Frequently Asked Questions

Files saved on the U drive (virtual RAM disk) are cleared each time the machine is restarted. There are competing requirements for the need to clear these files in that most students do not want their documents to stay on a publicly accessible computer; on the other hand, when something goes wrong, file retention would be an asset. Also, if files were allowed to accumulate on the hard drive, performance would deteriorate.

  • click the "Tools" menu
  • select "Macro" and then "Security"
  • in the "Security Level" tab, select the "low" option
  • click OK

Unfortunately, this service is set up to send print only journals.  Maybe sending microfiched journals is something we can look at in the future.
 

Suggested Answer:

We advise that you perform an Anywhere search in the library catalogue for “polyethylene glycol” using the quotation marks for phrase searching.  The book Poly(ethylene oxide) by Bailey reveals that polyethylene glycol is a commonly used name for the polymer Poly(ethylene oxide) and is usually applied for those formulations with a lower molecular weight.  It also contains a table of the melting points of common polyethylene glycols.

Another resource for polymer melting points is the Polymer Handbook by Brandrup.  Section 6 contains a range of melting points for Polyethylene oxides of various molecular rates.

Full Question:

How many automobiles have been manufactured by the automobile industry in Canada since the year 2000? I am also looking for trends (Innis)

Suggested Answer:

A good place to look for Canadian manufacturing information is Statistics Canada via CANSIM.

We suggest you choose the Statistics Canada version of CANSIM by selecting from a list of our databases and then picking "Manufacturing" from the list of topics.  The next step would be to choose "Transportation Equipment" and select the table to see stats for 2010. Use the "Add/Remove Data" tab to add years back to 2000.

Suggested Answer:

Please ask Staff at the Service Desk on the first floor of Mills.  We keep these CDs in the back room but would be glad to retrieve them for you so you may check out the CD with the case.

Full Question:

Where can I find a report on the “mashup” industry?  I’ve searched the industry reports in Business Source Complete but haven’t found anything. (Innis)

Suggested Answer:

If you try this question on your own, you will find that you can’t locate reports for the "mashup" industry. This illustrates how important the correct terminology is when looking for industry information. Industry reports are consulted at Innis Library. Each resource used for industry information uses different terminology.  Perhaps, a search may be too specific to uncover any reports and a broader search will be required. In our example, a “mashup” can refer to using two pieces of software to create a new service or product. A search for "software industry" may be more appropriate.

A special business database such as Business Source Complete will have computer software industry reports but you will need to refine and modify your initial search to get closer to your goal.  For example, search "software" and there will be over 500,000 results:  search "software industry" and the result is 34,000.  Refine those 34,000 results with "Source Types" (in the left hand menu) and select Industry Reports.  Within this list of 700 reports, “Software Publishing Industry” is most relevant and there are reports on U.S. and worldwide software.

Suggested Answer:

We discovered a great short video that explains peer-reviewed articles:  Peer Review in Five Minutes (Credit: NC State University Libraries)

Suggested Answer:

The McMaster department of Facility Services; Construction and Technical Services keeps blueprints and specifications on all McMaster buildings and areas, both in print and electronic format. For non-McMaster buildings, a  Land Registry Office may be used to get information about title and/or ownership.  In Hamilton, this office is located at 119 King St W.

Did you know that blueprints belong to the individual or corporation who had them created, but, a Surveyors Real Property Report (a dimensioned plan of a property indicating lot size, right-of-ways, possible easements, buildings, garages, as well as any other property improvements) actually belongs to the surveyor who did the work in Ontario – not the individual or corporation who commissioned it.

Suggested Answer:

Our advice is that you return materials back to the library it was checked out from.  However, if you do drop off a book that belongs to another library, the item would be returned to its home library (on campus or to several libraries off campus).

Suggested Answer:

We advise that you perform a search in the library catalogue using the terminology Escherichia coli, first in Subject, then if all items are checked out - in Anywhere.  Again, if all items are in use – broaden the search. Try to be less specific:  a Subject search of Microbiology (for e-coli) or a Subject search of Molecular Biology (for x-gal testing).  Use the index of the book(s) to find your terms.  We found x-gal testing and e-coli bacterium information in Basic Methods in Molecular Biology by Davis.

Full Question:

I’m researching Saudi Arabia for my fourth year international business class. Where can I find information on business practices or customs in Saudi Arabia?

Suggested Answer:

Another special library database used in business is Passport GMID. A search of Saudi Arabia and (Culture, Customs or Business Practices) retrieves the report Consumer Lifestyles in Saudi Arabia. This report describes Saudi attitudes on many aspects of their society.

Full Question:

Where can I find CSA (Canadian Standards Association) standard? Is it available online or do I need to come into the library to take a look at it? (Thode)

Suggested Answer:

CSA standards are available electronically.  Please note that Internet Explorer is currently required to view standards, and that a separate plugin, FileOpen, must be installed.

These standards may be browsed by category, or searched by number, title or keyword.  To access standards covered only by McMaster’s subscription, use the My Subscription tab.

If you are having trouble accessing an e-resource, please check the following:

1. have you set up an Alumni Access account?

2. does the e-resource appear on the list of e-resources available to alumni users?

3. if not, you may be able to access this e-resource on campus only.

4. Still having difficulty? Please contact us via email (library@mcmaster.ca) or by phone:

  • Mills: (905) 525-9140 ext. 22077
  • Innis (Business): (905) 525-9140 ext. 22081
  • Thode (Science & Engineering): (905) 525-9140 ext. 22000
  • Health Sciences: (905) 525-9130 ext. 22323

Note: we do not provide telephone service after 9 pm or on weekends

All books can be renewed (unless they have been recalled) on the My Account/Book Renewal page OR in person. You are allowed a maximum of 2 renewals. 

Penalties for Not Returning Materials

  • If another user has recalled a book you have checked out, you will receive an email notification requesting you to return the book. You have until 14 days from the original loan date or 5 days from the date of recall, whichever is longer, in which to return the book, after which a fine of up to $5 a day or partial day is levied.
  • If you don't return an overdue item we suspend your borrowing privileges, charge the cost of replacing the book, and a $25 non-refundable administrative fee per item.
  • It is your responsibility as an alumni user to keep the Library informed of your current address and email address. Non-receipt of notices does not relieve you from suspension of borrowing privileges and book replacement charges.

Paying Fines

  • Fines can be paid at the Library Services Desk of the appropriate library. We accept debit/credit cards and cheques (no cash payments, sorry).

Email Notification

You will be sent a notice by e-mail for:

  • Holds
  • Recalls
  • Overdues
  • Replacement billing
  • Fines

Please note: all non-McMaster users are responsible for keeping us updated on their current e-mail addresses.

Please check the Hours page on the Librarywebsite for current hours.

Note: any exceptions to the regular opening hours will be outlined at the bottom of each library's hours page.

 

As McMaster alumni, graduates of McMaster University are entitled to borrowing privileges at Mills Memorial Library, Thode Science & Engineering Library, Innis Library and the Health Sciences Library.

Graduates of McMaster University are issued an Alumni Library Card at no charge, with proof of graduation.

  • Alumni Library Card Application Forms are available online or at any Library Services Desk
  • Identification showing a current address is required.
  • Cards can be issued during the following hours:
Monday to Thursday 8:00 am - 9:30 pm
Friday 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Saturday 10:30 am - 5:30 pm
Sunday Noon - 7:30 pm

NOTE: This service is not available on Sundays during Summer hours.

Responsibilities
  • Alumni are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Library Regulations
  • Misuse of the library card or failure to respond to notices will result in the withdrawal of borrowing privileges.
  • Cards may be used only by the holder and are not transferrable.

Loan Period / Borrowing Limitations

  • Alumni may check out circulating materials for a two week period.
  • Up to 20 books may be on loan at one time.
  • Reserve materials may not be borrowed.
  • Any book may be renewed unless it has been requested by another user (limit of 2 renewals per book ).
  • Limit of 10 recalls can be placed.

Alumni users are entitled to access most, but not all, of the e-resources currently licensed by the library, but access is only on-site, on a temporary one-day basis. Ongoing access to these resources will not be granted.

While most databases and e-journals are not available to alumni from off campus due to licensing restrictions, the Library is able to offer remote access to a small suite of e-resources.

You will need to create a Alumni Access account, using the BarCode number from your Alumni Library Card.

Please note: You must always access these resources from the Alumni Library Services webpage as your Alumni Access account will not be recognized if you try to access these resources from the library catalogue or website.

