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Getting Research Assistance

Library Catalog

Catalog Tips

Databases

Database Tips

Websites

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Just getting started?

Start by doing some background research. Take time to engage in some brainstorming exercises that will help you identify key subject terms. Encyclopedias and other reference resources can be used to help you refine your subject terms and the citations in these sources can be used to find more information on your topic.

Consider how much time you have to complete your assignment and how hard it will be to get the resources you need for your topic. If you are finding your research difficult to manage, narrow your topic or break your research down into manageable sub-topics. If you are not finding enough information on your topic, try using broader subject terms.

Other Useful Guides

 

Guide to the Library

Using Databases

Citation Guide

Library Catalog: Books, Videos, e-Books and more!

 

Call number areas to browse

Subject Area	Call Number Range	Subject Area	Call Number Range	Subject Area	Call Number Range
Astronomy	QB 1-999	General Astronomy	QB 1-139	Practical and Spherical Astronomy	QB 140-237
Theoretical Astronomy and Celestial Mechanics	QB 349-421	Astrogeology	QB 455-456	Astrophysics	QB 460-466
Descriptive Astronomy	QB 495-903	Cosmogony. Cosmology	QB 980-991

 

The books in the library are organized by subject. You can browse these call number areas to find related books. So, if you are searching the library catalog and find a book that looks interesting or particularly relevant to your research, you can search the shelves in the library in the same call number area to find related items.

 

Reference Sources

Title	Call Number
Cambridge Illustrated Dictionary of Astronomy	REF QB14 .M553 2007
A Companion to Astronomy and Astrophysics : Chronology and Glossary with Data Tables	REF QB14 .L36 2006
Schaum's Outline of Theory and Problems of Astronomy	REF QB62 .P35 2002
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Universe	REF QB14 .I588 2001
Find More

 

The reference collection is located at the back, right-hand side of the library. Items in this collection cannot be checked out, but a copier is conveniently located so you can make copies of the resources you find.

To search the Library Catalog for reference books about Astronomy, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select Library Catalog. Enter "Astronomy" or a related subfield into the "Subject" field and then limit your search by selecting "Collection: Reference Books" from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items located at Montgomery Library, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

Circulating Books

Title	Call Number
Einstein's Telescope : the Hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe	QB791.3 .G38 2010
Three Steps to the Universe : From the Sun to Black Holes to the Mystery of Dark Matter	QB521 .G29 2010
Secrets of the Universe : How We Discovered the Cosmos	QB982 .M87 2009
Archives of the Universe : A Treasury of Astronomy's Historic Works of Discovery	QB15 .A75 2004

 

 

To search the Library Catalog for books about Astronomy, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select Library Catalog. Enter "Astronomy" or a related subfield into the "Subject" field and then limit your search to items you can check-out by selecting "Collection: Circulating Books" from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items located at Montgomery Library, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

E-Books

Title	E-Book Type
Back to the Astronomy Cafe: More Questions and Answers about the Cosmos from "Ask the Astronomer"	netLibrary eBook
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astronomy	netLibrary eBook
Space Science in the Twenty-first Century. Overview: Imperatives for the Decades 1995 to 2015	netLibrary eBook
Classical and Quantum Black Holes	netLibrary eBook

 

 

To search the Library Catalog for e-books about Astronomy or a related subfield, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select Library Catalog. Enter "Astronomy" or a related subfield into the "Subject" field and then limit your search to items you can check-out by selecting "Collection: Electronic Books" from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items available to Montgomery Library patrons only, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

Audio/Visual Materials

Title	Call Number
Most of our Universe is Missing	QB791.3 .M67 2006
Mysteries of deep space	QB981 .M9784 1997
Galileo’s “Dialogue”	QB41.G173 G25 1997
The Universe	QB982 .U55 2008

 

 

To search the Library Catalog for books about Astronomy, go to www.lonestar.edu/library and select Library Catalog. Enter "Astronomy" or a related subfield into the "Subject" field and then limit your search to items you can check-out by selecting "Media: Videos, DVDs, films, slides, etc." from the Collections/Media menu.

