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Engineering & Applied Science Research Guide

A research guide to introduce you to engineering resources at the library, including databases, journals, tools, technical documents, and other materials.

Essential Databases for Engineering and Applied Sciences Research

Where should I search first?

Library catalog vs. scholarly databases vs. the open web: it matters where you start your search. Different tools will bring you different types of information. None of these options is inherently "better" or "worse" than another, but beginning in the wrong place could add unnecessary time and effort to your search.

Start with the library catalog for:

  • Books and eBooks
  • DVDs and other physical items
  • "Known items": you have the title of an item and just want to know if you can get it through the library

Start with a database for:

  • Primary, peer reviewed research articles
  • Review articles
  • Specialty documents such as technical standards
  • Conference papers
  • Magazines, newspapers, and trade publications
  • Exploratory searches: you want to find out what's been published on a given topic

Start with the open web for:

  • Basic background information on sites like Wikipedia
  • Looking up authors to check their credentials and history
  • Information about the peer review and editorial processes of particular scholarly journals

Engineering and Applied Sciences at Gonzaga University

Top Resources in Related Science & Technology Fields

Please refer to the full Biology Research Guide for resources, tools, and services in biology, biochemistry, and biomedicine.

Please refer to the full Chemistry Research Guide for more resources, tools, and services in the fields of chemistry and biochemistry.

Please refer to the full Environmental Studies Research Guide for resources, tools, and services related to environmental science and environmental and sustainability policy.

Please refer to the full Mathematics Research Guide for more resources, tools, and services for mathematics research.

Please refer to the full Physics Research Guide for resources, tools, and services for research in physics.

Feedback About This Guide

If you have any questions, concerns, suggestions, or other feedback about this guide and its contents, please email me at gustavsen@gonzaga.edu! I want this guide to be the best and most useful it can be.
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