search to items you can check-out by selecting "Collection: Circulating Books" from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items located at Montgomery Library, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

E-Books

Title	E-Book Type
The Nature of Space and Time	netLibrary eBook
Applied Physics	netLibrary eBook
Mad About Physics	EBSCO eBook
Seeking Ultimates: An Intuitive Guide to Physics	netLibrary eBook

 

 

 

To search the Library Catalog for e-books about Physics or a related subfield, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select "Advanced Search" on the "Catalog" tab. Enter "Physics" or a related subfield into the "Subject" field and then limit your search to items you can check-out by selecting "Collection: Electronic Books" from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items available to Montgomery Library patrons only, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

Audio/Visual Materials

Title	Call Number
Einstein	QC16.E5 E36 2009
Dark Matter, Dark Energy: The Dark Side of the Universe	QB791.3 .D37 2007 pt.1-2
Physics in Action	QC21.3 .P48556 2009
Physics in Your Life	QC21.3 .W65 2004

 

 

 

To search the Library Catalog for books about Physics, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select "Advanced Search" on the "Catalog" tab. Enter "Physics" or a related subfield into the "Subject" field and then limit your search to items you can check-out by selecting "Media: Videos, DVDs, films, slides, etc." from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items located at Montgomery Library, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

Periodicals

Science News	ePeriodicals Collection
The Scientist	Periodicals Collection
Scientific American	ePeriodicals Collection
Discover	Periodicals Collection

 

The periodical section is located in front of the circulating collection, next to the outdoor patio area. The periodical collection is organized by title. These items cannot be checked out, but there is a copy machine available adjacent to the periodical section.

Tips!

 

Requesting items not available at Montgomery Library:

If there is an item listed in the catalog, but it is not located at Montgomery Library, just select the “Request First Available Copy of this Item” button from the catalog record to have the item sent to Montgomery Library for pick-up. To complete your request, you need your library barcode and PIN number. Generally, your PIN number is the last 4 digits of the phone number you used to register for classes. If you have problems requesting an item, contact the Circulation Desk in person, at 936.273.7387 or email mclr@lonestar.edu

 

 

If the item is not available in the catalog:

Just select the “Requests” tab located in the upper, right-hand side of the screen. Complete and submit the Inter-Library Loan Request Form – LSCS. Contact a librarian if you need help!

 

Research Databases: Find journal, magazine, and newspaper articles

 

Recommended Databases

Science Online	This full-text, weekly multidisciplinary scientific journal publishes original peer-reviewed research and noteworthy science news (July 1880 to the present).
Science and Technology Collection	Over 800 full-text journals; topics include aeronautics, astrophysics, chemistry, computing, geology, aviation, physics, archaeology.
Academic Search Complete	Multi-disciplinary database; full text of articles from over 5,300 journals, magazines and newspapers, plus image collections.

 

Tips!

Finding the right database:

If you’d like to explore a subject area: Access the Research Databases: www.lonestar.edu/library -> Find Articles Tab -> Select a category that is relevant to your topic.

If you know the title of the journal you’re looking for, use the A to Z Electronic Journal Search to find out which database provides access to that journal: www.lonestar.edu/library -> Find Articles Tab -> A to Z Electronic Journal Search -> Select “Search” tab

If you know the database title: www.lonestar.edu/library -> Find Articles Tab -> Find Database by Title

If the full-text/PDF version of an article is not available, select the “Check LinkSource for more information” link to see if another database offers full-text access.

 

Accessing Databases from Home:

You can access these databases from home using your library barcode number. If you have problems accessing the databases, contact the Circulation Desk in person, at 936.273.7387 or email mclr@lonestar.edu

 

 

Interlibrary Loan (ILL):

If you are not able to find a resource that you need in the databases or in the library catalog, you can request the item via the Interlibrary Loan Form: http://www.lonestar.edu/library/interlibrary-request.htm

 

 

Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed Sources

Scholarly articles are written by an authority on the subject and are meant to share primary research with others in the field. Unlike popular sources, scholarly sources generally have a narrow audience and include a clear author or sponsoring association. These documents are very structured and usually include a literature review, methodology, and extensive citations. Many scholarly sources are also peer-reviewed which means others in the field reviewed the work before it was published. Many databases will allow you to limit your search to scholarly and/or peer-reviewed sources – look for this option.

 

Websites

Occasionally the librarians at LSC - Montgomery library will find a website they consider exceptional or particularly useful for academic research.

 

Suggested Websites:

American Institute of Physics	aip.org
Interactive Plasma Physics Education Experience	ippex.pppl.gov
Physics Central	physicscentral.com
Physics.org	physics.org
The Mechanical Universe and Beyond	learner.org/resources/series42.html