Welcome!
Changes in Elsevier Access
Scientific American Electronic Access Available
Journal Lists and Citation Linker
Scanning Workstation Now Available
New Features Added to The CAT
Group Meeting Rooms Available for Reservation
PAMS Library Training Sessions in November
Exhibit: Priestley by Wedgwood
Thanksgiving Holiday Library Hours
Welcome to University Park and the University Libraries! The PAMS Library Update is an irregular newsletter that focuses on news of interest about the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library (PAMS for short) in particular and the University Libraries in general.
If you’d like to make suggestions regarding the acquisition of new books or journals for the collection, or arrange for a library instruction session, demonstration, or tour for your students, or some other library-related question, please feel free to contact me. My name is Nan Butkovich, and I can be reached by e-mail at njb2@psu.edu or by phone at 814/865-3716. You can also drop by my office in the PAMS Library (201 Davey Lab.)
We’re also very pleased to welcome a new librarian to the PAMS Library. Emily Rimland joined us at the end of September, and she’ll be here through Spring semester. She’s also working in the Gateway Library, so don’t be surprised if you run into her the next time you’re in Paterno Library.
Return to top
You might see changes in a few of our electronic journals. Recently we were informed that Elsevier (the publisher) had accidentally been giving Penn State electronic access to approximately 180 journals to which we did not subscribe. We had to decide whether or not to pay to keep access to those titles. Some had very low use; however, a few had very high usage data for the electronic versions.
It then became a question of how to pay for continued access to the high use titles. Since we could not exceed what we are already paying Elsevier for electronic access, no new money could be used. As a result, a few low use titles are being dropped to provide the funds to pay for the high use titles.
We had a very short time in which to make the decisions, so we relied on the usage data (number of times a specific journal was accessed by PSU users) provided by the publisher. Since the journals in question covered a large range of disciplines, I don’t yet have a final list of what was added and what was dropped.
Return to top
We are pleased to announce that we now have Scientific American available in electronic form from 1993 to present. You can access it via its record in The CAT, through Citation Linker, or directly by going to http://alias.libraries.psu.edu/eresources/SAAO.
Return to top
Some people have asked about our journals lists. At our reference desk we do still have a list of the print titles that we retain on site, and you can find several journal lists available online at http://www.libraries.psu.edu/pams/chemistry/journallists.html. HOWEVER… there’s now a better way to access electronic journals. It’s called Citation Linker, and it can be used independently or in conjunction with many of our online indexing and abstracting resources.
To use it independently, go to http://getit.libraries.psu.edu:9003/sfx_local/cgi/core/citation-linker.cgi . Not only can you search for a specific electronic journal, but you can also often link directly to the article! (If the publisher allows us to do so… if not, you’ll either go to the journal home page or to the publisher’s web site.)
If you’re in an online indexing or abstracting resource (Web of Science, for example), look for the blue box in the record and click on it. The bibliographic information for your article will be automatically copied into a worksheet, and if we have an electronic subscription, you’ll be able to go directly to the journal. Give it a try, and let us know what you think.
Return to top
People have been asking for it, and it’s finally here! We now have a scanning workstation that has the Microsoft Office Suite, an 8 ½” x 14” scanner, DVD drive, floppy drive, USB ports, access to path space, and external CD burner, as well as access to all the resources available on an standard LIAS terminal. Patrons will need to be able to authenticate in order to use the workstation.
Return to top
The “My Favorites” feature of the CAT now offers an alert service. You can receive a monthly email that informs you of new items added to the collection based on an author’s name or subject that you designate.
To add an author or subject to your favorites list, make sure you are logged into the CAT with your access ID and password. If not, just click on “Activate My Favorites” (see below).
Next:
• Find a record for your author of interest or with your subject listed as the first subject heading
• Click on the “Tell me when new items by this author/on this subject are available” links on the left-hand side of the record (see below)
• The author’s name or subject is added to your favorites list
• Your favorites appear on the bottom of the Quick Search screen in the CAT. To make changes to your list, simply click on “Modify Favorites”
Two other new features of the CAT help you refine or broaden your search. On the right-hand side of the screen, the “Limit These Results To” links help you tighten down your search by limiting to a particular subject or area. The “Try These Too…” ideas provide subjects related to your search that can help you find more resources.
Return to top
The PAMS Library has three group study rooms that are available for all your group study needs and can be reserved for 3-hour blocks during library hours. The rooms feature:
• Seating for up to 6 people around a large table
• White boards and markers
• Ethernet ports
• A quiet and comfortable place to meet
To make a reservation, simply inquire at the PAMS Circulation desk or call 814/865-7617. If there is no reservation for a room, availability is based on a first come, first served basis.
Return to top
During November, the PAMS Library will offer the following short training sessions. All except the PAMS Library tour will meet in the PAMS Library Instruction Lab in 211 Davey. The tour will meet at the PAMS Library circulation desk near the entrance. No reservation is required, and all sessions are designed to last a maximum of 30 minutes.
Wednesday, 9 Nov., 12:15pm: Library Resources in Mathematics and Statistics
Tuesday, 15 Nov., 11:30am: PAMS Library Tour
Wednesday, 16 Nov., 12:15pm: Introduction to LIAS
Tuesday, 29 Nov., 11:30am: Document Delivery/Interlibrary Loan
Wednesday, 30 Nov., 12:15pm: Finding Electronic Journals
Return to top
The PAMS Library is currently showing an exhibit entitled “Priestley by Wedgwood” and contains several pieces of Wedgwood ceramics that commemorate the work of Joseph Priestley, the 18th century minister and chemist who is famous for his research into gases such as nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen.
A contemporary of Priestley was Josiah Wedgwood, founder of the famous Wedgwood ceramics works. The two were friends and shared a common interest in science. The exhibit also contains a facsimile of a letter from Priestley to Wedgwood in which Priestley describes some ceramic lab ware that Wedgwood was going to make for him.
The focus of the exhibit is a set of four Wedgwood plates which have been donated to the University Libraries by Dr. Roy Olofson, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry. Several other items in the exhibit are on loan from Dr. Olofson’s collection of Priestley memorabilia.
Return to top
Over the Thanksgiving holiday (Tuesday, 22 Nov. to Sunday, 27 Nov.) all University Park libraries except the Pollock Laptop Library will operate on the following schedule:
Tuesday, 22 Nov.: 7:45am – 5:00pm
Wednesday, 23 Nov.: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday, 24 Nov.: CLOSED
Friday, 25 Nov.: Noon – 5:00pm
Saturday, 26 Nov.: Noon – 5:00pm
Sunday, 27 Nov.: Resume regular schedule
The Pollock Laptop Library will close at 5:00pm on Tuesday, 22 Nov. and reopen on Sunday, 27 Nov., at Noon.
For more information regarding library hours at University Park, please go to http://www.libraries.psu.edu/psul/hours/.
Return to top
_____________________________________________________________________________
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce.