To limit your search to items located at Montgomery Library, select "Location: LSC-Montgomery" in the Locations menu.

 

Periodicals

Discover	Science News	Scientific American
The Scientist

The periodical section is located in front of the circulating collection, next to the outdoor patio area. The periodical collection is organized by title. These items cannot be checked out, but there is a copy machine available adjacent to the periodical section.

Tips!

 

Requesting items not available at Montgomery Library:

If there is an item listed in the catalog, but it is not located at Montgomery Library, just select the “Request First Available Copy of this Item” button from the catalog record to have the item sent to Montgomery Library for pick-up. To complete your request, you need your library barcode and PIN number. Generally, your PIN number is the last 4 digits of the phone number you used to register for classes. If you have problems accessing the databases, contact the Circulation Desk in person, at 936.273.7387 or email mclr@lonestar.edu

 

 

If the item is not available in the catalog:

Just select the “Requests” tab located in the upper, right-hand side of the screen. Complete and submit the Inter-Library Loan Request Form – LSCS. Contact a librarian if you need help!

 

Research Databases: Find journal, magazine, and newspaper articles

 

Recommended Databases

Academic Search Complete	Science and Techonology Collection
Science	Films on Demand - Astronomy

Tips!

Finding the right database:

If you’d like to explore a subject area: Access the Research Databases: www.lonestar.edu/library -> Research Databases -> Select a category that is relevant to your topic.

If you know the title of the journal you’re looking for, use the A to Z Electronic Journal Search to find out which database provides access to that journal: www.lonestar.edu/library -> Research Databases -> A to Z Electronic Journal Search -> Select “Search” tab

If you know the database title: www.lonestar.edu/library -> Research Databases -> Find Database by Title

If the full-text/PDF version of an article is not available, select the “Check LinkSource for more information” link to see if another database offers full-text access.

 

Accessing Databases from Home:

You can access these databases from home, but you need your library barcode and PIN number. Generally, your PIN number is the last 4 digits of the phone number you used to register for classes. If you have problems accessing the databases, contact the Circulation Desk in person, at 936.273.7387 or email mclr@lonestar.edu

 

 

Interlibrary Loan (ILL):

If you are not able to find a resource that you need in the databases or in the library catalog, you can request the item via the Interlibrary Loan Form: http://www.lonestar.edu/library/interlibrary-request.htm

 

 

Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed Sources

Scholarly articles are written by an authority on the subject and are meant to share primary research with others in the field. Unlike popular sources, scholarly sources generally have a narrow audience and include a clear author or sponsoring association. These documents are very structured and usually include a literature review, methodology, and extensive citations. Many scholarly sources are also peer-reviewed which means others in the field reviewed the work before it was published. Many databases will allow you to limit your search to scholarly and/or peer-reviewed sources – look for this option.

 

Websites

Occasionally the librarians at LSC - Montgomery library will find a website they consider exceptional or particularly useful for academic research.

 

Suggested Websites:

Digital Librarian – Astronomy and Aerospace	National Space Science Data Center	Astronomy
Sky and Telescope	NASA News	Current Night Sky Report

Getting research assistance . . .

 

Subject Librarian

Sarah Palacios-Wilhelm

 

Email: sarah.a.palacios-wilhelm@lonestar.edu

Phone: 936-273-7393

Office: bldg. F-161

 

 

 

Reference Desk

Email: mclr@lonestar.edu

Phone: 936 273 7390

 

Department Contacts

Department Home: LSCS Astronomy Program

Name	Phone Number	Office Number
Dr. Mike Sundermann, Department Chair	936.272.3077	bldg. B 200-M
Ronald Dewlen, Dean	936.271.6177	bldg. B 200-B

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