LANL Research Library Newsletter

April 1996


Did you know that librarians can do patent searching and other types of literature searching for you? To find out more call 7-5809 or send e-mail to library@lanl.gov
See end of Newsletter for publication and access information.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
April 1996 Issue


JOURNAL REVIEW PROJECT
Consistently judged by our customers as one of the most important components of the collection, the Research Library's journal holdings will be reviewed this year to ensure that the titles we are currently subscribing to are the most vital to the Laboratory's core areas of research. Little used titles or ones that have increased dramatically in price will be closely examined for relevancy.

To kick-off this review, the Research Library will be hosting a public meeting on April 10th at 10:00 a.m. in Side Room A of the Otowi Building, to discuss the journal review process and get feedback from our customers. Please join us and take an active role in deciding which journals the Research Library retains and acquires.

The ultimate aim is to use this review to eliminate marginal titles, thereby freeing up monetary and physical resources to acquire new titles that support LANL research areas. Because our collections are shared by all Laboratory staff, we want to solicit customer input for each title that was not deemed "essential" by a preliminary review. Each such title will be marked with a sheet of paper explaining the process and asking for customer comments on the usefulness of the title. Users of a particular title are especially encouraged to participate in this process.

The Research Library will be convening panels of experts in chemistry, computer science, earth and environmental science, engineering, life sciences, mathematics, physics, and general interest areas, to help in making the final decision whether to retain or cancel each title. If you are interested in volunteering for one of the expert panels, please contact Nancy Sprague at nsprague@lanl.gov or 7-5809.

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FREE TRIAL: FIRSTSEARCH ACCESS TO 40 DATABASES
The Research Library is offering a free trial to a new Web subscription service from the Online Computer Library Center called FirstSearch, that allows access to over 40 databases, including some full-text sources. The subject areas cover the range from Business and Public Affairs to Life Sciences and Technology.

FirstSearch is designed to make searching simple by enabling customers to search multiple databases using one command language without any online experience or training. Customers can conduct in-depth subject searching, compile comprehensive bibliographies, locate hard-to-find materials, get the full- text online, or order materials online from a growing list of document suppliers.

If you are interested in testing this product request a password from Lou Pray at lpray@lanl.gov or 7-5809. During the free trial period (until May 31) you may conduct unlimited searching and e- mailing of records.

Lou Pray

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US GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED RESEARCH AT YOUR DESKTOP
As of April 1, the NTIS database is available, free, at your desktop, if you are a member of the LANL community. This database, from the National Technical Information Service, contains U.S. government-sponsored research, development and engineering reports from the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, NASA, and many other agencies. Also included are data files, software, inventions, and translations, as well as reports prepared by non-U.S. governments and exchanged with federal agencies. Subjects span the physical, biological and social sciences and engineering, and include topics of immediate, broad interest such as environmental pollution and control, energy conservation, and technology transfer. The database, containing over one million records, covers from 1980 to the present.

Many of the publications cited are available within the Research Library's collections -- such ownership is indicated where possible. Contact the Research Library for more information.

Access to the NTIS database is restricted to members of the Los Alamos National Laboratory community. To access, telnet to the Research Library's online catalog or visit the Research Library's Home page, selecting "Electronic Databases."

The NTIS search screen interface should look familiar since it uses the same software as our online catalog. Training will be offered April 30 and in the months ahead. The classes are free, but you must pre-register by calling 7-5809 or sending e-mail to library@lanl.gov. Special classes and orientations for individual Groups can also be arranged.

Kathy Varjabedian

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FREE TRIAL: FULL-TEXT U.S. PATENT WEB SITE
Available at no cost until April 7, QPAT- US is a commercial product of Questel/Orbit. Questel/Orbit is a global leader in the electronic delivery of patent, trademark, chemical, business, and general news information.

QPAT-US makes all U.S. full text patent data for the years 1974 to the present available for search and retrieval. It is updated weekly. You are invited to use the present beta version at no cost until April 7. Any comments or suggestions you have will be appreciated and will be used in developing the final release version of QPAT-US. Please send your feedback to Lou Pray at lpray@lanl.gov or 7-5809.

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EXPANDED TRAINING OFFERINGS


If you have not checked the Research Library's training schedule lately, take a look at the offerings for this month. Not only is training being offered on such new desktop databases as SciSearch, NTIS and the Patent Office Database, but on such topics as "Automatic Alerting / Updates on MELVYL" and "Finding Unclassified and Classified Report Literature." All training is free, but you must register by sending e-mail to library@lanl.gov or calling 7-5809.

Ken Collins

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MATHEMATICAL REVIEWS AND MORE AVAILABLE ON THE WEB
An excellent resource for mathematics research is now available at your desktop. MathSciNet covers research in mathematics and mathematically-related research in statistics, computer science, physics, operations research, engineering biology, and other disciplines. It indexes over 2,000 journals, books, conference proceedings, and published dissertations. MathSciNet allows access to over 55 years of Mathematical Reviews and Current Mathematical Publications. Mathematical Reviews is available from 1940 to the present with full text of reviews available from 1980 to the present.

Mathematical Reviews is the journal of record for reviews and abstracts of the published mathematical research literature. Reviewers are drawn from among 12,000 mathematicians around the world. Over 47,000 reviews and abstracts are published each year.

Current Mathematical Publications is the corresponding current awareness journal. A new printed issue every three weeks and new bibliographic records which appear daily on MathSciNet, make Current Mathematical Publications a timely subject index of recent and forthcoming mathematical publications. Items are selected and classified by the editors of Mathematical Reviews according to the 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification scheme. Most items announced in Current Mathematical Publications are reviewed later in Mathematical Reviews.

MathSciNet is updated daily. A variety of file formats present true mathematical symbols on screen. Many hypertext links facilitate the searching process. A simple click will jump to those reviews which cite the on-screen review or will take you to a list of other works under variant forms of the author's name. Links to the Combined Membership List can retrieve an author's current address.

The Research Library purchased an online subscription to MathSciNet from the American Mathematical Society after receiving much positive customer feedback during a trial period last fall. Access is restricted to the Los Alamos National Laboratory community. As a result of acquiring MathSciNet, the Research Library's subscription to MathSci on CD-ROM and Mathematical Reviews in paper will not be renewed in 1996.

>From the Research Library Home page select "Electronic Databases." MathSciNet is available under "Databases Outside the Research Library System."

Lou Pray

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NEW ON THE RESEARCH LIBRARY'S WEB SITE
Every month the Research Library adds valuable information for its users through its Web site. Check out the exciting new links added over the past month by going directly to the New on Our Page area of our Web site.

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Newsletter Editor: Ken Collins

To receive an electronic subscription to the Research Library Newsletter, sent the first of each month to your e-mail address, do the following:

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The name and e-mail address of the Library member who contributed an article appears at the end of the article. If you have comments or further questions, please contact that person. If you have general questions or comments about the Newsletter itself, please contact the Newsletter editor, KEN COLLINS

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