From Reuters: Germany’s Merck to buy Sigma-Aldrich for $17 billion to boost lab supplies operation
Sep
23
2014
Category: Chemistry
Sep
22
2014
Do you struggle to stay organized as the semester progresses? Are your notes and files scattered about in notebooks, folders, and various electronic storage devices? Would you like to share your own tips and tricks for staying organized with others? Join us for a Get Organized workshop to learn about free software tools you can use to get organized and stay organized all semester long and share your organization solutions with the chronically disorganized.
Get Organized
12:30 – 1:20 pm, Wednesday, September 24
Sciences Library, 3rd Floor Computer Room
In this workshop, you will learn how to use free software such as Evernote and Dropbox to:
- Take notes electronically using text, audio and images;
- Keep your notes organized and sync across all your devices;
- Access your notes and files from any computer with an Internet connection;
- Share your notes and files with others.
This workshop is free and open to all UI students, faculty and staff. There is no need to register. You may bring your lunch if desired. Free coffee will be provided. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Scheib at sara-scheib@uiowa.edu or (319) 335-3024.
Sep
16
2014
Are you starting a new research paper or project and looking for a way to manage your references? Then join us for this useful and informative workshop about EndNote! EndNote is a citation management program supported by the UI Libraries. The web version is available for free to the entire UI community and the desktop client is available for free to UI faculty, staff, graduate and professional students.
EndNote Workshop
12:30-1:30pm, Wednesday, September 17th
3rd Floor Computer Room, Sciences Library
In this workshop, you will learn how to:
- Sign up for (or download) EndNote for free!
- Transfer existing references from other services to EndNote;
- Export references from popular databases for importing into EndNote;
- Use EndNote to organize and share references;
- Use EndNote to format a bibliography in one of thousands of different styles;
- Use the Cite While You Write plugin for Microsoft Word;
- Get help when you need it!
This workshop is free and open to all UI students, faculty and staff. There is no need to register. You may bring your lunch if desired. Free coffee will be provided. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Scheib at sara-scheib@uiowa.edu or (319) 335-3024.
Sep
15
2014
The UI Libraries now has access to two new e-book collections from IOP. The Expanding Physics collection includes in-depth texts from the leading voices in physics research and related subject areas aimed at the recent graduate/researcher level. The Concise Physics collection includes shorter texts in rapidly advancing areas and introductory texts aimed at the undergraduate/researcher level.
Both collections are accessible instantly for multiple simultaneous users at: http://purl.lib.uiowa.edu/IOPBooks.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about IOP ebooks, please contact Sara Scheib, Sciences Reference & Instruction Librarian.
Jul
17
2014
The 95th edition of the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics is now available in print and online.
The new edition is expanded with 22 new tables, including:
- Common Symbols Used in Gas and Liquid Chromatographic Schematic Diagrams
- Abbreviations Used in the Assessment and Presentation of Laboratory Hazards
- Incompatible Chemicals
- Explosion (Shock) Hazards
- Water-Reactive Chemicals
- Testing Requirements for Peroxidizable Compounds
- Tests for the Presence of Peroxides
- Pyrophoric Compounds – Compounds That Are Reactive with Air
- Flammability Hazards of Common Solvents
- Selection of Protective Laboratory Garments
- Laser Hazards in the Laboratory
Revised tables include:
- Update of Bond Dissociation Engines
- Major Update of Electron Stopping Powers
- Major Update of Interstellar Molecules
- Update of Atmospheric Concentration of Carbon Dioxide, 1958-2013
- Update of Global Temperature Trend, 1880-2013
- Update of Sources of Physical and Chemical Data
In addition, for those interested in the history of chemistry and physics, beginning with the 94th edition and in each succeeding edition, highlights of the achievements of renowned chemists and physicists will be included.
The 95th edition features: Galileo Galilei, James Clerk Maxwell, Marie Sklodowska Curie, and Linus Carl Pauling, who follow last year’s group: Isaac Newton, Niels Bohr, Antoine Lavoisier and Dmitri Mendeleev.
