• Looking for tips on Java? LabView, or MATLAB?
• Want to learn new features about MS Office applications?
• Need to catch up on web development?

Do you know, as a JPLer, you have access to thousands of electronic books and videos on all aspects related to IT (information technology)?  JPL Library, Professional Development, and the Engineering and Science Directorate offer several resources, allowing all staff to pursue self-paced learning and development.  Here is a quick run-down of the major resources:

• JPL Library ebooks portal: This page leads to a search box and an A-Z list of books from IEEE, EngNetBase, ITNetBase, and Springer Computer Science book collections.  All materials from here can be downloaded then put on any mobile devices for later reading.
• Books 24×7: Through the NASA SATERN training system, search for Books 24×7, and you can access books and short videos on IT topics as well as business management skills.  Books 24×7 also serves as the Lab’s outlet for Microsoft training.  You need to have a NASA Launch Pad user id and password in order to use this resource.
• Training library from lynda.com: Jointly supported by the Engineering and Science Directorate and Professional Development, lynda.com provides videos on programming languages, productivity software, web development applications, and other topics. You need to set up a login and profile with lynda.com in order to watch the videos.  Follow the direction below or call 4HELP to set up your profile.

Contact the JPL Library (email library@jpl.nasa.gov or call 4-4200) if you are interested in a customized list of ebooks or videos.  For access and technical support for Books 24×7, please contact NASA SATERN sy Help at NASA-satern.support@nasa.gov; access questions related to lynda.com, please contact 4HELP.

———–Instruction on setting up lynda.com profile ——-

1. From your computer, while on Lab go to iplogin.lynda.com  (click on “Yes” if  a Security Screen pops up)
2. Click the “Create a Profile” link
3. Fill in the short form.  (Note:  your log-in ID must be your jpl e-mail address)
4. Once you register and create your profile, you will be able to access lynda.com from any computer, anywhere.
5. For technical issues concerning lynda.com, you may submit a web request https://jplit.jpl.nasa.gov/4help or contact JPL Service Desk at 4HELP.

The SPIE Digital Library is the world’s largest collection of optics & photonics applied research. JPL Library has recently added  its 160+ ebooks to our subscription, and SPIE has moved to a new platform in order to have more functionalities.  This is a great time to visit the new SPIE Digital Library.

Highlights of the New SPIE Digital Library:

• Electronic books: topics range from guide to binocular, fiber optics, to remote sensing.
• Proceeding papers: more than 350,000 papers from 1962 to present.
• Journals: all nine journals from the earliest issue to present.
• Topical collections: pre-defined subjects clusters cutting across proceeding papers, journal articles, and book chapters.
• Video links: selected recent proceeding papers include links to videos or other media that were a part of the conference presentation
• Mobile applications: with a one-time set-up, users can access SPIE contents via smartphones or tablets.

For more information about SPIE Digital Library, contact the Library Reference Desk at library@jpl.nasa.gov, or call the Reference Desk at ext 4-4200.

Did you know that JPL employees have a single point of access to technical standards, tools, and best practices?  The NASA Technical Standards Program (NTSP), sponsored by the Office of the NASA Chief Engineer, provides one-stop access to a wide range of standards.  The Standards and Technical Assistance Resource Tool (START), provides access to over 130,000 technical documents, including endorsed standards, NASA developed standards, JPL Engineering Office Standards, and standards from other NASA sites.  Many standards are available for immediate downloading to your computer.  Others standards need to be ordered via the START tool.  There is no cost for the use of START, and access to this database is open to all JPL employees; however, registration is required via NASA’s Access Launchpad page.  Detailed information about JPL’s use of standards is available at JPL Engineering Standards Office.  This office can help you access the occasional standard not available through the NASA Standards site.

If you are looking for IEEE Standards, in addition to getting them via START, they are also available through the JPL Library’s subscription to IEEE Explore.

If you have questions or comments about getting standards, please contact the JPl Library Reference desk at library@jpl.nasa.gov or call our extension at 4-4200.

The JPL Library recently added thousands of electronic books in the areas of math, physics, business, computer science and information technology. 

All of the ebooks are in PDF format. Our license allows all JPLers to access, read online and download the chapters within the JPL firewall. Once downloaded, you can keep them on your computer or mobile devices indefinitely. Library staff can also compile specialized lists of ebooks for you or your work group.

