Library - Melissa Holmberg

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Interlibrary Loan
Items not available in the library can usually be obtained at no cost to you from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). ILL requests usually take between 1-3 weeks.

Ask Us
You can chat with a reference librarian M-F 1-4 and M 5-9. At the same link, you can set up a consultation appointment or send a question via email (responses typically arrive within two business days).

University of MN--Twin Cities
As students at MSU, you can gain access to most of the University of MN's collections and databases. You will need to complete a form available at the reference or circulation desks, which will need to be verified at the circulation desk. Upon bringing this form to UM, you will be given access until the end of their term. Upon that time, you can repeat the process for another term of access.

Ask Us
You can chat with a reference librarian M-F 1-4 and M 5-9. At the same link, you can set up a consultation appointment or send a question via email (responses typically arrive within two business days).

Interlibrary Loan
Items not available in the library can usually be obtained at no cost to you from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). ILL requests usually take between 1-3 weeks.

Reference Materials
Reference materials are the books on the first floor near the blue circulation desk. These books provide background information, facts, statistics, quotes, and other short bits of information. The books include subject encyclopedias, dictionaries, and handbooks, such as dictionaries and handbooks for physics. Such specialized materials will often give more detailed information than general encyclopedias (e.g., Britannica) & dictionaries (e.g., Oxford English Dictionary). Reference materials are arranged by call number (or are available online) and can be found by using the MnPALS Catalog.

APPs & Theses
The Alternate Plan Papers and Theses done by other MSU students are shelved by subject with the books on second and third floors. To find examples, use the MnPALS Catalog and type your keywords (e.g., physics) in the search box, followed by either "alternate plan" or "thesis."

Journals
Journals, magazines, and newspapers are located on the east side of the library in the "Periodicals" area. (The direction you are facing when you first walk in is North.) The items in periodicals are arranged by call number. Use the MSU Journals List to determine if a journal is available in Periodicals or online. Graduate students and faculty may check out periodicals for 24 hours.

Note: For 1975-1990, many physics journals are available on microfilm as part of the Current Physics Microform collection. Every title in the collection has the same call number: QC1.C82. To locate a particular journal issue, follow these steps:

1. Go to the microfiche cabinets in the periodicals section on the first floor. The Current Physics Microform index is in three binders on top of the cabinets.
2. Look up the year you need (see tabs).
3. Look up your journal title. The titles are in alphabetical order.
4. Write down the CPM (i.e., reel) number and the Frame number.
5. Go to QC1.C82 in the periodicals microfilm section and get the reel number you need. On the microfilm boxes, the reel number is called the volume number.
6. Check out the microfilm with your MavCard.
7. Take the microfilm to a reader (if you need to make copies, go to a reader in the Copy Room on first floor). Look up the Frame number you wrote down. This number will be the first page of the journal issue you need.

1. Identify the major concepts of your topic and determine synonyms for each concept.

2. Select appropriate search tools. Consider the scope, medium and availability of search tool, search features available, and information given of research tools to assist with selecting which ones to use.Consider the scope, medium and availability of search tool, search features available, and information given of research tools to assist with selecting which ones to use. The search tools listed below will most likely cover your research needs in physics.

3. Try searching for your concept(s), refining your search as needed.

If you are getting too many results, try: adding more search terms; choosing unique search terms; using phrase searching (if available); including limits, such as date; restricting terms in your search results which are unrelated to your topic; using a different search tool; or asking a librarian.

If you are getting too few results, try: adding truncation symbols to search for other endings of the search term(s); checking your spelling; using fewer terms; choosing more common terms or searching for synonyms; using a different search tool; or asking a librarian.