May
29
2014
As you may have already heard, the University has acquired a campus-wide license for EndNote and the UI Libraries will end its subscription to RefWorks on December 31, 2014 (more info). Any free RefWorks accounts you have created will not be available after that date, but you can transfer your references to another service quickly and easily. In order to help our RefWorks users make this transition, we are offering several RefWorks to EndNote Transition workshops this summer:
- Friday, June 13, 10-11:00 am
- Monday, June 23, 1:30-2:30 pm
- Tuesday, July 8, 2-3 pm
- Wednesday, July 23, 3-4 pm
- Thursday, August 7, 4-5 pm
- Wednesday, August 20, 2:30-3:30 pm
In each workshop you will learn how to:
- Sign up for a free EndNote Basic account;
- Transfer your references from RefWorks to EndNote Basic;
- Export references from popular databases for importing into EndNote Basic;
- Use EndNote Basic to organize and share references;
- Use EndNote Basic to format a bibliography in one of thousands of different styles;
- Use the Cite While You Write plugin for Microsoft Word;
- Get help when you need it!
All workshops are free and open to all UI students, faculty and staff. Workshops will be held in the Sciences Library classroom (102 SL). There is no need to register. If you would like assistance with transitioning from RefWorks and are unable to attend one of these workshops, please contact Sara Scheib to arrange a one-on-one consultation. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Scheib.
May
08
2014
The Sciences Library is not only a great place to study for finals, we’ve also organized some fun activities to help you de-stress. Here’s what’s going on:
- Refuel with free hot beverages and treats. (During Sciences Library hours, May 11th – 16th.)
- Take a break from your studies to build your own creation! Legos, K’NEX and idea books provided. Bring your imagination! (During Sciences Library hours, May 11th – 16th.)
- Exercise your brain with card games, Phase 10 and Uno! (During Sciences Library hours, May 11th – 16th.)
- Challenge your study buddy to a game on our Wii console! (6-10PM, May 11 – 15)
Sciences Library hours during Finals Week:
| Monday – Thursday | 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
| Friday | 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Saturday | CLOSED |
| Sunday | 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
Apr
22
2014
Do you use RefWorks? Did you know the UI Libraries recently acquired another popular and powerful citation management program, EndNote? The web-based version, EndNote Basic, is available to all UI students, faculty and staff and the desktop client, EndNote Desktop, is available to UI faculty, staff, graduate and professional students. Join us for an introduction to EndNote Basic (web version) and learn how to transfer your references from RefWorks to EndNote Basic.
Lunch @ the Sciences Library
RefWorks to EndNote Basic Transition Workshop
12:30-1:20pm, Wednesday, April 30th
102 SL (Sciences Library Classroom)
In this workshop, you will learn how to:
- Sign up for a free EndNote Basic account;
- Transfer your references from RefWorks to EndNote Basic;
- Export references from popular databases for importing into EndNote Basic;
- Use EndNote Basic to organize and share references;
- Use EndNote Basic to format a bibliography in one of thousands of different styles;
- Use the Cite While You Write plugin for Microsoft Word;
- Get help when you need it!
This workshop is free and open to all UI students, faculty and staff. There is no need to register. You may bring your lunch if desired. Free coffee will be provided. If you have any questions, please contact Sara Scheib at sara-scheib@uiowa.edu or (319) 335-3024.
Apr
21
2014
Now available from the UI Libraries: The Merck Index Online (http://purl.lib.uiowa.edu/MerckIndex)
An authoritative and reliable source of information on chemicals, drugs and biologicals, the Merck Index Online offers the same highly authoritative information as the print edition in a convenient and easily searchable full text database. It contains over 11,500 monographs – including historic records not available in the print edition. The Merck Index Online will be updated regularly with accurate information curated by experts.
This acquisition was made possible by generous donations from Chemistry Department alumni. Thank you!
Apr
15
2014
Last night’s clear skies provided ideal conditions for viewing the Blood Moon. Did you miss it? Never fear! Here are some links to amazing time-lapse videos and photographs of this extraordinary event: