The Information Landscape at Carnegie Mellon

An Introduction Aimed at Fostering Successful Independent

Research

Systematic Approach – Saving Time and Maximizing Results

• Let’s use an example to help realize what the libraries have to offer to make your efforts more efficient and to achieve better results– Quality– Rapid Retrieval/Request– Ability for Continuous Monitoring– Better Post-Searching Control of Information

Our Example: Tensegrity

• First things first– Background material can help you in later

steps of the research process– Specialized encyclopedia’s and dictionaries

exist for quickly brushing up on topics– More importantly, they can remind you of

helpful terminology to use in your search

For the Uninitiated

• Can we define it, get some basic background info on it …– Without leaving our computer?– xreferplus

http://www.xreferplus.com– Knovel

http://www.knovel.com/– Grove Art Online

http://www.groveart.com/index.html– Brittanica Online

http://search.eb.com/– Wikipedia

http://www.wikipedia.org/

?

Where to find WorldCat

A Strategy for Searching

• Concept One– tensegrity– tensegric– “tensional integrity”– “continuous tension”

AND “discontinuous compression”

• Concept Two– math– mathematics– mathematical models– analysis?– analytical?– computer?

An Attempt to Broaden Our Search

tensegrity OR tensegric OR tensional integrity

math OR mathematics OR mathematical model(s) OR … analysis …

Some databases of interest:

MathSciNet

EI Compendex

Web of Science

PubMed

Ready for me or anyone to use…

Thank You!Matt MarstellerPhysics and Math LibrarianSenior LibrarianEngineering and Science Library4400 Wean HallCarnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA 15213Phone: 412-268-7212E-Mail: matthewm@andrew.cmu.eduAOL IM Screen name: physmathlibrYahoo! Messenger Screen name: physmathlibrhttp://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~matthewm/mrmwork.htmlhttp://www.bloglines.com/public/MattMarsteller