Metadata and Cataloging Librarian
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San Antonio, Texas 78228
Background Databases
Background sources provide you with quick information on a topic. You may need to learn more about a topic, develop better keywords, figure out the major researchers in the field, or other possibilities.
Background sources in engineering may come from subject-specific encyclopedias, general science encyclopedias, or handbooks. There are many types of reference sources.
Reference Databases
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new windowCredo Reference's curated, authoritative reference sources provide a firm foundation for understanding a topic. Core Collection subscribers can search in hundreds of encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, quotations, subject-specific book titles, video titles, thousands of images, audio files, and maps. The eBook Collection features thousands of core reference works from acclaimed imprints such as Facts On File, Ferguson's, and Bloom's on a wide range of subject areas, from history to science, literature, and more. Fianlly, Films On Demand is a comprehensive, curriculum-focused video subscription providing unlimited access to thousands of videos in 30+ subjects, including the humanities, science, business, literature, health, and more. Professors can stimulate and reinforce their lectures, and students can find inspiration and materials for their research. New content is added regularly.
- Gale in Context: Science This link opens in a new windowProvides contextual information significant science topics. Includes reference works such as encyclopedias, articles from academic and news publications, experiments and simulations, and multimedia such as audio, images, and videos.
- Gale eBooks: General Reference Collection This link opens in a new windowAn award-winning, hassle-free eBook experience—anytime, anywhere, and on any device. Gale’s eBook platform provides comprehensive support from many of today’s top publishers.
Collections include titles on:
Arts, Biography, Business, Education, Environment, General Reference, History, Information and Publishing, Law, LCO, Literature, Medicine, Multicultural Studies, Nation and World, Religion, SATA, Science, Social Science, Technology
Reference in Meta-Search
Discover is the Blume Library meta-search for articles, books, videos and other resources. It covers multiple disciplines. You can find engineering reference materials in Discover in addition to scholarly articles and books.
- Discover This link opens in a new window
Blume Library's primary search tool. This robust feature helps scholars find scholarly journals and articles, books, eBooks, music, videos, government information, and more. Input the keywords of your research to generate a results list full of articles and items covering the topic. Use boolean phrases (AND, OR, NOT) and other limiters to focus a search or modify a results list. This tool searches most of the Blume Library holdings including the Library Catalog of physical items and eResources.
Learn more about this powerful resource: DISCOVER
Reach out to a Blume Librarian for research assistance: RESEARCH ASSISTANCE
Discover: Engineering
This image comes from the Discover database. You can find engineering reference sources in Discover (such as encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries, and other reference sources), Many of these sources will be available as eBooks.
This is just one example. You can change this search from the engineering to another keyword or subject. In general, it is better to search for your terms using the "select a field" keyword search unless you need to narrow your search results.