Mathematics

• Mathematical modeling
• Mathematics for engineering

Physics

• Applied mechanics and fluid dynamics
• Geophysics
• Lasers & optics
• Quantum physics

Business

• Six sigma & quality
• Human resources & training

Computer Science

• Computer engineering
• Cryptography and coding theory
• Data mining & knowledge discovery
• Machine learning & pattern recognition
• Visualization & computer graphics

Information Technology

• Internet & web-based computing
• IT management
• Security & auditing
• Software engineering & systems development

Your use and comments will help us determine whether to continue subscriptions to these ebooks in the future. Please send your requests and comments to library@jpl.nasa.gov

The JPL Library has been collecting resources in the area climate change, including electronic journals, books, reports and data. This is a list of selected materials, contact the Reference Desk (library@jpl.nasa.gov, or ext 4-4200) for more.

The National Research Council conducted a comprehensive study. The findings and recommendations are published through the National Academies Press in the America’s Climate Choice series, including the following: Adapting to the Impacts of Climate Change, Advancing the Science of Climate Change, Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change, and  Limiting the Magnitude of Future Climate Change.  All these reports can be read online, or download the PDF copy free.  There are also video summaries of these reports from the same web pages.

Four electronic journals have been added; to access them remotely, use BrowserRAS.

Nature Climate Change, 2010 to present. A new monthly journal from the publisher of Nature.

Global Change Biology, 1997 to present.

Journal of Climate , vol 23, 2010 to present. This is the official journal of the American Meteorological Society.

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change , volume 1, 2010 to present. This publication has been developed in association with the Royal Meteorological Society and the Royal Geographical Society in the UK.

There are print and electronic books providing overviews and in-depth discussions on different aspects related to climate change, click here for a short list of books.

The JPL Library has added four specialized journals in the area of climate change. To access these journals remotely, use BrowserRAS.

Nature Climate Change, 2010 to present. A new monthly journal from the publisher of Nature, this journal publishes  research on the impacts of global climate change and its implications for the economy, policy and the world at large. It contains original research across the physical and social sciences and strives to synthesize interdisciplinary research.

Global Change Biology, 1997 to present. The goal of this journal is to promote understanding of the “interface between all aspects of current environmental change that affects a substantial part of the globe and biological systems.”

Journal of Climate , vol 23, 2010 to present. This is the official journal of the American Meteorological Society. It contains  research concerned with large-scale variability of the atmosphere, oceans, and land surface, including the cryosphere; past, present and projected future changes in the climate system (including those caused by human activities); and climate simulation and prediction.

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change , volume 1, 2010 to present. This publication has been developed in association with the Royal Meteorological Society and the Royal Geographical Society in the UK. Its aim is to act as a “forum for gaining a wider set of perspectives about how climate change is understood, analyzed and contested around the world.” It explores current and emerging knowledge from  many disciplines including environmental history, the humanities, physical and life sciences, social sciences, engineering and economics.

Contact the Reference Desk at library@jpl.nasa.gov or ext 4-4200 for comments and questions.

JPL Library recently added more than 800 electronic books in computer science from Springer. All the books are in PDF format, so you can read, download, and print them from any computer within the JPL network.  You can also move the downloaded PDF files to you tablet or ereaders.

To see a complete list of  titles, you can click  this link. Library staff has tagged some of the titles by topic; click on any of the topics and see a few selected titles.

• Cloud Computing
• Computer Games
• Human Computer Interaction
• Social Computing
• Social Aspects of Technology

Access to the electronic books is by IP authentication, therefore you need to be within the JPL firewall in order to download the ebooks. Once downloaded, you can read, transfer, or print from any place. Contact the Consultation Desk at library@jpl.nasa.gov for comments and questions.

The JPL Library subscribes to several general science magazines and journals online.  They provide news, commentaries, and research in all fields of sciences.  The articles are usually written with layman as their primary audience. These articles are good sources of information for scientists and engineers on topics outside of their expertise.  These magazines are also good places to look for news and analysis on science policies and issues related between science and society.

