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Randy Reichardt is Research Services Librarian (Engineering) at the Science & Technology Library, University of Alberta, in Edmonton. His subject ar- eas include chemical, materials, and mechanical engineering, engineer- ing management, nanotechnology, and space science and technology. His responsibilities include collection development, reference and consul- tation service, instruction, and liaison. He currently sits on a number of li- brary advisory boards and previously served as Standards Chair for the En- gineering Division of SLA. AIP Library Matters News for Librarians Winter 2014 continued on page 2 FOCUS ON: THE VALUE OF THE THESAURUS I work as an engineering librarian, and as such, frequently instruct in senior capstone design engineering classes. In these classes I teach students how to use a bibliographic database that is the primary subject index for the engineering discipline. In advance, I choose a topic of relevance to the particular class in which I’ll be teaching, be it chemical, materials, or mechanical engineering. One of the benefits of searching this database is the option to use its thesaurus in building a search, otherwise known as “Controlled Vocabulary” (CV). To highlight and demonstrate this feature, I begin a search by typing in words or phrases as general keywords without any field restrictions, and then review the resulting citation list with the class. The CV terms are represented in the results as a “facet category,” thus allowing the user to choose from among the CV terms to narrow the search. The immediate advantage with a thesaurus- based search is that using words or phrases found in the CV helps the user narrow the search to find more relevant material quickly. Extraneous citations, also known as false drops, are eliminated from the search results. The final set of citations will be smaller, but as noted, will contain results more relevant to the search question at hand. Whenever possible, make use of a database’s thesaurus when building and executing a subject search. Use Controlled Vocabulary to Build and Execute Precise Searches Engineering Librarian Randy Reichardt provides tips on how to use a thesaurus to get the most out of database searches The new AIP Thesaurus, containing more than 7,500 terms, allows researchers to find the right research more accurately and efficiently. With its own dedicated page on the new Scitation platform users can search or browse for topics of interest. The AIP Thesaurus improves discoverability by: n Displaying broader, narrower, and related topics in the search results page, enabling users to refine their search Introducing the New AIP Thesaurus n Highlighting relevant topics in a contex- tual box within the new article page n Keeping researchers at the cutting edge of physical sciences with new Topic alerts The AIP Thesaurus has replaced PACS (Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme) as an aid in indexing and retrieving scientific information. Over the years, PACS had been updated and enhanced on a biannual basis and continued to serve the scientific community well. However, the continuing evolution of indexing, search, and technology brought into focus the inherent limitations of PACS and as a result, AIP decided that PACS® 2010 would be the final version. AIP gratefully acknowledges all those who kindly offered assistance and cooperation in the development and maintenance of PACS over the years; their efforts have been greatly appreciated. For more information consult the Scitation User Guide.

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Page 1: AIP Library Matters · 4 AIP | Library Matters Subscribe to AIP Library Matters at librarians.aip.org Open Access Spotlight on AIP Publishing Journals Applied Physics Reviews The

Randy Reichardt is Research Services Librarian (Engineering) at the Science & Technology Library, University of Alberta, in Edmonton. His subject ar-eas include chemical, materials, and mechanical engineering, engineer-ing management, nanotechnology, and space science and technology. His responsibilities include collection development, reference and consul-tation service, instruction, and liaison. He currently sits on a number of li-brary advisory boards and previously served as Standards Chair for the En-gineering Division of SLA.

AIP Library MattersNews for Librarians

W i n t e r 2 0 1 4

continued on page 2

FOCUS ON: THE VALUE OF THE THESAURUS

I work as an engineering librarian, and as such, frequently instruct in senior capstone design engineering classes. In these classes I teach students how to use a bibliographic database that is the primary subject index for the engineering discipline. In advance, I choose a topic of relevance to the particular class in which I’ll be teaching, be it chemical, materials, or mechanical engineering.

One of the benefits of searching this database is the option to use its thesaurus in building a search, otherwise known as “Controlled Vocabulary” (CV). To highlight and demonstrate this feature, I begin a search by typing in words or phrases as general keywords without any field restrictions, and then review the resulting citation list with the

class. The CV terms are represented in the results as a “facet category,” thus allowing the user to choose from among the CV terms to narrow the search.

The immediate advantage with a thesaurus- based search is that using words or phrases found in the CV helps the user narrow the search to find more relevant material quickly. Extraneous citations, also known as false drops, are eliminated from the search results. The final set of citations will be smaller, but as noted, will contain results more relevant to the search question at hand.

Whenever possible, make use of a database’s thesaurus when building and executing a subject search.

