Library Orientation for Physics Graduate Students

See Services for Graduate Students for a general description of what BC Libraries offer.

The Basics

• Ask A Librarian
  • Generalist 24/7 chat service and e-mail dropbox
  • The Answer Wall for more philosophical or entertaining queries
• Request Materials includes worldwide Interlibrary loan (ILL) service
  • Borrow items and return them to us
  • Get copies to keep
• Suggest a Purchase: also contact me directly about "Big Items" like reference works, journal backfiles, and multi-volume handbooks

Research Resources

• Databases: use the Physics filter to see many relevant options
  • Cambridge Structural Database (also called CCDC or CSD database)
    • WebCSD (free version, limited functionality)
    • Contact me, your PI, or your TC for access to the full-feature version
  • Additional subject databases
    • SciFinder or SciFinderⁿ (also called SciFinder-N): sign up for a BC account
    • PubMed or MEDLINE
  • Google Scholar: see Linking Google Scholar to BC Libraries
  • Findit@BC
• Journals: check here for known items (digital or print), try catalog as well
• Research Guides: also available at the top of a library website page, hover over Get Help to find link
  • Physics: portal to key resources
  • On the Physics Portal, click Physics Research Guide for even more resources
  • Also check In-Depth Research Guides for Chemistry to find more resources
  • How to...(General Guides)

Research Data

• Data Services: find information about research data management and data tools
• For handbooks and tables, start with the Physics filter

Scholarly Publishing

• Open Access Publishing Fund: check eligibility for these "first come, first served" awards
• Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (eTD): get familiar with these procedures and requirements

Research Support

• Citation Management Tools: choose either Zotero or what your PI uses
• Software in the Libraries: includes LaTeX, Mathematica, MatLab, and Python/Anaconda