Following are four selected titles, from the most “newsy” to the most research-oriented:

• Science News:  Magazine of the Society for Science & The Public.
• Scientific American
• Science:  from AAAS, the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
• Nature from Nature Publishing Group.

More details about each of these resources:

Science News : Magazine of the Society for Science & The Public

Science News has been published since 1922. The print version is published biweekly, and the online version is updated daily. It publishes concise, accurate, timely articles that appeal to both general readers and scientists from all fields of science. Some regular sections include “Earth,” “Matter & Energy,” “Science & Society,” and “Science News for Kids.” There is an iPad app from this magazine, called “Science News Prime”.

Scientific American

Scientific American covers scientific discovery and technological innovation for the general public. Its aim is to provide a deep understanding of how science and technology can influence human affairs and illuminate the natural world. Its articles are written by a combination of scientists, engineers, and journalists. The print version is issued monthly, and news are updated daily.  Anyone can sign up to receive email alerts.

Science:  AAAS, the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Founded in 1880 with seed money from American inventor Thomas Edison, Science has grown into a leading outlet for science news, commentaries, and research.  Authors include scientists, professional editors, and science journalists.  The “Science” app from AAAS provides latest news and selected articles from Science Careers site. The research articles are peer-reviewed. Its website contains several major parts:

• The Science Magazine site provides the full text of the journal’s news stories, research reports, and commentary articles in a searchable database.
• The Science Express  area of the site posts selected original, peer-reviewed hot research weeks ahead of its print publication date, thereby making the work available to the scientific community within a matter of days after manuscript acceptance.
• The ScienceNOW  is an online daily news service brings brief breaking news stories from the award-winning reporting staff of Science to your computer desktop every business day.
• ScienceInsider  provides news and analysis related to science policy
• Science Careers  is an online jobs and career development site for scientists.

Nature

Began in 1869, the scope has always been international and interdisciplinary.  The print version comes out weekly. The target audience is more toward scientists with a vigorous peer-review process for its research articles, but knowledgeable laymen have turned to this journal for the most cutting-edge research in sciences. The news and comments sections are updated frequently.

For more information about these and other resources, contact the JPL Library Reference Desk at ext 4-4200 or email library@jpl.nasa.gov

The JPL Library, Archives, and Records Section (LARS) announces the arrival of a New BEACON Catalog as of October 3, 2011.  You can see the new catalog on the Search page at the BEACON web site [https://beacon.jpl.nasa.gov] or go directly at [https://beacon.worldcat.org]. This cloud-based catalog includes a new interface, search engine and back-end system that allows new functionality. Here are some highlights:

• Options to search books, articles, and the JPL Archives materials together in one Google-like box or separately.
• Narrow down results by format, author, or publication year on the result page.
• Find out if a book is available, place a hold or request via BEACON Express quickly.
• Link to electronic books and articles.
• Find out what other libraries have the item.

Come to one of the demo sessions to see it in action and learn some quick tips and tricks.

• Oct 3:  1:00-1:45 pm                Hub at BEACON Information Commons (111-104)
• Oct 4:  12:00 – 12:45 pm        Hub at BEACON Information Commons (111-104)
• Oct 5:  1:00-1:45 pm                Hub at BEACON Information Commons (111-104)
• Oct 6:  11:00-11:45 pm            Hub at BEACON Information Commons (111-104)
• Oct 11: 1:00 — 1:45 pm            Woodbury 602-180
• Oct 14: 12:00 – 12:45 pm        Conference Room 321-129
• Oct 20: 2:00 – 2:45 pm            Conference Room 180-101
• Oct 25: 12:00 – 12:45 pm        Conference Room 321-127
• Oct 28: 12:00 – 12:45 pm       Woodbury 602-180

Questions and comments can be directed to ext. 4-4200 or library@jpl.nasa.gov.

JPL Library has added Numerical Recipes to its list of resources for software developers, engineers, and anyone who writes software codes in C++. Our subscription allows JPLers to access the 3rd edition (2007, the latest) of the book and downloadable C++ codes. Legacy edition codes in Fortran 77, Fortran 90, and C are also accessible from the publisher’s web site.

Share your comments and tips about using Numerical Recipes here, under the “Comments.”  Or send them to library@jpl.nasa.gov, and we can post your comments to the list.