Application forms are available online or at all library services desks.

For more information call 905-525-9140 x22077.

Browsers (25)

Here are 3 possible fixes:

1. If you are using Adobe Reader as your PDF reader, this may be due to a feature in Adobe called "allow fast web view". If so, you may get an error such as "insufficient data for an image". Try the following fix:

  • open the Adobe Reader application
  • Control-K, or go to Edit > Preferences
  • on the left, click 'Internet' and then uncheck 'Allow fast web view'

2. Before opening the PDF, right-click the PDF link and choose "save target as", “save link as” or “download linked file as” (depending on your browser). This will force the PDF to save before opening. Then open the PDF from the saved location. This bypasses the browser and the browser’s PDF plug-in, and avoids problems associated with plug-ins.

3. If neither of the above solutions works, try using a different PDF reader, e.g.

  • Windows: Foxit Reader
  • Mac OS: Preview (go to Finder > Applications > Preview.app)

If none of these solutions work, please report the problem to us, and we will work with you to fix it.

 

Firewall software has been known to cause problems with LibAccess. You may have to temporarily disable your firewall or configure your firewall to allow LibAccess. The following software have been known to cause problems.

  • Norton Internet Security
  • Norton Personal Firewall
  • Zone Alarm Pro
  • McAfee Internet Security
  • Watchguard

Please note that some ad blockers (e.g. IDecide, Ad-Subtract) and web accelerators (e.g. Netzero High Speed) has been known to cause problems as well.

Once logged on to CCH Online BusinessWorks / LegalWorks / TaxWorks, go to Tools on the CCH menu bar at the top of the screen and click on Manage Account. Change the User Interface Preference to "Java (requires Java Virtual Machine)" using the drop-down menu box. Then click on the "Save Preferences" button.

This is a known problem with Internet Explorer. Save the file to the PC or storage device before opening.

CCH Online BusinessWorks / LegalWorks / TaxWorks does not support Firefox. Use Internet Explorer.

The key combination CTRL-ALT-UPARROW can be used to re-orient the display to normal rotation setting.

FAQ: 

This is due to IE's Phishing Filter (a new feature to IE7) that evaluates web page contents. Microsoft has a downloadable patch that can rectify this. You can download the patch here.

If you'd like to use chat in the library, your best bet would be to use one of the web versions of the following Instant Messenging/Chat Services:

 

 
FAQ: 

You might want to have a look at your closing title tag. You might have accidently omitted the < or > character and therefore the browser thinks the remaining coding belongs to the title tag.

The document creator may have set the security to disable this function. To check, open the file in Acrobat, select File/Document Properties and select the Security tab. Look to see whether Content Copying or Extraction is set to Allowed.

Secure Shell Client has been install on selected computers in Mills, Innis and Thode which will allow you to telnet.

Internet Explorer:

  • From the menu at the top of the browser window, select Tools, Internet Options
  • Select the "General Tab"
  • Click on the button labelled "Delete Files "
  • Check "Delete all off-line files"
  • Click on "OK"
  • Close and re-open your browser

Firefox

  • From the menu at the top of the browser window, Select Tools
  • Select "Clear Private Data"
  • In the dialogue box, check items that you want deleted; i.e. "Cache", and uncheck any of those items you don't want deleted
  • Click on the button labelled "Clear private data now"
  • Click on "OK"

Netscape

  • From the menu at the top of the browser window, Select Edit/Preferences
  • Expand the "Advanced" category menu item
  • Highlight "Cache" Click on the button labelled "Clear Memory Cache"
  • Click on the button labelled "Clear Disk Cache"
  • Click on "OK"

Safari (MAC OS)

  • From the menu bar, select "Safari"
  • Select "Empty cache"

 

FAQ: 

Users can open pdf or html files from a floppy disc or keychain drive by using the My Computer icon in the Programs menu of public stations. To open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files on library computers, see this FAQ.

Browsers: opening from the File menu of the web browser on public PCs was disallowed due to a bug. Instead, public users can open documents by clicking Start button, Programs, My Computer, selecting the drive and filename.

You can configure the Pop-up Blocker so that pop-ups are allowed for this site by following these steps:

  • go into the Tools menu -- Pop-up Blocker -- Pop-up Blocker Settings.
  • in the "Address of Web site to allow" section, enter the address for the site that is not functioning properly and click the Add button.
  • if you want to re-enable pop-ups for all sites, go into the Tools menu -- Pop-up Blocker -- Turn-off Pop-up Blocker.
  • alternatively, you can go into the Tools menu -- Internet Options -- Privacy tab -- disable Pop-up Blocker.

Try the following:

  • open Adobe Acrobat Reader by using the Start button then clicking on Programs
  • once the reader is open, go to Edit menu, Preferences
  • click Options from the left pane
  • Under the Web Browser Options from the right pane, disable Allow Fast Web View
  • click the OK button
  • close the Reader and try opening the PDF file again.

You first have to create the shortcut manually by right-clicking the desktop and selecting New, Shortcut. In the location field, type the path to Internet Explorer enclosed in quotes or click the browse button to look for it. Then you will leave a space then type the web page address. An example would be "c:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" https://univmail.cis.mcmaster.ca. You then have to give the shortcut a name. Once the shortcut has been created, you need to right-click on it and select properties. In the shortcut tab, under the "Run" section, select Maximized.

FAQ: 

In Internet Explorer, click on the Tools menu, Internet Options, Content tab and click on the AutoComplete button. In the "Use AutoComplete for" section, uncheck "Prompt me to save passwords" and uncheck "Usernames & Passwords on forms". You should also click the "Clear Forms", and "Clear Passwords" buttons to delete any saved form information.

FAQ: 

Step 1:

  • click on Tools, Internet Options, Colours
  • untick Use Windows colours
  • change: Text to black; Background to white
  • click OK

Step 2: (may not be necessary depending on the browser)

  • click on Accessibility
  • check off Ignore colours specified on web pages

Go into Tools, Internet Options, Advanced tab. Scroll down until you see the printing section. Select "Print background colors and images" and then click on OK.

  • In Internet Explorer, type the web page address in the Address field and hit Enter
  • you may need to make the Window smaller in order to see your desktop
  • click & hold down the left mouse button on the "e" icon in the Address field and drag the mouse to the desktop to create the shortcut
FAQ: 

This can occur if your browser's cache is full. Try clearing your browser's cache. If this is happening on a page located on a secure server (https) then go into Internet Options, Advanced tab and deselect "Do not save encrypted files to disk".

FAQ: 

The cause is usually a full cache. Clear your browser's cache. If this is happening on a page located on a secure server (https) then go into Internet Options, Advanced tab and deselect "Do not save encrypted files to disk".

FAQ: 

Remove the setting to encode special characters in URLS using %. Select Preferences from the Edit menu. In the Code Rewriting (Dreamweaver 4) or HTML Rewriting (Dreamweaver 3) category, disable this selection.

You might want to have a look at your closing title tag. You might have accidently omitted the < or > character and therefore the browser thinks the remaining coding belongs to the title tag.

Files saved on the U drive (virtual RAM disk) are cleared each time the machine is restarted. There are competing requirements for the need to clear these files in that most students do not want their documents to stay on a publicly accessible computer; on the other hand, when something goes wrong, file retention would be an asset. Also, if files were allowed to accumulate on the hard drive, performance would deteriorate.

e-Books (14)

Unfortunately there is no way to "recall" or queue for e-books. If demand for a title is high, an additional copy may be purchased and/or the loan period may be reduced to allow greater access to the e-book.

FAQ: 

One of the Library's e-book suppliers is called E-Book Library, or EBL. Unlike most other providers, EBL allows us to make e-books that we don't own available to users. This is done by "loaning" the book for a period of time, much like we do with print books. Loaning the book costs a small fraction of the purchase price, meaning we can make available far more titles than we could afford to buy. The initial five minute limit is just a preview, allowing you to decide if you'd like to request a loan to use the book for a longer period. For more information, see this FAQ.

FAQ: 

McMaster is part of OCUL (Ontario Council of University Libraries), a consortium which has licensed e-book software from ebrary. Over the next several years, OCUL will be developing an integrated e-book "platform" on Scholars Portal which will provide, among other things:

  • a single interface ("look and feel") for e-books from multiple publishers (including purchased and subscription e-books)
  • print-on-demand e-books

e-book standards and technologies are still evolving. Stay tuned!

FAQ: 

No. Portico is a non-profit permanent archive of electronic scholarly journals.

