Finding books Finding books * Finding articles * Finding facts * Finding Web sites Need a print version of this guide? Select "Print This Page" in the gold navigation bar above to reformat, then print.
If you have any difficulty locating what you need, you can contact a reference librarian by telephone at 885-1772, via email, or by coming into the library during reference service hours.
The library subscribes to many Web-based databases for use by OIT students, staff, and faculty. Access to these databases is limited to users connected to the Web from an OIT computer. If you are using a non-OIT Internet Service Provider (such as AOL, CDSNET, CVC, etc.) you will need to use your OIT email username and password to access the databases from off-campus. Check the library's Interlibrary Loan (ILL) webpage for information on getting loans of books or copies of articles from other libraries. Finding Books - catalogs See Tips for using catalog databases
Books can often provide a good overview of or introduction to a topic. They also can provide valuable historical information or thoughtful criticism and discussion.
Use Hedgehog to locate books and journals in the OIT Library. Hedgehog is a Web database containing records for items in the library's collection. OIT purchases books and journals on health sciences from many publishers. The library also receives federal and state government documents relating to aspects of health sciences, particularly those from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
Use Summit to locate books at other academic libraries in the Northwest. Orbis lets you request books online, when they are available, and have them delivered by courier to the OIT Library, usually within two working days. Use World Cat to locate books, government documents, CDs, videos, and other items at libraries across North America and elsewhere in the world. A  symbol appearing next to a reference retrieved by a search indicates that the OIT Library owns the item. If the book is not at OIT, students, staff, and faculty can make an online ILL (interlibrary loan) request. Books are usually sent to the OIT Library via U.S. mail so may take a week or more to arrive.
Finding Articles See Tips for using catalog databases Journal articles are a primary means of formal communication among optical scientists and engineers. Use an index to identify journal articles on a particular topic. The following index databases contain significant numbers of references on laser optics-related subjects:
Applied Science and Technology Abstracts indexes trade publications and professional journals in all areas of engineering. The FPRIVATE "TYPE=PICT;ALT=WorldCat Library Owns Icon"symbol indicates that the OIT Library owns the journal and you can locate it by title in our periodical shelves. Covers 1983 - present. From H.W. Wilson. EI Compendex Web indexes journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers in all areas of engineering. Check Hedgehog to see if the OIT Library has what you need.
Covers 1970- present. From Engineering Index, Inc. SPIN (Searchable Physics Information Notices) indexes major journals in physics and astronomy, including laser optics. From the American Institute of Physics. Check Hedgehog to see if the OIT Library has what you need. Finding Facts - reference resouces
Tips for using reference sources and Reference database information
The library reference area has books with addresses, definitions, data tables and other factual information. Some reference books you may find useful include:
CRC handbook of laser science and technology REF TA1675 .H3
Electro-optical communications dictionary REF TK5103.59 .B63
Encyclopedia of lasers and optical technology REF TA 1509 E53
Encyclopedia of materials science and engineering REF TA402 .E53
Fiber optics and lightwave communications standard dictionary REF TK5102 .W44
The handbook of optics REF QC369 .H35
Handbooks and tables in science and technology REF Z7405.T3 P68
The Industrial laser handbook TA1671 .I5
Lasers & applications : designers' handbook and product directory REF TA1671 .L376
LFBG, Laser focus world buyers' guide REF TA1671 .L37
The photonics directory REF TA1501 .P46
Encyclopedia of applied physics REF QC5 .E543
McGraw-Hill encyclopedia of science and technology REF Q121 .M3
Wiley encyclopedia of electrical and electronics engineering REF TK9 .W55
Finding Web sites See also Tips for using Web search engines
Besides using one of the many Web search engines (some good ones are available as links from the OIT Librarys Web search engine page), there are other ways to identify higher-quality websites on your topic.
Use
Use NetFirst, a Web catalog containing records for selected websites. You can do a keyword search on your specific topic and retrieve a set of links to related sites.
Use the Internet Scout Report Archives to identify sites screened for quality and cataloged as part of the Internet Scout Project.
These are some sites providing search capability or links with information on lasers and optical engineering:
International Society for Optical Engineering (SPIE)
IEEE Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (LEOS)
Laser Focus World
OSA Optics Net (Optical Society of America)
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