Use Controlled Vocabulary to Build and Execute Precise SearchesEngineering Librarian Randy Reichardt provides tips on how to use a thesaurus to get the most out of database searches

The new AIP Thesaurus, containing more than 7,500 terms, allows researchers to find the right research more accurately and efficiently. With its own dedicated page on the new Scitation platform users can search or browse for topics of interest.

The AIP Thesaurus improves discoverability by:

n Displaying broader, narrower, and related topics in the search results page, enabling users to refine their search

Introducing the New AIP Thesaurusn Highlighting relevant topics in a contex-

tual box within the new article page

n Keeping researchers at the cutting edge of physical sciences with new Topic alerts

The AIP Thesaurus has replaced PACS (Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme) as an aid in indexing and retrieving scientific information.

Over the years, PACS had been updated and enhanced on a biannual basis and continued to serve the scientific community

well. However, the continuing evolution of indexing, search, and technology brought into focus the inherent limitations of PACS and as a result, AIP decided that PACS® 2010 would be the final version.

AIP gratefully acknowledges all those who kindly offered assistance and cooperation in the development and maintenance of PACS over the years; their efforts have been greatly appreciated.

For more information consult the Scitation User Guide.

Page 2: AIP Library Matters · 4 AIP | Library Matters Subscribe to AIP Library Matters at librarians.aip.org Open Access Spotlight on AIP Publishing Journals Applied Physics Reviews The

2 AIP | L i b r a r y M a t t e r s 1 800-344-6902

FACTS & FIGURESDid you know?n Each day over 100,000 people visit

Scitation

n Every 2 seconds someone downloads an article from Scitation

n Scitation subscribers hail from nearly 4,000 institutions in more than 195 countries across the globe

n In addition to AIP Publishing journals, Scitation hosts content for these AIP Member Societies and Publishing Partners:

Acoustical Society of America

American Association of Physicists in Medicine

American Association of Physics Teachers

American Crystallographic Association, Inc.

AVS: Science & Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing

Laser Institute of America

The Society of Rheology

After login, users should go to the Topics link in the top navigation bar.

From there they can browse or search

for research topics.

Some Tips & Tricks for Using the AIP ThesaurusThe Power of Context: The new Scitation article landing page high-lights the most relevant thesaurus terms, providing more context to the article and enabling users to determine its relevance more easily. The longer the yellow bar, the more relevant the topic is.

Users can continue their information search journey by clicking on any thesaurus term to search for additional articles.

Science can’t create more minutes . . . but Scitation can save you some: Topic Alerts keep users informed of the latest, cutting-edge information within their research area. Once the alert is set up, Scitation automatically runs searches of their favorite topics and sends an email whenever new articles are added. Registration is required – Encourage your users to register!

Once relevant terms are selected, users simply click on Subscribe to email alerts on the Topics results page.

+1 516-576-2270

Fo c u s O n : T h e Va l u e o f t h e T h e s a u r u s continued from page 1

Page 3: AIP Library Matters · 4 AIP | Library Matters Subscribe to AIP Library Matters at librarians.aip.org Open Access Spotlight on AIP Publishing Journals Applied Physics Reviews The

W I N T E R 2 0 1 4 3

N e w A I P P u b l i s h i n g W e b s i t e

Take a look at the new AIP Publishing website at publishing.aip.org! In addition to important information about our publications, collections, and publishing partners, you’ll find an expanded Library Resource Center (librarians.aip.org), created in response to feedback from the physics librarian community.

The New AIP Publishing Website Is Live – More Resources for Librarians

COMING SOONIn response to customer feedback, inaddition to posters we have created twoimages that can be displayed on TVmonitors in campus student lounges,cafeterias, libraries, etc. These aredesigned to help you promote yourAIP Publishing collection. Artwork for these two images will be available soon under the Posters and cards link.

Here you’ll find pricing and licensing information and promotional materials for the new Scitation, such as user guides, posters, and postcards, as well as handy links to manage your account.

Visit the Webinars page for scheduling information and to register for FREE Scitation training webinars.

AIP WELCOMES AMERICAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY AS NEWEST MEMBER SOCIETY

Last month the American Meteorological Society (AMS) became the institute’s newest member society. As an umbrella organization, AIP provides

services and benefits to AMS and other member societies, which represent a broad spectrum of physical science professionals.

The premier scientific society for meteo-rology and related atmospheric, oceano-graphic, and hydrologic sciences, AMS has about 14,000 members worldwide, includ-ing more than 3,000 students and 1,700 international members.

Founded in 1919, AMS publishes 11 atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic science journals in print and online (not available on Scitation), sponsors a dozen conferences annually, and offers numerous programs and services.

AMS has been formally associated with AIP since 1983, when it became an AIP affiliated society—one of about two dozen local, regional, or national organizations with missions complementary to AIP. A list of AIP member and affiliated societies can be found at aip.org/aip/societies.html.

