Search Strategies for Scientific

ResearchKrystie Klahn Samantha Walsh

How do you currently conduct

your research?

Remember your Library Links Settings!

Are you familiar with RSS?

Choose wisely…

CLIO: Columbia’s Online Catalog

Virtual shelf browse

CLIO Record for the eBook, Mars:

Citation Finder

USE citation finder When you know of a journal article and want to check if Columbia has access/where to find the articleDO NOT USE citation finder as a search function

Kroeker, K. J. (2013-06). Impacts of ocean acidification on marine organisms: quantifying

sensitivities and interaction with warming. Global change biology, 19(6), 1884- 1896. doi:10.1111/gcb.12179

LibX Widget

Firefox and Chrome add-on which provides direct access to Columbia Library collections.• quickly search a highlighted text• “Reload via Columbia Libraries Off-

Campus Proxy”

CLIO can only do so much, what else might I use?

Scientific databases!

What is Scopus?

• Scopus is a citation index of peer-reviewed literature: scientific journals, books, patents, and conference proceedings

• Scopus should be used as a “mining tool”- a way to get an idea of what research/writing is out there for your research interest

• Scopus is updated daily and gives you an idea of who is researching and writing as well as who is publishing work in any given field

• Covers Life, Health, Physical and Social Sciences, as well as the Humanities

• Scopus searches all of PubMed and Medline

Let’s dig into Scopus!

What is web of science?

• Web of Science is a citation index that searches peer-reviewed literature in the sciences and humanities as well as data sets, patents, conference proceedings, clinical trials, etc.

• Material searched by Web of Science goes as far back as 1865

• Web of Science is more exclusive than Scopus, focusing more specifically on the sciences

Let’s dig into Web of Science!

Columbia doesn’t have access? It’s checked out?

Borrow Direct• Use for: Books• 3-4 business-day

delivery• 6-week loan period,

one renewal

Inter Library Loan(ILL)

• Use for: Articles, Book Chapters, and Non-book loans (DVDs, microfilm, dissertations, maps, etc.)

• Loans from a library other than the Borrow Direct partners (including international, public, law, medical, special collections, etc.)

Browse the Subject GuidesSubject Guides bring together the best resources for different subjectsSubject Guides will also give you a librarian point of contact should you need further research helpSubject Guides link to databases, e-book collections, software, e-journals, reference sources, web-based tools, and more!

You can Always Ask A Librarian!This virtual reference service weekdays from 9 am- 9 pm and Sundays from 1 pm- 9 pm

Your question will be answered by a Columbia University librarian or library intern in an Instant-Message(IM) style conversationWe can help you locate specific resources, or get you started on a new research journey

Columbia Librarians are also always available to schedule one-on-one consultations to help with your research!

Tumblrhttp://columbiascience.tumblr.com/

Take Home Tips:

• Use RSS!• Search for related materials using the

Virtual Shelf Browse.• Searching for a specific article? Use

the Citation Finder tool.• Install the LibX add-on.• Use scientific databases for in-depth

searching.• Follow Science @ Columbia.

Let us help you further!

Email: ref-sci@columbia.edu