This document provides an overview of resources for finding scientific information using Cook Library at Towson University. It introduces Laksamee Putnam as the research and instruction librarian and provides her contact information. It then outlines tips for getting started, including background information sources, keywords, and related references. Search tips are presented, such as using Boolean operators and truncation. Methods for finding books, articles, and government information are described. The document concludes by introducing RefWorks for bibliographic management.

1. ENVS 604 :
Finding
Scientific
Information
Using Cook
Library
Laksamee Putnam
lputnam@towson.edu
Research & Instruction
Librarian

2. First…
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 Cook Library Reference:
 410.704.2462.
 IM/email
 Phone: 410.704.3746.
 Twitter: @CookLibraryofTU
 Albert S. Cook facebook profile!

3. Take away …
 Getting Started
 Search Tips
 Finding Books/Articles
 Keeping track of your information

4. Getting started
 Background information
 Encyclopedias
 The Encyclopedia of Mammals
 General books on ecosystem ecology
 Ecosystem Ecology: a new synthesis
 Terrestrial Ecosystem Ecology
 Taxonomic database websites
 The Encyclopedia of Life (EoL)

5. Getting started
 Background
information – aka
Gathering
 Identify keywords
 Find related
references
 Learn more about
the topic

6. Search tips
 Keywords
 Topic : Monarch butterfly OR Danaus plexippus
 Habitat, Predators, Environmental effects?
 Synonyms/alternative spellings
 electronic, electric, digital, computer, cell
phone
 waste, trash, debris, litter
 effects, consequence, impact
 environmental, environment, ecology
 policy, law, bill, act, plan

7. Search tips
 Search Tip #1
 Boolean search connectors
 nanotechnology AND environment
 Combining more than 1 topic
 Personal
care products and
pharmaceuticals OR PCPP
 Combining synonymous terms

8. Search Tips
 Search Tip #2
 Truncation
technolog* finds…
technolog y
technolog ies
technolog ists
technolog ical
technolog ically
…etc!

9. Search Tips
 Search Tip #3
 Phrase searching
 “Endangered species act”

10. Finding books
 Cook Library Website
 Catalog
 Library
Catalog
 Cook OneSearch
 Remember!!
 You can request books from other USMAI
libraries

11. Finding articles
 Home base:
 ENVS 604 Course Gateway
 Journal List
 Research databases

12. Finding articles
 ScienceDirect
 “Refine Results” on the left
 RSS
 References
 Related Articles
 All Fields – Abstract, Title, Keywords
 Search history
 Export Citation – Ref Works

13. Finding articles
 Scopus
 Add Search Field
 Refine Results
 Save search alert
 View “Cited by”
 View References Cited
 Create Bibliography
 Export to RefWorks

14. Finding articles
 If there is an article you can’t access
 Request it through Interlibrary Loan
 Iliad login needed

15. Government Information
 Find the governing body website
 http://www.science.gov/
 http://www.scienceaccelerator.gov/
 GreenR
 Scirus
- http://www.scirus.com/
 Google: site.gov

16. RefWorks
 Bibliographic management software
 Towson University subscription
 Off campus: RWTowsonU
 Organize citations
 Create bibliographies
 Import records

17. Questions?
 Feel free to contact me:
 Laksamee Putnam
 lputnam@towson.edu
 410.704.3746.
 Or any reference librarian:
 Visit Cook Library Reference Desk
 410.704.2462.
 IM – tucookchat