FAQ: 

At the moment, only a portion of an e-book can be printed (different portions, depending on the publisher). In the future, OCUL (Ontario Council of University Libraries) is looking into providing print-on-demand services (for more information, see the FAQ "Where is e-book development going?")

FAQ: 

It depends on the e-book supplier. For example, all EBSCOhost e-books (fomerly netLibrary)  limit access to one user at a time. Other vendors allow unlimited or multiple concurrent users. Please check eBooks@Mac for usage limitations (Notes column).

FAQ: 

Yes, and no. Some of our e-books can be downloaded, but they will only be available for a limited time. Providing unlimited downloads would mean we were distributing free copies of copyrighted e-books, which is illegal. Most of our e-books are "tethered" to the Internet and their copyright is "protected" by the publishers, using some form of "digital rights management" (DRM). The e-books Mac Libraries provide our community can be read on multiple computers by authorized McMaster users (using either your MAC ID or an on-campus staff computer to logon). This model contrasts with, for example, Amazon, which sells individual copies of e-books to customers, which can be downloaded to a handheld electronic device or to a dedicated e-book reader.

FAQ: 

Yes. Publishers aim to provide e-books on standard operating systems (i.e.. PC;Macintosh) and web browsers (i..e. Internet Explorer; Firefox). If we discover problems, we contact publishers and work with them to solve technical issues.

FAQ: 

How do I get a 5 minute preview?

  • click on the "Link to online resource" link
  • log in with your MAC ID or LibAccess and you'll go to the Ebook Library page
  • on the left, under "Loan Options", click the "CLICK HERE TO BROWSE" button, or the "EBL Read Online" button

How do I request a loan?

  • on the left, under "Loan Options", select "Click here to request a loan."
  • fill out the request form
  • request your loan period: either 1 or 7 days
  • for urgent requests: please note this in the comments box
  • click on "Send Request"

What happens then?

  • the request goes to a librarian who reviews all of the requests several times throughout the day during business hours
  • when your request is approved,  you will receive an email giving instant access to the e-book

What can I do during the loan period?

  • you can download the book or read it online
  • you can print a portion of the book (but not the entire book)
  • you can copy and paste parts of the text into another document

When does the loan period start?

  • it begins the first time you click on the link to the e-book in your email to ‘open' the e-book

What happens when the loan period expires?

  • the downloaded title will become inaccessible on your computer
  • if you try to open it, you will get a message that your loan period has expired

Can I renew?

  • no, but you can request another loan on the same book

How do I request another loan on the same book?

  • first remove all previous instances of the book (and prior loan) from your computer:
    • go to the "My Digital Editions" folder in the My Documents folder, and delete the title
    • open the Adobe Reader; in the Menu bar, click on FileDigital EditionsMy Digital Editions
    • in the My Digital Editions pop-up window, click on the expired title, right-click the image of its cover, select Remove, and click OK
  • now you can request a second loan in the same way you did the first loan

What are the restrictions on printing and copying?

  • For each title, you have the following permissions:
    • print = up to 20% of text
    • copy/paste = up to 5% of text
  • the Online Reader will tell when you have used these permissions
  • Adobe Reader can also tell you about your remaining permissions: while viewing the book, click File MenuProperties

 

FAQ: 

It is important that you use the link contained in the approval e-mail to access the book. Please note that these links are very long and often run across multiple lines in the e-mail. The link should begin with http://libaccess.lib.mcmaster.ca and end with ^u. If clicking the link gives you an error message, you may need to copy and paste the link into your browser window.  If you do that, and ensure that there are no spaces in the URL, and it still doesn't work, please contact our "Need Help? Just Ask!" service and report the problem, and someone will help you.

 

FAQ: 

Unfortunately, no. For more information on what can be requested through Interlibrary Loan, visit this page.

FAQ: 
  • From campus, or anywhere in the world with MAC ID/LibAccess:
    • Currently registered McMaster students
    • Current & retired McMaster faculty & staff
    • IAHS and Conestoga students in collaborative degree programs
    • Faculty of Health Sciences appointees and affiliates, including clinical faculty
  • Visitors who are in the library may request a Guest Internet Account.
FAQ: 

Most we own; others we subscribe to. Here are a few examples of:

 

FAQ: 

E-mail (3)

The full error message in Outlook Express is:

  • Some errors occurred while processing the requested tasks. Please review the list of errors below for more details.
  • Some of the messages in your Outbox Folder could not be copied to your Sent Items Folder. Your server has unexpectedly terminated the connection. Possible causes for this include server problems, network problems, or a long period of inactivity. 
This problem might occur because Secure Password Authentication is enabled, or it may a result of a short timeout setting.
 
Try making the following changes:
  • Click Tools > Accounts > Mail tab > Properties
  • Under the Servers tab, ensure that  “Log on using Secure Password Authentication” is not ticked
  • Under the Advanced tab, under “Server Timeouts”, change the server timeout to 2 minutes
  • Click Apply > OK > Close
  • Restart Outlook Express

 

FAQ: 
  1. Right-click on the attachment and save the file to the RAMDISK (U:). If there is no RAMDISK (U:) listed, save the file to the Desktop.
  2. Open the appropriate application (Note: if you saved the file to the Desktop and it is an MS Office document, use the appropriate MS application or viewer)
  3. Click File... Open.
  4. Locate your file on drive U (or the Desktop), and open it.

Related links:

Ensure that the word "stable" is part of the URL; if it isn't, click on the article title or the "Item Information" link. Copy the URL provided, then it paste into the body of your email.

This occurs when a Web address has not been added to the list of e-resources available from off campus. This event has been logged and will be addressed.
 
If you'd like to report this problem to speed up its resolution, please send a message to our IT staff.
 
 

Here are 3 possible fixes:

1. If you are using Adobe Reader as your PDF reader, this may be due to a feature in Adobe called "allow fast web view". If so, you may get an error such as "insufficient data for an image". Try the following fix:

  • open the Adobe Reader application
  • Control-K, or go to Edit > Preferences
  • on the left, click 'Internet' and then uncheck 'Allow fast web view'

2. Before opening the PDF, right-click the PDF link and choose "save target as", “save link as” or “download linked file as” (depending on your browser). This will force the PDF to save before opening. Then open the PDF from the saved location. This bypasses the browser and the browser’s PDF plug-in, and avoids problems associated with plug-ins.

3. If neither of the above solutions works, try using a different PDF reader, e.g.

  • Windows: Foxit Reader
  • Mac OS: Preview (go to Finder > Applications > Preview.app)

If none of these solutions work, please report the problem to us, and we will work with you to fix it.

 

This occurs when a Web address has not been added to the list of e-resources available from off campus. This event has been logged and will be addressed.
 
If you'd like to report this problem to speed up its resolution, please send a message to our IT staff.
 
If you would like assistance locating an alternative source, please contact our service desks (University Library or Health Sciences Library).

 

Go to LexisNexis

  • start at the Library home page 
  • click on the Articles/Databases tab
  • type "lexisnexis academic" into the search box beside "Database Name" 
  • on the resulting page, click the "LexisNexis Academic" link

To find articles in the Hamilton Spectator:

  • click the "Find" option next to Source Directory (top right) 
  • in the "Keyword" search box, type "hamilton spectator" and click "Find Sources"
  • on the results page, under "Select sources below to search", tick the box beside "The Hamilton Spectator" and click "OK - Continue"
  • Note: coverage for the Hamilton Spectator in LexisNexis is from October 07, 1991 through current

To find articles in Canadian newspapers:

  • click the "Browse" option next to Source Directory (top of page)  
    • for #1, pick "Publication Type"
    • for #2, "Filter by: Country"; from the dropdown choose "Canada
    • for #3, click "News" and choose "Newspapers"
  • put a tick mark beside any or all newspapers that you want to search and click "OK - Continue"

Constructing a search

  • on the search screen, type the words or phrases you want to find:
    • each search box (whether it be on the main page, or on any of the search forms in the Search By Content Type menu) defaults to a Natural Language search; type a question, a sentence, or a few descriptive terms in the search form to initiate this type of search; for example: water pollution 

    • if Boolean connectors (e.g., AND, OR, AND NOT, etc.) are used to combine words and phrases in a search box, then a Boolean Search will be performed; also, if a search is refined using any of the Advanced Options options (e.g., by date, a segment/field, etc.), then the search will be run as Boolean; for example: pollution AND (water OR ocean OR lake)

  • use the wildcard symbols ! and * to catch word variations: 
    •  the exclamation point ! replaces more than one letter at the end of a search term; for example: bank! will find banks, banking, bankrupt, bankruptcy, etc.
    • the asterisk * replaces one letter and can be used more than once in a word; it can be used anywhere EXCEPT as the first letter of a word; for example: organi*ation will find organization, organisation
       
  • use quotation marks for an exact phrase, for example: "master chef"

Limiting a search

  • use the Advanced Options
  • specify a date or date range if desired
  • select a segment (e.g. headline, geographic region, etc.) to search within a section, if desired
  • on the results screen:
    • sorting by "Relevance" should bring the most relevant articles to the top
    • "Search within results" (top right) can be used to narrow your results to include more words
    • "Result Groups" (on the left) can narrow your results by subject, geography, language, etc.

Some helpful links:

  • go to the library home page and click on the Articles/Databases tab
  • in the search box type: artstor
  • on the resulting page, click on the ARTstor header
  • if you are off-campus, or using a public computer in the library, a login dialogue box will pop up; log in using your MAC ID
  • any time you go to ARTstor you must use the ARTstor link within the library web site, so that the login process will happen, and you will be recognized as an authorized McMaster user
  • once at the ARTstor site, beside "Enter the ARTstor Digital Library" click the Go button to get in to ARTstor

As a McMaster student, staff or faculty member, you have access to ARTstor from on or off campus. Although you can view artworks in ARTstor without registering, if you register you can access advanced functionality, such as:

  • the ability to save images to your personal account in ARTstor using image groups
  • the abilty to access password-protected folders created by professors for your classes

How-to links for ARTstor:

Problem #1:

  • affects users whose browsers or add-on toolbars have pop-up blockers enabled
  • when you click on the PDF link, a dialog box appears with details about Terms and Conditions of Use
  • you click "OK" but  the PDF doesn't open

Solution #1:

  • either disable your pop-up blocker(s), or use the following workaround
  • Workaround:
    • Windows users: hold down CTRL while clicking the PDF link
    • Mac users:
      • hold down CTRL while clicking the PDF link and choose "Open Link in New Window" or "Open Link in New Tab"
      • a new "JSTOR's Terms and Conditions" window or tab will open
      • on that page, click the link "Proceed to PDF"

Problem #2:

  • the PDF link works and the file begins downloading, but the download times out before the file can open

Solution #2:

  • Windows users: hold down CTRL while clicking the PDF link
  • Mac users:
    • hold down CTRL while clicking the PDF link and choose "Open Link in New Window" or "Open Link in New Tab"
    • a new "JSTOR's Terms and Conditions" window or tab will open
    • right-click the "Proceed to PDF" link, choose "Save Link As...", and save the file
    • in "My Computer" or "Finder", browse to the place where you saved the file and open the saved file

Problem #3:

  • Mac users using Preview to open the PDF, rather than Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader, may have trouble downloading the full document.  For some pages you may see page numbers, but no content.

Solution #3:

  • if necessary, download and install the free Adobe Reader
  • follow the instructions in Solution #2 above, and use Adobe Reader or Acrobat to open the saved PDF file

Please report any other problems using our Need Help? Just Ask! service.
 

  • go to our Ulrichsweb page, and click on the title Ulrichsweb.com to connect
  • at Ulrichsweb type the publication title into the text box and click Search
  • find your publication title in the resulting list, and click its title to see the details
  • if your title is academic/scholarly, the Basic Description section will include a line that says: "Content Type: Academic/Scholarly"
  • if your title is peer-reviewed/refereed, the description will include a line that says: "Refereed: Yes".
  • a referee shirt icon will also display in the Basic Description and in the search results list, if the title is peer-reviewed

 

There are two ways of accessing SciFinder Scholar:

  1. use the Web version OR
  2. use one of the following 2 versions on your computer:
    1. the Citrix ICA Web Client Plugin, OR
    2. the SciFinder software installed directly onto your Windows PC or Mac computer.

Method 2a: to use the Citrix ICA Web Client Plugin:

Note: this is the recommended method for accessing SciFinder from off-campus, wireless connected laptops, or operating systems other than Windows or MAC OS X.

  • From the library home page, in the Databases tab, search for SciFinder
  • On the resulting page, click the "SciFinder Scholar" link
  • On the next page, follow the link to do a one-time installation of the Citrix ICA Web Client Plugin
  • from the Citrix - ICA Web Client Plugin page, follow the instructions for your operating system to install the plugin
  • Once the plugin is installed, from now on, to access SciFinder Scholar:
    • From the library home page, in the Databases tab, search for SciFinder
    • Click the "SciFinder Scholar" link
    • On the next page, click the SciFinder Scholar link in the list of databases
    • your Citrix ICA Web Client Plugin should open and give you access to the database

Method 2b: to download and install the SciFinder software directly onto your Windows PC or Mac computer:

  • download the appropriate version of the installer for your operating system:
  • The Windows installer is a self-extracting executable. Simply run and install it using all the defaults.
  • If prompted for a Site Preference File, choose to install it later, and continue.
  • Once the installation has completed, download the Site Preferences File (link below) and copy it into the same folder where Scifinder was installed
  • In Windows, typically c:\SFSCHLR
  • On Mac, EITHER
  • In Windows, typically c:\SFSCHLR
  • On Mac, EITHER
    • Hard Drive : Applications : SciFinder Scholar : Contents : MacOS, OR
    • Hard Drive : Users :[username] : Library : Application Support : SciFinder Scholar
  • Further installation information:
  • Once the software is installed, from now on, to access SciFinder Scholar use the SciFinder Scholar icon in your Programs menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac).

 

If you are a McMaster student, staff or faculty member:

  • to get a copy of an article in a journal held by one of the Hamilton Health Library Network libraries, you may request the article through RACER (you can find more info on RACER and Interlibrary Loan on this page).

If you're not a McMaster student, staff or faculty member:

  • Usually the collections at the hospital libraries (e.g. Joseph Brant) are not available except to hospital personnel.
  • One option would be to travel to a library that owns the journal. You can find out which Ontario libraries own a journal by searching for the journal in RACER (you can login with guest access).
  • Before actually going to one of these libraries, however, it's advisable to double-check that they actually own the issue you require, and will allow outside users to access it. You can check individual library catalogues through links on this page.
  • If you don't want to travel to another library to obtain the article, you may inquire at your local public library to see if they will obtain the journal article for you through their Interlibrary Loan department.

 

  • start at the e-Journals tab on the library home page
  • click the link "Find e-Journals by subject"
  • you may be asked to log in using your LibAccess or MAC ID
  • on the resulting search page you can either type a journal title in the "Title" search box, or click on the "Subject" tab to browse by subject
  • on the resulting screen, under the name of any journal you want, click on the "Get It!" button
  • all the providers of the online subscription will be listed, with the years of coverage for each

 

Once logged on to CCH Online BusinessWorks / LegalWorks / TaxWorks, go to Tools on the CCH menu bar at the top of the screen and click on Manage Account. Change the User Interface Preference to "Java (requires Java Virtual Machine)" using the drop-down menu box. Then click on the "Save Preferences" button.

Unfortunately, LibAccess cannot be used for authentication when using a citation manager from home. You will need to access the e-resource using our Library Catalogue, and from the e-resource site you can export to a text file (if the option is available) and import into your citation manager. Another option is to use Refworks which is a Web-based bibliography and database manager, free for use by all currently registered McMaster students, as well as faculty and staff.

See /plugin.htm. When installing the plug-in accept all defaults. When you are provided with a list of components to install, you can accept the default (which is all components) or you can specify only the web client. If you accepted all defaults, the installation will put a short-cut in your programs start-up folder. You can delete this short-cut if you want.

Note for MAC users: if you are asked for a password during installation of the plug-in it may be because an administrator password was not set up on your computer, in which case you can leave the password blank.

To use one of our Citrix-enabled e-resources:

  1. search for the product by name in either Library catalogue or e-Resources
  2. click on the appropriate link on the Citrix page; the Citrix plug-in should then load the product automatically.

If you want to add bibliographic references from Engineering Village 2 to your EndNote citation manager, you should follow these steps:

  1. Search Engineering Village 2 (EV2) by topic, etc.
  2. After you get some results, select the results you want to add to Endnote by clicking on the box to the left of each record.
  3. Choose a format eg. citation or abstact or detailed record. This appears near the top of the screen.
  4. Beneath it, you'll see "Choose Output". Please click on Download.
  5. You will then see a screen that says "Download Selected Records". The message on this screen says that you should select the RIS format if you want to import the records into EndNote.

