Contents:
PubMed
1950s-current. A major source for scholarly biomedical literature.
Tips:
> If a phrase is not recognized by the Automatic Term Mapping (ATM) feature then instruct PubMed to bypass ATM and search for a phrase by enclosing it in quotes " ".
> PubMed assumes the AND operator between concepts. When using Boolean operators, enter them in uppercase.
> Truncation turns off ATM and the automatic explosion of a MeSH term. For example, heart attack* will not map to the MeSH term Myocardial Infarction.
> To focus your search by using controlled vocabulary, consult the MeSH Browser.
>To find the full title of a source journal when you have an abbreviated title, search the PubMed Journals Database.
> More tips at Searching PubMed.
> Go shortcut = go/pubmed
ProQuest Biology Journals
1998-current. Allows you to search the full-text of 250 journals in the life sciences. This is a subscription resource; for off-campus access, enter your Middlebury username and password when prompted.
Web of Science (Science Citation Index)
1985-current. Together, the Science Citation Index and the Social Sciences Citation Index cover several thousand scholarly journals worldwide. The Science Citation Index segment covers core science and technology research journals. Special features include cited article searching and discovery of related articles through common terms. This is a subscription resource; for off-campus access, enter your Middlebury username and password when prompted. (For references to articles published 1974-1989, use SciSearch via Dialog on Library computers; ask the Science Librarian for assistance.)
Tips:
> Enclose phrases in quotes " " .
> Truncate terms using an asterisk * .
> For more tips, see Web of Knowledge Help or the online Tutorial.
> Go shortcut = go/wos
go/indexes
All indexes and databases
Limit your search in a journal index to review articles. For example:
> Web of Science: Use the "General Search" form and select "Review" in the list of document types at the bottom of the screen.
> PubMed: Click on the "Limits" tab and select "Review" in the list called "Type of Article."
Browse online and print issues of review publications.
> Review publications particularly useful for this class include: Annual Review of Biochemistry, Annual Review of Medicine, Annual Review of Microbiology, Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
> Tip: You can limit your searches in PubMed and in WOS specifically to these sources.
Go directly to publications which specialize in methods advice.
> Publications particulary useful for this class include Methods in Cell Biology and Methods in Enzymology.
> Tip: You can limit your searches in PubMed and in WOS to these sources.
Consult bibliographies of articles which utilize the methods in which you're interested.
> Web of Science and PubMed provide lists of sources cited by each journal article. These lists may refer to earlier articles that describe the methods which were used.
> Tip: To find out where else the method you are researching has been used, search for the article that originally describes the method as a "cited reference" in Web of Science.
Find additional information on a method by searching for it as a keyword in an index such as Web of Science or PubMed.
Google Scholar
Searches for many types of primarily scholarly sources including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other organizations. Some documents will be available for free while others require a subscription or a one-time access fee.
Tips:
> To link to Midd Full-Text, including our online subscriptions, from your Google Scholar results: 1) Click on "Scholar Preferences," 2) In the "Library Links" section, search for "Middlebury," and 3) Select "Middlebury College" and then "Save Preferences."
> Enclose phrases in quotes " "
Nature Precedings
Produced and moderated by the Nature Publishing Group. Contains pre-publication research, unpublished manuscripts, presentations, posters, white papers, technical papers, supplementary findings, and other scientific documents not yet subjected to peer-review. Contributions are in the fields of biology, medicine, chemistry and the earth sciences.
Scintilla
Produced and moderated by the Nature Publishing Group. Contains discussion and links to announcements of current scientific research.
Scirus
Searches for science-related and primarily scholarly sources including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, abstracts and articles, from academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories, universities and other organizations. Some documents will be available for free while others require a subscription or a one-time access fee.
Tips:
> To link to Midd Full-Text, including our online subscriptions, from your Scirus results: 1) Click on "Search Preferences," 2) For Library Partner Links, click "Enable," 3) Click "M" and then select "Middlebury College" from the drop-down list, and 4) Click "Save Preferences."
> Enclose phrases in quotes " "
> Use an asterisk * to replace multiple characters anywhere in a word
WorldWideScience.org
Free, federated searching of national and international government databases with scientific research results.
Have only a citation? Here's how to locate the article online or in print.
- If you've found the citation in a journal index (e.g. web of Science) and the article is not available there, look for a link to full-text. These links vary but usually say something like “Find…” or “Link to…”. A new window will open; follow the links it provides to find the journal online or in print.
- Alternatively, go to the Print and E-Journals A-Z list and search for the journal title. Follow the links it provides to find the journal online or in print.
- If we have the journal only in print, follow the MIDCAT link for location information:
a. In MIDCAT, look at the column labeled "Location." The Armstrong (Science) Library is in McCardell-Bicentennial Hall. The Main Library is on Storrs Avenue. The Music Library is in the Center for the Arts.
b. Once you're in the library, find out where the call number (see the column labeled "Call No.") is located. Ask for assistance at any desk.
- If we don't subscribe to the journal, request it from another library through NExpress (see NExpress at Middlebury for details). If the journal is not available in NExpress, request it through traditional interlibrary loan using the Illiad form.
Questions?
Contact Carrie Macfarlane, Reference and Instruction Librarian for the Sciences, cmacfarl@middlebury.edu, 206 Armstrong Library, x5018.