* Chemistry  Tags: chemistry general_science  

Some important policies and services you need to know before we get started!

• All USC e-resources are IP identified, and you have to be a valid user to use them. For off IP address access, please use the proxt server by entering your USC email's user name and its password. On the other hand, please be protective - never share your above information to others, which is the most effective way to provent abusing system. We have very strict electronic access policies.

• If you are looking for materials USC doesn't have, please request it by InterLibrary Loan (for first time users, you need to register). It is a free service that has existed for hundreds of years around the world. This is being said, please do NOT help others in other universities to get materials they need from USC Libraries, but direct them to their libraries' InterLibrary Loan.

• Choose the right databases in your subject areas
  
• Understand your own search topic and conceptualize your search query
  
  • have some background information regarding the search topic or subject and need for additional information - the best resources are books, references materials, dissertations, etc.
  • figure out what are the primary search terms of interest, e.g. single words or multi-phrases, chemical names or structures, or everything else
  • examine the relationship among the concepts in order to build your effective search queries according to search mechanism in different databases
  • keep in mind the followings: synonyms, alternate word forms, irregular plural forms, spelling difference, truncation
• Begin your initial search
• Review your results, pay attention to "search history"
• further define your search by "combine search queries"

Some recommendations:

• Register an account in your frequently-used databases, and you will have many added-on features via them, such as saved search articles, saved searches...
• Set up a search alert of your long-term studies topic in order to keep yourself current
• Get yourselves familiarized with journal titles you are using most or where you want to publish in the future

References management software, client-based or web-based, offers similar functions.

• managing all of your interested references in one place
• creating required format references list from these references
• providing you "cite while write" (or "write while cite") function

Some (e.g. Endnote and Endnote on the web) can attach full-text of the aritcles within, others can't.

Some provide shared-references function in order to support collabration among authors.

You can choose whatever reference software you want to use, either buy it, or use free ones, e.g RefWorks from USC Libraries, Endnote on the Web, Zotero, BibTex.

When getting yourself familiarized with reference software, please make sure

• begin early and choose one that is suitable to your information needs
  
• master the procedures of importing interested citations to your software, creating in-text citations and reference lists, and any other reason why you want to use a references management software
  
• download all added-in software if there is any
• Always proof-read your references because they are produced by machines, e.g. check publishers' guidelines, check USC dissertations' reference requirements
  

Thank you for taking your time!

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