Or explore these links to a variety of interesting web sites:

Step #1 Try using one of the following databases to identify useful journal articles.  Most of these databases are restricted to CSUS students, faculty and staff. Click here if you need help with remote access.

Step # 2 Once you have identified the article you need, determine whether we own the journal by using EUREKA Library Catalog, or the Journal Locator List. For an explanation of finding specific articles in specific databases refer to the Guide by Ann Bradley.

Step #3 If we don't own the journal or have electronic access to it, you may request the Library borrow it for you through our Inter-Library Loan service (you can also borrow books through ILL)

Check the "Specific Subjects" access to databases (on the left side of the screen) page for additional databases!
or send me an e-mail with your question: Deborah Metzger

This Library receives many publications from the USGS and other government agencies, however you cannot find many of them listed in EUREKA by author or paper title. The easiest way to find them is to determine the series and report number and then use the following list to identify a call number. For older reports you also may try to find them by linking to the appropriate agency listed below; or by searching the Publications Warehouse  from within the USGS. Many reports are available on the Web and searchable via the Publications Warehouse or the agency links below.

Note: These titles are series that are those most frequently asked for however this list is not comprehensive, refer to the EUREKA Library Catalog for complete records.

Become part of an e-mail community with interest similar to yours by subscribing to a list. The groups vary in range from specific (volcanoes, climatology) to very general (earth science, geology).

·        Google Groups, contain the entire archive of Usenet discussion groups dating back to 1995. Stick with  the .sci for scientific discussions. There is also a clear explanation of how groups work linked from Group Help.

• California Digital Conservation Atlas Note: click on the link on the right side of the screen, not the obvious button!
  "Designed to provide easy-to-use, map views of California’s natural resources and working landscapes for people who may not be familiar with specialized geographic software."  But it is helpful to have an understanding.  Includes layers for the following: Natural Vegetation, Fire History, Wetlands Important Farmlands, Soils, Impaired Water Sources, Conservation Plans, Natural Resource Projects, Public Ownership, County Land Use Plans, Urban Areas and Projected Growth, Rivers, Lakes and Dams, Roads, Floodplains, Watersheds
  and  U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Maps.
• Electronograhpy
• Bill Budge's clear instructions on proper documentation of electronic and print resources.
• Encyclopedia Britannica Online - Use the encyclopedia to get background information and/or terminology. You can also search the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
• Geographic Name Information System (GNIS) - In cooperation with the U.S. Board on Geographic Names the USGS has developed this database which contains information on 2 million features in the U.S. Includes latitude and longitude, elevation and links to maps and associated watersheds.
• Geology Glossary
• Part of an award wining site by Houghton Mifflin Publishing Co.
• Geology Guidebooks of North America Database - the database is hosted by the AGI but gets lots of help from the friendly librarians of the
  GeoScience Information Society. The database provides access, or citations to otherwise difficult-to-find field trip guides issued by societies, universities, geological surveys, and government agencies. 
• Illustrated Glossary of Geologic Terms
• Continuously upgraded with links to illustrations and text, this glossary is maintained by the Geology Dept. at Iowa State University and based on the glossary in the textbook Earth: An Introduction to Geological Change by S. Judson and S.M. Richardson.
• MapQuest Topographical Maps - search by latitude and longitude or place name.

Suggestions for new books or journals which support the curriculum are welcome. Please send as much information as you have (title, author, publisher, ISBN/ISSN, price) and why the item would be a useful addition to our collection.

These seven of tutorials can be used independently and will help guide you through the process of library research.

·         Define the Research Topic

·         Determine the Information Requirements

·         Locate & Retrieve Relevant Information

·         Use the Technological Tools for Accessing Information

·         Evaluate Information

·         Understanding the Ethical, Legal & Socio-Political Issues Surrounding Information & Information Technology

• Local Climatological Data, (1996-2001) from the NCDC Document Library. To begin choose the link FREE access by certain agencies and individuals (limited access only).  The datafiles are accessible by authorized users only--so if you are a CSUS IP authenticated user, it should work. However, the system is quirky and may turn you away. If this happens try again later.  The data is organized by station name, so you must know the station you want to search.  You must first choose a year, then a station abbreviation (Sacramento Executive Airport is SAC). Eventually there will be a listing of a filenames consisting of a year/month/station abbreviation, i.e., 200103SAC.pdf is for March, 2001 Sacramento Executive Airport. 
• Climate and Rainfall - from the NASA/Goddard Space Center has sections on aerosols, analysis clouds, modeling projects, publications rainfall, remote sensing and links to web sites.
• Where to find Weather and Climate Information - NOAA has it all and this FAQ page clearly explains the available data sets and how to access them.
• The National Climatic Data Center sets include temperature, rainfall and snowfall information for specific locations in the US. In addition to these basic variables, it is sometimes possible to obtain other weather information including humidity and winds. Some stations have hourly data available though most have daily and monthly only. 

• Encyclopedia of Volcanoes - Chapters from this encyclopedia can be found online, including the sections on Archaeology and Volcanism by CSUS faculty Stephen L. Harris, and Composite Volcanoes by Jon Davidson & Shan De Silva. If it looks good, come to the Library and take a look at the real thing.

2 NORTH Reference QE 522 .E53 2000
Encyclopedia of volcanoes
Haraldur Sigurdsson

• Photoglossary of Volcano Terms - from the USGS's Volcano Hazards Program. Glossary only includes terms for which a visual is helpful in explanation.
• Volcanoes- online edition of Volcanoes by Robert Tilling. Book is a brief introduction of the nature, workings, products, and hazards of the common types of volcanoes around the world, along with a brief introduction to the techniques of volcano monitoring and research.
• USGS Volcanic Hazards Program - All kinds of information and reports especially on active volcanoes in the US.

• California Water Plan Update 2005 - the updated strategy to meet California's water needs.
• Cal-Fed Bay Delta Program - A group of federal and state agencies trying to work together on water quality standards formulation, coordination of State Water Project and Central Valley Project operations with regulatory requirements; and long-term solutions to problems in the Bay-Delta Estuary.
• California Data Exchange Center - Provides access to the Dept. of Water Resources hydrologic data including river conditions, snowpack, river stages/flows, water supply, weather forecasts and more. 
• California Dept. of Water Resources - Has everything from state water projects, a listing of water conditions and reports, and monthly activity reports for the very curious.
• Glossary of Terms - from the Global Hydrology Resource Center
• Ground Water Atlas of the United States - Describes the location, extent, geologic and hydrologic characteristics of important aquifers. Online edition includes California chapter. Or take a look at the print version:

2 North Atlas
G 1526 .C3 P536 1995
Planert, Michael and John Williams
Ground Water Atlas of the United States, Segment 1, California/Nevada

• Properties of Water- Has sections on the hydrologic cycle, properties of water, rivers, lakes, measuring, storing, glaciers and groundwater among others. From Environment Canada. There is also a French version, so you can practice your language skills at the same time!
• USGS California District -  Water resources in California. Includes real-time data, stream flow, reports on various topics and lots of other good stuff.
• Water Librarians' Homepage - A Scout Report selection, so it must be good! This metasite has links to agencies, databases, organizations and more. Give it a try, but be ready for some serious surfing.
• Water Resources of the United States - Links to the NWIS Web (National Water Information System Web) for real time and historical data from over 1.5 million sites for streamflow and stage data, ground water levels, water quality data and site information. It also has links to other USGS water related publications. The CA real-time data comes from this site.

Send questions, comments or suggestions to: Deborah Metzger, Science Reference Librarian
9.20.05 rev. 2.14.08.   Last revised 02/14/2008 11:30 AM

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