Quick Links

Tools for Finding Articles

Basic Indexes (less technical information):
EBSO - Use General Full-Text Journals and Newspapers ... Academic Search Elite
Expanded Academic ASAP - (InfoTrac)
Wilson Select Plus
Newspaper Articles (You will need to evaluate this information more carefully)

Note: Some of these indexes include full text. If not, UIUC has access to the full text of many of these articles.
Check The Full List of Electronic Journals Available to UIUC Patrons or come talk to the Geology Librarian in Room 223 Natural History Building. If full text is not available, UIUC also has many print journals.

Advanced Indexes (highly technical information):
GeoRef
Current Contents

For other online indexes, go to the Advanced Version of this Web page.

Locations of Many UIUC Print Geology Journals

Full Text Electronic Journals and books

Connect to Full Text Electronic Journals in the Geosciences
The Full List of Electronic Journals Available to UIUC Patrons
National Academy Books
American Association of Petroleum Geologists Publications
Index of USGS Online Publications (Central Region) - Includes links to Bulletins, Circulars, Fact Sheets, Open File Reports, Professional Papers, and more.

Tools for Finding Books and Documents

UIUC Online Library Catalog (Web)
For other online resources, go to the Advanced Version of this Web page.

Borrow Material not Owned by UIUC

I-Share: Get material from one of the other Illinois Libraries
Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Service

Internet Resources

Oceanology/Oceanography Links
Google

RefWorks
References for Scientific Communication and Literary Style - from Dr. Steven Altaner, Geology Dept., UIUC
GSA Style Guide
AGU Style Guide
Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students
Citation Guides for Electronic Documents
Suggestions to Authors of the Reports of the United States Geological Survey

Online Reference Collection
Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary

Glossary of Geology, 4th ed., 1997, edited by Julia A Jackson: In the Geology Reference area [550.3 Am3gL1997]
Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences: In the Geology Reference area [551.46003 En192 (6 volumes)]
McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, edited by Sybil P. Parker: Geology Reference [551.46003 M178] Also in Undergraduate, Grainger, and Main Library Reference.

Steps for Finding Information on Your Topic

Step 1. Select and narrow your topic.

Your textbook and current news are places to start looking for a topic.

One of the most common mistakes made by college students is the failure to sufficiently narrow the topic of the paper. For example "Thermohaline Circulation" might be a good place to start, but needs to be narrowed.

Another common mistake is to narrow the topic to the point that not enough material is available.

One strategy would be to search "thermohaline" in an index, look at the material available, and then narrow the topic based on ideas gained from the original search.

Step 2. Choose your search terms.

It is helpful to create a chart of main idea terms and their synonyms and related phrases. You will add to your list as you search and evaluate your search results. Example:

Step 3. Define your search strategy.

The basic indexes above, plus the Web, and the Library Online Catalog will probably be sufficient resources for this assignment.

If you would like to try GeoRef, or some of the more advanced databases, here are a few concepts that will help with nearly any electronic database:

• Boolean Operators: Use and, or, not between terms. See figure. These are used to connect search terms in order to widen or narrow the search.
  
• Truncation/Wildcards: *, #, +, !, ?, $, etc. These are used as substitutes for characters within search terms. (Use with care. For example, rock* would retrieve rock and rocks, but also rockets and rocker, depending on the database. Examine your results and adjust your search if necessary). Use * with GeoRef.
  
• Nesting: Instructs the search engine the order to perform operations by using parentheses (...).
  
• Stop words: Common words such as "a", "the", "of" that are not included in a search by the search engine. These are treated differently by the different search engines. Sometimes including them will result in an error message.
  
• For more information, consult the Advanced Version of this Web page.

Step 4. Choose a database

Use the Basic Indexes above, or....

GeoRef

• Indexes geological information published from 1700's to present; includes government documents.
• Searching:
  • Boolean: and, or, not
  • Truncation: *
  • Nesting: is used
  • For help in using GeoRef via CSA, try this tutorial, or consult the "help and support" link on the GeoRef search screen.
    

Step 5. Conduct your search

Step 6. Evaluate search results, note additional terms and unwanted terms.

Step 7. Refine search and re-do.

Step 8. Find out whether UIUC has the material; if not, use Interlibrary Loan.

• To find out whether UIUC has a particular book, use the online catalog.
  
• For journals:
  • Check the Full Text Electronic Journals pages.
  • Use the online catalog to find the call number (UIUC Online Library Catalog (Web)
  • Or find the location of many of the print geology journals by looking at Locations of Many UIUC Print Geology Journals.

• If UIUC doesn't have what you need, and it isn't available full text on the Web, use the online catalog to find out if one of the other Illinois Libraries has it. You can directly request circulating material held at these institutions without going through the Interlibrary Borrowing Office.

• If none of the Illinois Libraries have the material, use Interlibrary Loan.

• Make sure you leave plenty of time to receive material through Interlibrary Loan!

Step 9. Get the material

There are a number of libraries on campus. The books and journals you need may be in any of several, including the Undergraduate Library, the Main Library, and the Geology Library. Undergraduates can get material out of the Main Library by going to the Main Library circulation desk and requesting it. (The Main Library is sometimes referred to as "The Graduate Library". This is incorrect. While undergraduates cannot go into the Main Library stacks, they can still go into the building and get material). The Geology Library is in the Natural History Building in room 223 (near the buffalo). Just ask for what you need at the desk. If you need an article, don't forget to check whether it is available as full text online.

Other:

• Geology Library Home Page

  UIUC Department of Geology

Please come see the Geology Librarian (Lura Joseph) if you need any help. If you'd like to make an appointment, contact me by phone (333-2676) or e-mail (luraj @ uiuc. edu).

Lura Joseph
Created 02/3/03 LEJ