 

In the search dialogue box:

  • click on the Indexes button on the right
  • click Add
  • in the Object Name window, type k:\paleop.pdx
  • click Open
  • you should now see Human Paleopathology displaying in the Index Selection window, with a tick beside it; click OK
  • the full product should now be able to be searched.

Ensure that the word "stable" is part of the URL; if it isn't, click on the article title or the "Item Information" link. Copy the URL provided, then it paste into the body of your email.

CCH Online BusinessWorks / LegalWorks / TaxWorks does not support Firefox. Use Internet Explorer.

The document creator may have set the security to disable this function. To check, open the file in Acrobat, select File/Document Properties and select the Security tab. Look to see whether Content Copying or Extraction is set to Allowed.

Re-open the MS application (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint) on the same computer on which you saved your document using the same username and password for authentication as before, and you should be able to find and open the document. Save it from the application to your own CD or USB storage device

Not all CD-rom recording programs let you save a file from an office program directly. A workaround is to save to the harddrive (U:\ drive on Mills, Innis, and Thode public PCs) first and then burn the file to CD/DVD. For more information, see this page.

Microsoft Office Suite is installed on selected computers for creating, editing, or printing files; authorization by MAC ID or LibAccess is required. Note: this software is also installed on computers in the UTS computer labs, see: UTS student technology centre.

Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Viewers are installed on most public stations in Mills, Innis, and Thode Libraries for users to view or print MS files.

To view or print your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file from any public station using the Microsoft Viewers:

  • Click Start, then Programs
  • Click Microsoft Accessories
  • Select the appropriate application (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint Viewer)
  • In the "Open" dialogue box, change "Look in" to the appropriate drive for your file
  • Select your file, then click Open
  • Click Print
  • Follow the instructions on How to Send a Job to the Networked Public Printer
  1. Right-click on the attachment and save the file to the RAMDISK (U:). If there is no RAMDISK (U:) listed, save the file to the Desktop.
  2. Open the appropriate application (Note: if you saved the file to the Desktop and it is an MS Office document, use the appropriate MS application or viewer)
  3. Click File... Open.
  4. Locate your file on drive U (or the Desktop), and open it.

Related links:

Users can open pdf or html files from a floppy disc or keychain drive by using the My Computer icon in the Programs menu of public stations. To open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files on library computers, see this FAQ.

Browsers: opening from the File menu of the web browser on public PCs was disallowed due to a bug. Instead, public users can open documents by clicking Start button, Programs, My Computer, selecting the drive and filename.

Files saved on the U drive (virtual RAM disk) are cleared each time the machine is restarted. There are competing requirements for the need to clear these files in that most students do not want their documents to stay on a publicly accessible computer; on the other hand, when something goes wrong, file retention would be an asset. Also, if files were allowed to accumulate on the hard drive, performance would deteriorate.

Get it (12)

To get full-text access to documents you find in Google Scholar,

  • go to the Google Scholar home page
  • at the top right of the screen, click on Settings
  • select Library links on the Scholar Settings page
  • type mcmaster in the Library Links box, and select McMaster University Library - get it @ Mac
  • click the Save button

Your search results in Google Scholar will now have find it @ Mac and/or get it @ Mac links that when selected will lead you to full-text options in the Library's collection.

Other helpful links: How do I import references from Google Scholar to RefWorks?

 

FAQ: 

This message indicates one of two things:

  • the article is recent and has yet to be loaded on the site which means Get It! cannot retrieve it until the publisher places it on its site, OR,
  • the Get It! links are incorrect and need to be updated.

Please use the "Broken links? Report problems to librarians" link at the bottom of the Get It! window to report the problem.

 

FAQ: 

A pop-up blocker will prevent Get It! from functioning properly. Simply disable the pop-up blocker to enable Get It!

FAQ: 

Sometimes Get It! can only take you to the table of contents for a journal; from there you'll have to navigate to the full-text article using the volume, issue, date and page information from the article citation.

FAQ: 
  • This may mean that the library does not have a subscription for this journal. However, it may also mean that the Get It! service and the database don't talk to each other well.
  • To be sure if we have a journal online for the volume and year you need, follow the instructions here to search for the article using our e-Journals search tab:
  • If no online vendor listed in the e-Journals search has the volume and year you need, you can request the item via RACER (Interlibrary Loan).
FAQ: 

Generally, the library only subscribes to a journal once and thus only one link to full-text should appear. However, if the library subscribes to a package that contains a duplicate of the same journal, we provide the alternate link as well so that if one of the access points become inaccessible, you will still have access to the title. Please note that we try not to duplicate resources; however these "aggregator" packages do not always offer flexibility regarding the content of their service.

FAQ: 

Get It! opens up 3 windows for each article: clicking on the button opens a menu screen; selecting a service associated with that article opens a second window; and the 3rd window appears for all Get It! generated activities (the resource that you choose). Remember to close the windows once your search is completed.

FAQ: 

The most likely reasons are:

  • there is no electronic full-text version available, OR
  • the library does not have a license for the full-text for that journal.

Click on the catalogue link in Get It! to see whether the library has a print subscription to the requested item. In rare cases, the recent article may not yet be loaded on publisher's web site.

FAQ: 

There are 3 possible explanations or fixes:

  1. Most, but not all, of the databases to which the library subscribes have the Get It! service enabled. You may be using one which doesn't. 
  2. The Get It! button will not appear if the JavaScript function in your browser is disabled. If this is the case, simply re-enable JavaScipt to make the button visible.
  3. If you are searching Web of Science you must allow the first page to load completely so that the Get It! button is visible in your browser.

 

FAQ: 
All McMaster University faculty, staff and students can access Get It!. Get It! is a project of the Ontario Scholars Portal developed by the Ontario Council of University Libraries. Get It! uses SFX software developed by the Ex Libris Group.
FAQ: 

Get It! links database citations, also known as references, to full text when available, and to other supporting resources provided by McMaster University Libraries. When you see the Get It! button in a database, click on the button to see a menu of options including:

  • View the full text of the item if the library has a subscription
  • Automatically search the library catalogue to see if the library has the journal or book
  • Access other library services (Interlibrary Loan, etc.)
  • Download the citation into RefWorks
FAQ: 

For assistance using Get It!, get in touch with Research Help.

For technical queries and troubleshooting, please visit the SFX overview page at the Ex Libris Group website.

Here are 3 possible fixes:

1. If you are using Adobe Reader as your PDF reader, this may be due to a feature in Adobe called "allow fast web view". If so, you may get an error such as "insufficient data for an image". Try the following fix:

  • open the Adobe Reader application
  • Control-K, or go to Edit > Preferences
  • on the left, click 'Internet' and then uncheck 'Allow fast web view'

2. Before opening the PDF, right-click the PDF link and choose "save target as", “save link as” or “download linked file as” (depending on your browser). This will force the PDF to save before opening. Then open the PDF from the saved location. This bypasses the browser and the browser’s PDF plug-in, and avoids problems associated with plug-ins.

3. If neither of the above solutions works, try using a different PDF reader, e.g.

  • Windows: Foxit Reader
  • Mac OS: Preview (go to Finder > Applications > Preview.app)

If none of these solutions work, please report the problem to us, and we will work with you to fix it.

 

Go to LexisNexis

  • start at the Library home page 
  • click on the Articles/Databases tab
  • type "lexisnexis academic" into the search box beside "Database Name" 
  • on the resulting page, click the "LexisNexis Academic" link

To find articles in the Hamilton Spectator:

  • click the "Find" option next to Source Directory (top right) 
  • in the "Keyword" search box, type "hamilton spectator" and click "Find Sources"
  • on the results page, under "Select sources below to search", tick the box beside "The Hamilton Spectator" and click "OK - Continue"
  • Note: coverage for the Hamilton Spectator in LexisNexis is from October 07, 1991 through current

To find articles in Canadian newspapers:

  • click the "Browse" option next to Source Directory (top of page)  
    • for #1, pick "Publication Type"
    • for #2, "Filter by: Country"; from the dropdown choose "Canada
    • for #3, click "News" and choose "Newspapers"
  • put a tick mark beside any or all newspapers that you want to search and click "OK - Continue"

Constructing a search

  • on the search screen, type the words or phrases you want to find:
    • each search box (whether it be on the main page, or on any of the search forms in the Search By Content Type menu) defaults to a Natural Language search; type a question, a sentence, or a few descriptive terms in the search form to initiate this type of search; for example: water pollution 

