The following science reference e-books are now available through the UMass Amherst library catalog and UMA WorldCat:

• Comprehensive Nano Science & Technology
• Comprehensive Natural Products II
• Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior
• Encyclopedia of Chemical Biology
• Encyclopedia of Computer Science and Engineering
• Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology

Contact a reference librarian with any questions you may have about using these resources.

The ICE Virtual Library covers materials science, biomaterials, nanotechnology, energy and green chemistry and is offering free online access to its content through 12/31/2012. Registration is required. Contact Paulina Borrego, Engineering Liaison Librarian, at 545-7891 with questions or to provide feedback on this resource.

The Libraries have recently purchased the Synthesis Computer and Information Science Collection Four, a subject sub-collection of the Synthesis Digital Library of Engineering and Computer Science Collection Four. The Libraries also have Synthesis Digital Library of Engineering and Computer Science Collections One, Two, and Three. Each lecture is in an e-book format and covers a research or development topic. Topical series include Algorithms and Software in Engineering, Artificial Intelligence in Machine Learning, Biomaterials, Data Management, Semantic Web: Theory and Technology, Synthetic Biology, and many more.

For assistance with these resources, contact Paulina Borrego, Computer Science Liaison Librarian, at 413-545-7891.

The TRAIL (Technical Report Archive and Image Library) database, a joint project of the Center for Research Libraries, the Greater Western Library Alliance and the University of Washington Libraries, includes full-text of U.S. government technical reports published before 1975. You can conduct a simple keyword search, or an advanced search for terms in the author, title, year, and issuing agency fields.

For assistance with this resource, contact Maxine Schmidt, Civil and Environmental Engineering liaison librarian, at 413-545-6739.

The Libraries has purchased Collections Two and Three of the Morgan & Claypool Synthesis Digital Library of Engineering and Computer Science. The Digital Library contains over 300 lectures  about topics under research and development. The lectures are 50-100 pages in length, organized into over 40 series ranging from biomaterials to computer vision, quantum computing and tissue engineering. You can browse through lectures in the series or conduct keyword searches.

For assistance using the Synthesis Digital Library, contact Paulina Borrego, Science and Engineering Reference Librarian, at 413-545-7891.

The Environment & Environmental Engineering e-book collection from Knovel provide many reference titles for environmental science and engineering. If you’d like assistance using these books, contact Naka Ishii, Environmental Sciences Liaison, at 413-545-1656.

The Libraries have added the General Engineering & Engineering Management e-book collection from Knovel. If you’d like assistance using these sources, contact Maxine Schmidt or Paulina Borrego, Engineering Liaisons, at 413-545-1370

The Institution of Civil Engineers Virtual Library is largest online civil engineering resource in the world. It includes books, journals, recruitment and training, as well as best practice, news and networking opportunities around the NEC and Eurocodes. Explore the full archive of the Institution of Civil Engineers back to 1836.

This trial goes through May 13th, 2010. If you have questions or comments, contact Maxine Schmidt, Geosciences library liaison, at 413-545-6739.

AccessEngineering from McGraw-Hill is a redesign of their Digital Engineering Library. Content is derived from print handbooks on chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and covers 14 major areas of engineering.

For the username and password to login to AccessEngineering, contact Maxine Schmidt at 413-545-3739. This trial will continue until March 1st, 2010.

The National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoirs provides brief biographies of deceased members of the National Academy of Science, written by people who best knew their work. “These biographies provide a personal and scholarly view of the lives and work of America’s most distinguished scientists and a biographical history of science in the United States.”