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Science Information

I need an Idea...
I have an idea, I need some books...
The Science Projects Section...
Books to take home...
The library does not have enough books on my topic...
Going to other libraries

I need an Idea...

If you don’t have an idea for your science fair project, try these three ways to start:

* Books with an asterisk in front of the title are the best places to start your research.

1) Browse the books in the Science Projects marked SP. These books are full of science project ideas.

2) Browse through the books in the regular collection with the call number 507.8. These are also books with science project ideas.

3) Using the computer catalog, try the subject headings

Science Projects

Science--Experiments

to see what books are available at this library and at other libraries in the system.

I have an idea, I need some books...

In Reference...

With most of the books on this list, the best place to start is the index in the back of the book or in the last volume.

General Science Encyclopedias

McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology 2002 - Ref 503/Mc
A good place to start any science project research; many topics covered in depth.

Illustrated Science Encyclopedia, 1997 - Ref 503/Ra
Easier to understand than the Encyclopedia of Science and Technology; volume 24 is all about science projects.

UXL Encyclopedia of Science, 1998 - Ref 503/UXL
This is easier to understand than the Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, but not as many topics are covered.

Van Nostrand’s Scientific Encyclopedia, 1995 - Ref 503.21/Va
It has short entries on a wide variety of topics.

Physics

*Macmillan Encyclopedia of Physics, 1997 - Ref 530/Ma
Covers basic physics topics.

Encyclopedia of Physics, 1991 - Ref 530.03/Le

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 1996 - Ref. 541.9/Ha
Use for formulas, properties of solids, etc.

Chemistry

*Macmillan Encyclopedia of Chemistry, 1997 - Ref 540.3/Ma
Covers basic chemistry topics.

Hawley’s Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 1997 - Ref 540.3/Ha
Use to identify formulas, properties and uses of chemical elements and compounds.

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 1996 - Ref 541.9/Ha
Use for chemical properties, structures, formulas, etc.

Biology

Synopsis and Classification of Living Organisms, 1982 - Ref 574.012
Use this reference set to find descriptions of the kinds of organisms often used in science projects, i.e. Daphnia or Drosophila.

Encyclopedia of Life Sciences 1996 - Ref 574.03/En
Simple to read articles on a limited number of topics in the life sciences

How things work and what they are made of

How It Works 1983 - REF 603/Ho
Look here for explanations of how technological inventions work. Examples: light bulbs, engines and batteries.

Cosmetics Ingredients 1994 - Ref 668.55/Wi
Use to look up specific self-care products as well as to interpret the ingredients on a product’s label.

CD’s, SuperGlue and Salsa 1996 - Ref 670/CD
Looks at how different items are made, from airbags to violins.

The Complete Guide to Household Chemicals 1995 - Ref 640/Pa
Discusses many chemical products that can be found in the home, from laundry detergent to pesticides.

Pharmaceuticals

The PDR Family Guide to Prescription Drugs 1997 - Ref 615.1/Ev
Everything You Need to Know About Drugs, 1997 - Ref 615.1/Ev
Complete Guide to Prescription and Non-prescription Drugs, 1996 - Ref 615.1/Gr
Mosby’s Complete Drug Reference, 1997 - Ref 615.3/Ph
Physician’s Desk Reference - Ask for the most recent edition at the reference desk.

Use these books to look up information on prescription and nonprescription drugs. Use more than one source since these books give somewhat different information.

Foods and Nutrition

The Concise Encyclopedia of Foods and Nutrition, 1995 - Ref 641.1/Co
Discusses foods and nutrition and how they relate to good health.

Dictionary of Food Ingredients, 1989 - Ref 641.103/Ig
A good source for understanding the various chemical additives in food such as monosodium glutamate.

Growing Plants

RHS Encyclopedia of House Plants, 1987 - Ref 635.965/Be
Information on different varieties of houseplants.

Marshall Cavendish Illustrated Encyclopedia of Gardening, 1970 - 635.903/Ma

And Good Housekeeping Encyclopedia of Gardening, 1975 - Ref 635.903/Go

Check both of these resources for information in different varieties of plants and for information on how to grow plants i.e. what is the effect of ammonia on plants.

Psychology

*Encyclopedia of Psychology, 1994 - Ref 150.3/En
Articles on all areas of psychology; such as memory and perception.