    • if Boolean connectors (e.g., AND, OR, AND NOT, etc.) are used to combine words and phrases in a search box, then a Boolean Search will be performed; also, if a search is refined using any of the Advanced Options options (e.g., by date, a segment/field, etc.), then the search will be run as Boolean; for example: pollution AND (water OR ocean OR lake)

  • use the wildcard symbols ! and * to catch word variations: 
    •  the exclamation point ! replaces more than one letter at the end of a search term; for example: bank! will find banks, banking, bankrupt, bankruptcy, etc.
    • the asterisk * replaces one letter and can be used more than once in a word; it can be used anywhere EXCEPT as the first letter of a word; for example: organi*ation will find organization, organisation
       
  • use quotation marks for an exact phrase, for example: "master chef"

Limiting a search

  • use the Advanced Options
  • specify a date or date range if desired
  • select a segment (e.g. headline, geographic region, etc.) to search within a section, if desired
  • on the results screen:
    • sorting by "Relevance" should bring the most relevant articles to the top
    • "Search within results" (top right) can be used to narrow your results to include more words
    • "Result Groups" (on the left) can narrow your results by subject, geography, language, etc.
  • go to our Ulrichsweb page, and click on the title Ulrichsweb.com to connect
  • at Ulrichsweb type the publication title into the text box and click Search
  • find your publication title in the resulting list, and click its title to see the details
  • if your title is academic/scholarly, the Basic Description section will include a line that says: "Content Type: Academic/Scholarly"
  • if your title is peer-reviewed/refereed, the description will include a line that says: "Refereed: Yes".
  • a referee shirt icon will also display in the Basic Description and in the search results list, if the title is peer-reviewed

 

Articles in "scholarly" journals, also known as "academic" journals, are distinguished from those in mass-media magazines (Maclean's, Chatelaine, Newsweek) by the following characteristics:

  • they report on or review original research, experimentation, or in-depth analysis
  • their authors are scholars (researchers, experts) in a particular field of study, and are identified as such
  • they are formal in writing style and format, aimed at a specialized, academic audience and use specialized language
  • articles tend to be lengthy and usually consist of a number of distinct sections such as: abstract (a short summary of the article); introduction and statement of the problem; literature review; methodology; data collection; analysis; conclusions and recommendations for further research
  • sources are cited with footnotes or a bibliography at the end of the article
  • they contain little, if any advertising
  • Examples: American Sociological Review; Brain and Cognition; British Journal of Aesthetics
  • to verify whether a journal is scholarly you can also look up the journal in Ulrichsweb.com

Most, though not all scholarly journals are peer reviewed.

 

There are 3 major ways to find out if a particular journal is peer reviewed (refereed):

  • If you're searching for articles in certain interfaces (Scholars Portal, EBSCO), you can limit your search to peer-reviewed sources simply by selecting a tab or checking a box on the search screen.
  • If you're looking at the journal itself, look at the editorial statement or instructions to authors (usually in the first few pages of the journal or at the end) for references to the peer-review process.
  • Another way is to look up the journal in Ulrichsweb.com (AKA Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory) to find out whether the journal is peer reviewed. If Ulrichsweb says the journal is "refereed", it's peer reviewed.
  • Tip: an easy way to look up a journal in Ulrichsweb is to click the Get it! button for the article, and at the bottom of the Get it! window, click "More Options" then click "Learn more about this journal". You will go to Ulrich's automatically and see the info for the journal, including if it's peer-reviewed (refereed) or not.

 

Peer review is the process used by publishers and editors of academic / scholarly journals to ensure that the articles they publish meet the accepted standards of their discipline. Manuscripts being considered for publication are sent to  independent experts in the same field (the author's scholarly or scientific peers). They evaluate the quality of the scholarship, reliability of findings, relevance to the field, appropriateness for the journal, etc. Most, but not all scholarly journals are peer reviewed. 

See also: How can I tell if a journal is peer reviewed or refereed?

 

 

Always make sure which library has the volumes you are looking for. For instance, Innis keeps only current 5 years or current year of selected business related journals and Mills keeps the older volumes of these titles.

The 1966 date is a clue that this is a title found in Mills. Mills Periodicals on the 3rd floor are located in different places according to date. Pre-1966 volumes are shelved in compact shelving. 1966- volumes are shelved in regular Periodical stacks.

  • Mills: 3rd floor. Heavily used newspaper titles in microfilm are in microfilm cabinets at the east end of the 3rd floor. All other titles are shelved in call number order in compact shelving. Microfiche is kept in the cabinets in the southeast corner of the floor opposite the compact shelving units.
  • Innis: No microfilm. For microfiche, turn left at entrance and go to the last cabinet against the wall.
  • Thode: shelved on Lower Level
  • Health Sciences: Location noted in the Library Catalogue
  • Mills: currently received newspapers are located in the newspaper reading room, 3rd floor. Back issues of heavily-used microfilm are shelved in title order in the black microfilm cabinets at the east end of the 3rd floor. All other microfilm for newspapers and periodicals is housed in the compact shelving units at the east end of the 3rd floor. Check this guide for more info.
  • Innis: newspapers are located at the end of the periodicals stacks. Check this guide for a list of the newspapers held in print at Innis.
  • Thode: no newspapers
  • Health Sciences: no newspapers

Thode has selected titles which can be borrowed. In all other libraries they are non-circulating (for use in the library only).

  • Mills: by call number (on the 3rd floor)
  • Innis: by call number
  • Thode: alphabetical by title/range number
  • Health Sciences: alphabetical by title
  • Request a copy of the article through Interlibrary Loan.
  • Check another library -- use this list to find other library catalogues.

Take the volume to the Research Help Desk for assistance. If the Research Help Desk is closed, take it to the Circulation Desk.

Check:

  • the holdings in the Library Catalogue to make sure that the library owns that volume. Also check if it is available electronically.
  • the photocopy rooms
  • the reshelving area
  • again another time. It may have been taken to another floor and it will take time to be picked up and returned to the Periodicals area.
  • with Research Help desk staff to see if it is out for binding

If you still can't find the volume/issue, complete an Unable to Locate form (this form is from within the Libraries).

We don't maintain a printed list, but you can find lists of periodicals by subject area 2 ways:

1. to find both print and online journals, use the Library Catalogue:

  • go to the Browse tab
  • on the left under Format, click "Journals, Magazines, Newspapers"
  • from the Narrow by Call Number list at the top of the screen, select an academic discipline or subject area

OR

  • from the Basic Search tab, do a keyword search, e.g. "sociology", "theology", "chemistry" etc.
  • on the left under Format, click "Journals, Magazines, Newspapers"

2. for online journals (e-journals), see this FAQ: How can I see what online journals we have in my academic discipline?

If you need help, ask us!

 

"Holdings" tell you:

  • where you can find the journal or magazine
  • whether we have the issue(s) you need

For more information, check the Find Journals & Magazines guide.

It is a micro-opaque card used for storage of miniaturized text.

It is a card-shaped piece of photographic film used for storage of miniaturized text.

  • a continuous roll of photographic film containing miniaturized images of text
  • back runs of some newspapers and journals are converted to microfilm to save space
  • can be viewed on a microfilm reader
  • printed on newsprint and issued daily or weekly
  • contains news, editorials, commentary, advertising, general interest items
  • Examples: Hamilton Spectator; New York Times; Globe & Mail
  • illustrated, often with glossy pages
  • articles written by editorial staff, staff writers, freelancers and scholars
  • aimed at educated readers with no special knowledge assumed
  • provides information - sometimes cite sources
  • Examples: Chronicle of Higher Education; Psychology Today; Time
  • aimed at a specific audience, often in business and industry
  • deals with current news, issues and trends
  • uses specialized language
  • usually issued on a weekly or monthly basis
  • a publication made available in a computerized format and distributed on the Internet
  • may be published simultaneously with a paper edition
  • McMaster faculty, staff and students have access to several thousand titles
  • available through the e-Journal tab or the Library Catalogue 

 

  • the Health Sciences Library uses "serials" as a location for its journals and magazines
  • includes annuals and yearbooks as well as books which are part of a larger series
  • parts issued chronologically
  • Examples: Annual Review of Anthropology; Canadian Politics
  • popular publication geared to a general, non-academic audience
  • usually covers a wide range of topics
  • paper is usually glossy with pictures and advertising
  • usually do not contain bibliographies and are not refereed
  • Examples: India Today; Sports Illustrated; Paris Match

 

  • common types include journals, magazines (popular, news and trade) and newspapers
  • issued on a regular basis (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.)
  • issued more than once a year

 

If you are a McMaster student, staff or faculty member:

  • to get a copy of an article in a journal held by one of the Hamilton Health Library Network libraries, you may request the article through RACER (you can find more info on RACER and Interlibrary Loan on this page).