SEE AIP PUBLISHING AT THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

American Physical Society Denver, March 3-7

Electronic Resources & Libraries (ER&L)Austin, March 16-19

UKSGHarrogate, UK, April 14-16

For a complete list visit publishing.aip.org

Subscribe to AIP Library Matters at l ibrarians.aip.org

Page 4: AIP Library Matters · 4 AIP | Library Matters Subscribe to AIP Library Matters at librarians.aip.org Open Access Spotlight on AIP Publishing Journals Applied Physics Reviews The

4 AIP | L i b r a r y M a t t e r s Subscribe to AIP Library Matters at l ibrarians.aip.org

O p e n A c c e s s

S p o t l i g h t o n A I P P u b l i s h i n g J o u r n a l s

Applied Physics Reviews The new, dedicated home for cutting-edge reviews in applied sciences apr.aip.org

Library Matters: Why is Applied Physics Reviews (APR) being published separately from its parent journal, the Journal of Applied Physics (JAP)?John M. Poate/Bill R. Appleton Editors-in-Chief: Because of its success and the popularity of its reviews, widely considered the ‘gold standard in the field,’ APR will now be an independent publication. As such, it can offer a larger selection of the high-quality, cutting-edge reviews that its audience has come to expect and value and respond to the recent rapid growth in applied physics research.

LM: How does this benefit researchers?JMP/BRA: Researchers will have access to more authoritative Reviews across a broader range of topics in applied sciences.

LM: What types of content are published?JMP/BRA: APR features two types of Reviews:

Regular Reviews: Comprehensive reviews covering established areas in depth Focused Reviews: Concise reviews covering new and emerging areas of science

LM: Is APR peer-reviewed?JMP/BRA: Absolutely, and quality is assured through expanded editorial oversight – 2 Editors and the addition of 6 new Associate Editors.

AIP Publishing Supports Sustainable Open Access

Structural DynamicsNew open access online-only journalCo-published by AIP Publishing and ACAsd.aip.orgLaunched this month and timed to coincide with “The International Year of Crystallogra-phy,” Structural Dynamics is the first journal dedicated to the field of time-resolved electronic and geometric structural studies in molecular, biological, and materials sciences.

FIRST 3 ARTICLES PUBLISHED:The first article is about ultrafast electron diffraction and ultrafast electron energy loss spectroscopy of manganites. It highlights the strong connection between the crystal structure and its underlying electronic structure.

The second article covers the ultrafast X-ray diffraction of nanosystems and shows how the measurements are used to calibrate the amount of visible light absorbed by nanowires, while the third paper explores the theory of nonlinear X-ray spectroscopy and presents expressions for the X-ray photon echo signal applied to biological systems.

AIP Publishing actively supports sustainable models of access that ensure the integrity and permanence of the scholarly record. Options include “Gold” open access, whereby publication is funded by an article processing charge paid by the author or another sponsor, or the hybrid option, Author Select®. In both AIP Publishing’s Gold and hybrid options, our authors retain their copyright and publish their work under a Creative Commons license.

AIP Publishing has endorsed and supports the STM statement on Open Access. In accordance with that statement AIP Publishing believes that authors should be able to publish in the journal of their choice, where publication will have the greatest potential to advance their field. Institutions and funders play a key role in ensuring that public access policies allow for funding of peer-reviewed publication and publishing services in whatever journal that an author chooses.

AIP Publishing has also endorsed and supports the Office of Science and

Technology Policy (OSTP) directive of 22 February 2013 to federal agencies. This directive, calling for funding agencies to develop plans for increased public access to the results of federally-funded scientific research, aligns with our mission to ensure the widest possible access to the best scientific information while recognizing the need for sustainable business models in scholarly publishing.

AIP Publishing continues to work in tandem with representatives from the library and academic communities to develop pragmatic, sustainable solutions to public access to federally funded research.

AIP PUBLISHING “GOLD” OPEN ACCESS JOURNALSMaximizing the value and reuse of the results of scientific research, AIP Publishing’s growing list of peer-reviewed Gold open access journals includes:n AIP Advances n APL Materials

n Structural Dynamics (in partnership with ACA)

“GREEN” OPEN ACCESS AIP Publishing and the following partner publishers also support so-called Green Open Access:

n Acoustical Society of America

n American Association of Physics Teachers

n American Association of Physicists in Medicine

n AVS: Science and Technology of Materials, Interfaces, and Processing

n Laser Institute of America

Although individual policies vary by society, most allow authors to self-archive the Version of Record (the final AIP Publishing-prepared version (PDF) of their article) on their own or employer’s website, and post the Author Accepted Manuscript on free-access e-print servers such as arXiv.