Physical and Life Science Resource Guide: Getting Started

Welcome! Tabs on this page can help you discover databases for locating research publications and reference sources.

Important: See instructions under Finding Articles for Off Campus Access if you want to use library databases and e-journals from your home computer.

1. Not everything is on the Internet
2. Not everything on the Internet is Free
3. The Internet is Not Very Organized
4. There is no quality control on the Internet
5. Sources on the Internet can be harder to verify
6. The Internet is too new for some things
7. Library online resources are available 24/7
8. The Internet is a mile wide and an inch deep
9. You're already paying for the library
10. Real live people can help you use our library

This list is adapted from Mark Herring's 10 Reasons Why the Internet Is No Substitute for a Library, which originally appeared in American Libraries, April 2001, p. 76-78.

This LibGuide is intended to help you in your research within the disciplines of the Physical and Life Sciences.  See the tab called Finding Articles for links to several databases where you can look for scientific journal articles and abstracts that discuss the research in your area of interest.  There are also tabs for both Life Science (biology, botany, physiology, and environment) and Physical Science (geology, astronomy, chemistry and paleontology), which contain subject specific resources both online and in the library.

Remember to ask a reference librarian for help if you have any trouble finding research articles on your topic.