If you're not a McMaster student, staff or faculty member:

  • Usually the collections at the hospital libraries (e.g. Joseph Brant) are not available except to hospital personnel.
  • One option would be to travel to a library that owns the journal. You can find out which Ontario libraries own a journal by searching for the journal in RACER (you can login with guest access).
  • Before actually going to one of these libraries, however, it's advisable to double-check that they actually own the issue you require, and will allow outside users to access it. You can check individual library catalogues through links on this page.
  • If you don't want to travel to another library to obtain the article, you may inquire at your local public library to see if they will obtain the journal article for you through their Interlibrary Loan department.

 

  • start at the e-Journals tab on the library home page
  • click the link "Find e-Journals by subject"
  • you may be asked to log in using your LibAccess or MAC ID
  • on the resulting search page you can either type a journal title in the "Title" search box, or click on the "Subject" tab to browse by subject
  • on the resulting screen, under the name of any journal you want, click on the "Get It!" button
  • all the providers of the online subscription will be listed, with the years of coverage for each

 

Ensure that the word "stable" is part of the URL; if it isn't, click on the article title or the "Item Information" link. Copy the URL provided, then it paste into the body of your email.

For more information on LibAccess including what it is, why you need it, who is eligible, and how to set it up, visit the LibAccess info page.

Firewall software has been known to cause problems with LibAccess. You may have to temporarily disable your firewall or configure your firewall to allow LibAccess. The following software have been known to cause problems.

  • Norton Internet Security
  • Norton Personal Firewall
  • Zone Alarm Pro
  • McAfee Internet Security
  • Watchguard

Please note that some ad blockers (e.g. IDecide, Ad-Subtract) and web accelerators (e.g. Netzero High Speed) has been known to cause problems as well.

LibAccess should be compatible with:

  • most Web browsers (e.g. Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Mozilla, Firefox, etc.)
  • most operating systems (e.g. Windows, Mac OS, etc.)
  • most commerical Internet service providers (e.g. AOL, Rogers, etc.)
  • most connection types (e.g. Dial-Up, Cable, etc.)
  • LibAccess does not require you to configure your web browser.

Unfortunately, LibAccess cannot be used for authentication when using a citation manager from home. You will need to access the e-resource using our Library Catalogue, and from the e-resource site you can export to a text file (if the option is available) and import into your citation manager. Another option is to use Refworks which is a Web-based bibliography and database manager, free for use by all currently registered McMaster students, as well as faculty and staff.

 

Yes, you can.

host/domain: mcmaster.sirsidynix.net
port: 7019

For the nitty gritty of setting the search attributes, please consult SirsiDynix's z39.50 information page.

To search the library catalogue from within RefWorks
  • log in to RefWorks
  • from the Search menu select Online Catalog or Database
  • under Online Catalog or Database to Search, select McMaster University
  • select the maximum number of references you want to download
  • type your search strategy in the Quick Search box or in the Advanced Search lines and click Search

Viewing search results

  • the progress of the search displays with each reference represented by a # mark
  • the progress of the import displays in a RefWorks temporary window – each reference represented by an asterisk *
  • the results of your search are shown in a RefWorks search results window; this window functions much like the reference view window in RefWorks, however these records are not in your database until you choose to import them
  • to view the details of a reference, click the View link next to the reference
  • keep in mind that the search results window is a temporary window, and the references appearing here are lost when you close the RefWorks program or you perform another online search

Importing references

  • to permanently import references into your database, select the references you want to import
  • either click the Import button or select a folder from the list
  • references are always placed in the Last Imported folder as they are when you import from the main program
  • if you have designated your default source type as electronic in the Tools, Customize area, the Electronic Source Related Fields will appear for you to update

 

You can login to your personal library account at My Account/Book Renewal (type in your barcode to login). If you need help with this feature, check this information page.

You can renew your books online by going to My Account/Book Renewal. If you need help, check this information page.

Yes. 

  • Print Screen: Press COMMAND+SHIFT+3 simultaneously to save an image of the entire screen to the Desktop
  • Part of Screen: Press COMMAND+SHIFT+4 simultaneously to snip a specific area of the screen to the Desktop. When the cursor changes to a cross +, drag a box around the section you want to copy and release the mouse
  • The Grab option in the Utilities folder provides more extensive options for saving screen snapshots. 

Additional information on this topic is available here: Capturing Screen Shots in Macs.

    1. Click File on the Apple toolbar in the upper left corner.
    2. From the drop-down menu, select Print.
    3. A print box should appear. Depending on the default settings, you might have to expand the print box by clicking on the downward arrow, just to the right of the Printer drop-down menu at the top of the screen.
    4. At the centre of the expanded window, open the drop-down menu that appears just below the Orientation and Scale options.
    5. Select Color from this drop-down menu.
    6. On the left of the screen there is a Color Mode drop-down menu which by default is set to Automatic. Change this option to Black and White.
    7. Click the Print button.

    There isn't a backspace key on the MACs.  The delete key will delete to the left. To delete to the right, hold down fn key and click delete.

    Dual Boot Computers

    Upon startup/restart, a menu will appear which will allow you to select an operating system. You have 20 seconds to select an operating system, otherwise the default will load. Use the arrow & enter keys to select an operating system.
    Note:  iMacs are no longer dual boot except for the Wong classroom computers which are slated for replacement by windows only machines.  iMacs run OSX only.
    • highlight document in the Finder
    • press the spacebar to quickly view the document
    • press the spacebar again to exit the view

     

    Any icons to the left of the line are programs while anything to the right are documents.

    In the dock (located at the bottom of the screen), application icons will have a light at the bottom which means the program is still running.

    • Hold down Command key and press Q
      or
    • Click program name and select Quit

     

    Click the AirPort icon (3rd icon to the left of the date) in the upper-right corner and make sure AirPort is turned on.

    Click on the apple icon to the left of the menu bar and select Force Quit. Then select the application to stop.

    Click the apple icon located to the left of the menu bar and select either shutdown/restart.

    • Select File menu, New & pick application.
    • Alternatively, clicking on the document from the Finder window, etc., will automatically start the applicable program.

    The icons are located at the top-left of application window.

    Hold down Option key and click the eject button . The eject button is the top-right key located below the power button on the MacBook. On the iMacs, the eject button is located above the delete key.

     

    The resizing handle is located in lower-right corner of the window. May need to move the window to display the resizing handle.

    In the Mac environment, hold down Control key and click.

    In the Windows environment, put 2 fingers on touchpad and click.

    • If you're returning next year, you can use your student card to borrow during the summer. Your current year sticker will be good until until August 15th.
    • If you have graduated, you can use your student card for borrowing until June 30th. 
    • If you want to be able to borrow after your student card expires after graduation, you can get an External Borrower Card

    If you have PrintKey installed on your Windows PC, press the PrintScreen key (for the active window, press Alt-PrintScreen). You may then print or save the screenshot to a file using the appropriate icon from the menu bar at the top of the screen.

    See other ways of taking a screenshot: http://windows.about.com/od/keyboardshortcuts/qt/screen_shot.htm, and for mac users, http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/screencapturemac/ht/macscreenshot.htm

     

    Student Jobs

    All students who work in the libraries have to qualify for the Ontario Work-Study Program. Information about this is on their website. The site also has information about the International Students' Work-Study Program.

    All library and other campus student job postings are handled through Career Services in Gilmour Hall, Room GH110. Check the Career Services website (once you enter, click on "OSCAR"). This site will give you access to a comprehensive on-line listing of available employment, which is updated on a regular basis.

    Other Jobs

    Library jobs are posted on the Working at McMaster Career Opportunities website. Once you enter, click on "Careers @ McMaster".  Create a new account, if necessary, by clicking on the "Create an Account" link. You can then apply for a position.

     

    The library does not offer the service of providing a proctor or invigilator for examinations. However, you can contact the McMaster Registrar's Office (905) 525-9140 x24453 (Examinations and Scheduling). They offer this service if they have any time/space available.

