This short guide forms part of the How to Find series, produced by the British Library Science Reference and Information Service. The series also includes titles on business, the environment and life sciences, and constitutes one part of the British Library’s services to science, technology and industry.
The guide is written and compiled by Nigel Lees, who is an experienced chemical information worker currently employed by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The aim is to provide a practical guide to finding and using the most essential and up‐to‐date chemistry information sources.
It is intended for a broad audience, including those with very little or no prior knowledge of either chemistry or the available information, those employed in the chemical industry, and experienced researchers and academics. It is essentially a starting point, and information workers who are new to chemistry libraries or have the task of setting up a chemistry library could find it an invaluable source. This is because, although by no means comprehensive, the book covers many major reference materials which we would expect to find in any chemistry library.
The coverage includes mainly secondary information sources, such as encyclopaedias, directories, manuals, handbooks, abstracting journals and online databases. Except for one or two exceptions, it does not deal with primary sources, such as books, periodicals, theses and conference proceedings. Readers themselves are therefore expected to become familiar with the relevant periodicals and monographs particular to their subject area.
Chemistry is a unique and complex subject and one strength of the guide is that it helps the non‐chemist understand some of the difficulties and idiosyncrasies of chemistry that they are likely to face. Thus, it includes a brief explanation on chemical nomenclature, before listing some useful published nomenclature systems, and deals with subtopics such as spectral data, thermodynamics, solubilities and so on. It covers some tools for the librarian as well as researchers and library users ‐ for example, guides to nomenclature skills and to journal abbreviations. Useful advice is given on keeping up‐to‐date and on how to use the materials mentioned, and the author is able to give recommendations of certain items based on experience. Also, illustrated examples of entries in some of the reference guides, and in particular, a very detailed practical introduction to chemical abstracts is given, along with help for using some complicated search methods. Attention is drawn to certain key organisations in the field, as well as other printed sources of further information. Therefore, the guide serves as far more than just a bibliography.
Different librarians in the field will no doubt have their favourite sources, and so it is likely that some references may be preferred or disputed, according to individual needs and experience. However, to cover the main materials required for chemistry libraries in general in such a succinct guide is an ambitious task. As a starting point, particularly for non‐chemist librarians or undergraduate chemists who wish to undertake research, this guide will no doubt prove to be a sound and reliable source of advice.
