BIO 100

Resources Available for Library Research

In the Subject Area of Life Sciences

1. OPAC (Online catalog) for books, videotapes and other library materials. The OPAC may be accessed from any computer station in the Information Commons as well as through Dialup access.

Author, Title and Subject searches are possible on the online  catalog.  Use the subject search for finding publications on the topic of interest.  Some subjects that would be useful are:

ENVIRONMENT, ECOLOGY, HEALTH and many others. 

It is recommended that specific subjects be used first and that it be broadened for subsequent searches based upon results.

The Library has 3 book series, which might be useful.  A listing of these series can be found on the online catalog. They will help with controversial topics and also for finding statistical information. The 3 series are Taking Sides, Opposing Viewpoints, and Information Plus (this series covers statistical and factual data.)

To find these titles listed on the OPAC perform the indicated search for each series title and read the resulting list. The specific searches are title searches for Opposing Viewpoints and Taking Sides (t=opposing viewpoints or t=taking sides) and an author search for Information Plus (a=information plus).

Following are specific titles in each series that may be useful. The most recent edition of the title is in the Reference Collection. Older editions are available for circulation.

Opposing Viewpoints Series

Biomedical Ethics  Ref R 724 .B492 1994 R 724 .B492  1987

Ecology Controversy  QH 541.I45 .E2593 1981

Endangered Species Ref QH 75 .E66 1996

Energy Crisis  HD 9545 .E535

Environment  Ref  GE 141 .E554 1996

Environmental Crisis HC 110 .E5 E49835 1991

Environmental Justice  Ref GE 170 .E58 1995

Genetic Engineering  Ref QH 442 .G444 1996 TP 248.6 G462 1990

Global Resources   HD 75.6 G56 1991

Global Warming Ref  QC 981.8 G56 G581945 1997

Health and Fitness Ref RA 776.5 H38 1996

Water    Ref TD 348 .W38 1994

Taking Sides Series 

Taking Sides.  Clashing Views on Controversial Bioethical Issues.  Ref R 724 .T35 1997  R 724 .T35 1995  R 724 .T34 1993

Taking Sides.  Clashing Views on Environmental Issues.   Ref TD 170 .T34 1997   TD 170 .T34 1995  TD 170 .T34 1993   TD 170 .T34 1991

Taking Sides.  Clashing Views on Science, Technology and Society.   Ref Q 175.5 .E23 1997    Q 175.5 .E23 1995

Information Plus Series

Endangered Species Ref QL 81.5 .E525 1996      QL 81.5 .E525 1994

Energy   Ref HD 9502 .U5 E54 1997      HD 9502 .U5 E54 1995  HD 9502 .U5 E54 1993   HD 9502 .U5 E54 1991  HD 9502 .U5 E54 1989

Environment  Ref TD 169 .E58 1996      TD 169 .E58 1994      TD 169 .E58 1992

Health   Ref RA 407.3 H42 1997     RA 407.3 H42 1995      RA 407.3 H42 1993     RA 407.3 H42 1991      RA 407.3 H42 1989

Nutrition  Ref RM 216 .N837 1995

Water  Ref HD 1694 .A1 W37 1995     HD 1694 .A1 W37 1993     HD 1694 .A1 W37 1991        HD 1694 .A1 W37 1989      HD 1694 .A1 W37 1987

2. 2.     Periodicals including journals, magazines, newspapers

In many cases the articles are fulltext on the computers.  Students may print or downlod the information from the computers. 3 1/2" disks may be purchased from Access Services.

If the article is not fulltext on the computer, the student needs to check the Periodicals List to determine if the MCC Library subscribes to the title.  If we do not have it we can help the student locate which library owns it and, if there is enough time, obtain it on Interlibrary Loan.

Periodical Indexes in Print Format   Some indexes which the student may need are not available on the computers. These can be found on the Index Tables within the Library. One of the print indexes which would be useful is:

3.                       General Science Index

IAC Expanded Academic Database This is a very current database (presently current through Sept. '97) which can be used to find magazines, journals and New York Times articles. It can be accessed from any computer in the Information Commons. Access points are through the OPAC or via the WWW. Searches may be conducted by subject or keyword.   As with the online catalog any appropriate subject terms or keywords may be used.  Some of the articles will be fulltext in the database, some will have only the abstract and still others will only give the citation information. Others may have a combination of these three possibilities.

CDROM Databases (The CD ROMs are only available via the IBM compatible computers.)

CD ROMs located on the LAN (local area network)

There are 19 databases available on the LAN. Various titles will be useful for the research.  Recommended titles include:

• Reader's Guide Abstracts
• SIRS Social Issues Resources (also available on the WWW)
• IAC Health Reference Database
• Science Source (includes Biology Digest)
• several of the newspaper databases including the New York Times, Arizona Republic and Newsbank.

Standalone CDROMs

Only one of the CD ROMs in this list appear to be appropriate for this research. It is as follows:

Current Issues Sourcefile 

Full texts of thousands of position briefs, articles and statements on current issues, collected from hundreds of U. S. organizations, public interest groups, associations, research institutes, and government agencies.

Access using the Compaq (IBM compatibles) computers.

Click on the folder labeled "Electronic Databases". 

Select "Current Issues".

Choose issues to investigate.  Some issues that may be appropriate are:

• Environmental Issues
• Health Issues
• SciTech Issues

Listed within each Issue folder will be articles that discuss subjects  related to the broad topic. As with all the others printing and downloading may be done from this database.

4. 3. Information found on the World Wide Web.

Using subject guides provided by Search Engines

Click on NET Search to find listing of search engines.

Example: Click on and select YAHOO if not already selected.

You will get a long list of subjects.

Select an appropriate subject heading.

For environmental topics choose Society to begin.

(The numbers represent the number of sites within each subject category.)  

Choosing the subject Environment and Nature will bring up a list of topics from which students can choose an aspect of environment to search.

To find information on HEALTH or MEDICAL subjects begin with the topic Health from the main listing and follow desired options.

Search for specific topics by using key words in a World Wide Web Search.

Example:   global warming

(When searching for concept represented by compound words in YAHOO and ALTA VISTA enclose them in quotes, e. g. "global warming".)

Use specific addresses to move directly to a site of information.

Type the address directly into the space for the "Location" and press return.

Some examples of interesting sites:

http://earthsystems.org/Environment.shtml = Environment section of the WWW Virtual Library.

http://www.panda.org = World Wide Fund for Nature Global Network.

http://www.tnc.org = Web site for the Nature Conservancy.

http://envirolink.org/ = EnviroWeb: environmental information resources on the Internet

http://www.nas.edu/ = National Academy of Sciences