Encyclopedia of Learning and Memory, 1992 - Ref 151.103/En
In depth articles on different aspects of learning and memory.

Handbook of Perception and Human Performance, 1986 - Ref 153.7/Ha
In depth articles on issues of perception such as perceiving color.

The Science Projects Section...

Browse the science project section. It is arranged by topic and is represented by a three digit dewey decimal number. The following table lists the subject headings according to the first two dewey numbers on the book spine.

01 indexes and bibliographies
15 psychology
30 general social sciences
36 social problems and services
50 general science and math
51 mathematics
52 astronomy
53 physics
54 chemistry
55 earth science

56 fossils
57 biology, life science
58 plants
59 animals
60 general technology
61 medicine
62 engineering
63 agriculture--both plants and animals
64 household and family living
66 chemical engineering

Also check out:

Experiment central : understanding scientific principles through projects - REF/507.8/LO
Science experiments index for young people - SP/YA/016.507/PI
Science experiments and projects index - SP/YA/016.5078/SC
For project ideas and examples!

Books to take home...

1) The numbers above correspond to books in our regular collection as well. Browse these sections to find books to take home.

2) If you find a book in the science project section that you want, check the same call number in the circulating collection. We have many duplicate books.

3) Using the catalog

If you have a topic in mind, like water, air, chemistry, the brain or pollution, type it in as a subject search.

Even if your subject search does not result in an exact match, the catalog will show other subject headings that may be related to your topic in alphabetical order.

If you still find nothing, try your search as a keyword search. A keyword search will search titles and subjects for the words you are looking for.

If you still find nothing, try a broader subject. For example, instead of typing in Drosophila as your subject search, try insects or invertebrates.

If you still have no success, ask a librarian for help.

The library does not have enough books on my topic...

Search for magazine articles....

You can access magazine databases on all the computers with the catalog or through the internet computers.

From the Minuteman home page, under the heading Electronic Resources select In-Library Access, if you are at the library, or Home Access, if you are working from your home. (Note: not all databases are available for Home Access)

If you are at the library, select Somerville as your library and a list of databases will appear.

For Science Projects we recommend using one of the following databases: The Health Reference Center, Expanded Academic ASAP, or the General Reference Center (One or all of these may be helpful)

If you need help searching the databases see a librarian.

If you find no articles, see a librarian.

Search the Internet...

Before you can use the Internet, you must sign up at the Reference Desk.

From the Minuteman Library Network Homepage (this is the page that opens when you open the browser at the library) select the Useful Internet Resources under the heading Web Guides. This page is a directory that points to a large number of useful resources.

Depending on your topic, you may want to browse in more than one place.

The Health Section links to a number of pages on specific diseases, drugs and treatments.

Another category to browse is the section on Science and Technology. This part of the directory will point to pages with information on astronomy, biology, chemistry, energy, the environment and geology.

If you would like to learn how to use a search engine to search the World Wide Web for information, make an appointment with a librarian.

Vertical file...

Ask a librarian if the vertical file has any articles on your topic. The file has articles on some common science project topics such as chewing gum and detergents.

Using other libraries from SPL...

1) If Somerville doesn’t have a book or magazine article that you need, you can request items from other libraries in the network (the exceptions: reference books and books listed in the catalog as non-request).

2) If a book is not listed in the catalog at all, we may still be able to get it for you using Interlibrary Loan. Ask a librarian, but this requires 2-6 weeks, so plan ahead.

Going to other libraries

1) The Lyman Library at the Boston Museum of Science has an extensive collection that focuses on science projects. It is open 7 days a week, 9-5. You can borrow books from this library only if you are a Science Museum Member or if you are a teacher, but anyone can use the resources while in the library. (617) 589-0170

2) If you are looking for more academic/scientific information than can be found at a public library, try a university. Both Tufts University and MIT allow the public to use the library, but you won’t have be able to borrow books. During the school year, these libraries have extensive hours. Call ahead to check hours.

Tufts Tisch Library,
Tufts University, Professors Row,
Medford, 02155
(617) 627-3347

Science Library, MIT
77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
Hayden Memorial Library, Building 14
(617) 253-5671

3) You are limited only by your imagination. Try to think of government agencies or museums around the country that specialize in your topic. Many have libraries or research centers that will respond to phone or letter requests for information.