    Here are 3 possible fixes:

    1. If you are using Adobe Reader as your PDF reader, this may be due to a feature in Adobe called "allow fast web view". If so, you may get an error such as "insufficient data for an image". Try the following fix:

    • open the Adobe Reader application
    • Control-K, or go to Edit > Preferences
    • on the left, click 'Internet' and then uncheck 'Allow fast web view'

    2. Before opening the PDF, right-click the PDF link and choose "save target as", “save link as” or “download linked file as” (depending on your browser). This will force the PDF to save before opening. Then open the PDF from the saved location. This bypasses the browser and the browser’s PDF plug-in, and avoids problems associated with plug-ins.

    3. If neither of the above solutions works, try using a different PDF reader, e.g.

    • Windows: Foxit Reader
    • Mac OS: Preview (go to Finder > Applications > Preview.app)

    If none of these solutions work, please report the problem to us, and we will work with you to fix it.

     

    This is a known problem when the "Print colour as black" option is selected.

    Update: try downloading a more current Acrobat reader. This problem appears
    to be have been resolved with recent updates.
     

    Security settings in the document may not allow printing. In Acrobat, select File/Document Properties, and select the Security tab. This will display a list of the security settings for the document including whether printing is allowed.

    Be sure to use the print button in the Acrobat Reader toolbar, not the File..Print command otherwise a blank page could print.

    Untick "Choose Paper Source by PDF Page Size" radio button.

    Another reason for the printout being blank may be that, occasionally, a document is scanned and made into a .pdf file as a graphic, even though it appears as text. To print this sort of document, you should click the "Advanced" button on the print dialogue box then choose "Print as Image".

    The document creator may have set the security to disable this function. To check, open the file in Acrobat, select File/Document Properties and select the Security tab. Look to see whether Content Copying or Extraction is set to Allowed.

    Try the following:

    • open Adobe Acrobat Reader by using the Start button then clicking on Programs
    • once the reader is open, go to Edit menu, Preferences
    • click Options from the left pane
    • Under the Web Browser Options from the right pane, disable Allow Fast Web View
    • click the OK button
    • close the Reader and try opening the PDF file again.

    Go to Insert > Header and Footer to add the text -- or at least to "activate" it. Just typing in the footer box on the slide masters doesn't make the footers show up on the slides.

    If using Quick View - Open the power point you wish to print. Go up to File in the menu bar and click on Page Setup. Click on Properties. In Document Options, select the number of slides per sheet.

    This is a bug in Presentations 10. Since the goal of converting the slide show to PowerPoint was so that students could take the file for review or printing of individual slides, it is suggested that the file be converted to .pdf format.

    The conversion can only handle one background per slide show and defaults to the first background created.

    Re-open the MS application (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint) on the same computer on which you saved your document using the same username and password for authentication as before, and you should be able to find and open the document. Save it from the application to your own CD or USB storage device

    Not all CD-rom recording programs let you save a file from an office program directly. A workaround is to save to the harddrive (U:\ drive on Mills, Innis, and Thode public PCs) first and then burn the file to CD/DVD. For more information, see this page.

    Microsoft Office Suite is installed on selected computers for creating, editing, or printing files; authorization by MAC ID or LibAccess is required. Note: this software is also installed on computers in the UTS computer labs, see: UTS student technology centre.

    Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Viewers are installed on most public stations in Mills, Innis, and Thode Libraries for users to view or print MS files.

    To view or print your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file from any public station using the Microsoft Viewers:

    • Click Start, then Programs
    • Click Microsoft Accessories
    • Select the appropriate application (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint Viewer)
    • In the "Open" dialogue box, change "Look in" to the appropriate drive for your file
    • Select your file, then click Open
    • Click Print
    • Follow the instructions on How to Send a Job to the Networked Public Printer
    1. Right-click on the attachment and save the file to the RAMDISK (U:). If there is no RAMDISK (U:) listed, save the file to the Desktop.
    2. Open the appropriate application (Note: if you saved the file to the Desktop and it is an MS Office document, use the appropriate MS application or viewer)
    3. Click File... Open.
    4. Locate your file on drive U (or the Desktop), and open it.

    Related links:

    You will first need to save your attachment to the RAMDISK which has been assigned drive U on the public computers in Mills, Innis and Thode. Then start the Microsoft Office application (non-McMaster users will need to open the Microsoft viewer) and open the file from drive U.

    This is a known problem with Internet Explorer. Save the file to the PC or storage device before opening.

    Users can open pdf or html files from a floppy disc or keychain drive by using the My Computer icon in the Programs menu of public stations. To open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files on library computers, see this FAQ.

    Browsers: opening from the File menu of the web browser on public PCs was disallowed due to a bug. Instead, public users can open documents by clicking Start button, Programs, My Computer, selecting the drive and filename.

    Files saved on the U drive (virtual RAM disk) are cleared each time the machine is restarted. There are competing requirements for the need to clear these files in that most students do not want their documents to stay on a publicly accessible computer; on the other hand, when something goes wrong, file retention would be an asset. Also, if files were allowed to accumulate on the hard drive, performance would deteriorate.

    Printing (14)

    1. Click on the round Office button located in the upper left corner of the screen.
    2. Click on the Word Options button at the bottom right of the menu.
    3. Click Display in the Word Options menu.
    4. Check the box next to Print background colors and images under the Printing options section of the menu.
    5. Click the OK button in the lower right corner of the menu.
    6. Word should now print the background colour or image used in your document.
    1. Click File on the Apple toolbar in the upper left corner.
    2. From the drop-down menu, select Print.
    3. A print box should appear. Depending on the default settings, you might have to expand the print box by clicking on the downward arrow, just to the right of the Printer drop-down menu at the top of the screen.
    4. At the centre of the expanded window, open the drop-down menu that appears just below the Orientation and Scale options.
    5. Select Color from this drop-down menu.
    6. On the left of the screen there is a Color Mode drop-down menu which by default is set to Automatic. Change this option to Black and White.
    7. Click the Print button.

    This is a known problem when the "Print colour as black" option is selected.

    Update: try downloading a more current Acrobat reader. This problem appears
    to be have been resolved with recent updates.
     

    Security settings in the document may not allow printing. In Acrobat, select File/Document Properties, and select the Security tab. This will display a list of the security settings for the document including whether printing is allowed.

    Different versions of software or printer set ups will cause the document to appear different when transporting between different computers.

    FAQ: 

    If the cursor was outside of a specific frame when printing was selected then the page will appear blank. Make sure that the frame is selected before printing.

    Related FAQ: How do I print Acrobat .pdf files? Some PDF files result in blank pages being printed.

    FAQ: 

    Be sure to use the print button in the Acrobat Reader toolbar, not the File..Print command otherwise a blank page could print.

    Untick "Choose Paper Source by PDF Page Size" radio button.

    Another reason for the printout being blank may be that, occasionally, a document is scanned and made into a .pdf file as a graphic, even though it appears as text. To print this sort of document, you should click the "Advanced" button on the print dialogue box then choose "Print as Image".

    To do this from a Windows computer in the Library:

    • in the printer dialogue box, click the "Properties" button
    • under the "Finishing" tab, "Document Options", choose the number of pages per page you wish to print.

     To do this from a Mac OSX computer in the Library:

    • Open the document you want to print and choose File > Print. If the Print dialog contains only two pop-up menus and some buttons across the bottom, click the disclosure triangle beside the Printer pop-up menu.
    • Choose Layout from the print options pop-up menu.
    • Choose the number of pages to print on each sheet from the “Pages per Sheet” pop-up menu. You can also choose how pages are ordered on the paper by clicking a Layout Direction button (for example, from left to right, right to left, and so on). And you can choose the type of border used to separate the pages by using the Border pop-up menu.
       
    FAQ: 

    Microsoft Office Suite is installed on selected computers for creating, editing, or printing files; authorization by MAC ID or LibAccess is required. Note: this software is also installed on computers in the UTS computer labs, see: UTS student technology centre.

    Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Viewers are installed on most public stations in Mills, Innis, and Thode Libraries for users to view or print MS files.

    To view or print your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file from any public station using the Microsoft Viewers:

    • Click Start, then Programs
    • Click Microsoft Accessories
    • Select the appropriate application (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint Viewer)
    • In the "Open" dialogue box, change "Look in" to the appropriate drive for your file
    • Select your file, then click Open
    • Click Print
    • Follow the instructions on How to Send a Job to the Networked Public Printer
    • Select PRINT from within your application, then follow the on-screen instructions.
    • You will be asked for your Printsmart account.
    • Go to the printer/photocopy station, enter your Printsmart account and follow instructions on the screen pad.
    • The fee will automatically be deducted from the balance on your Printsmart account.
    • Print jobs stay in the queue until printed -- up to a maximum of 8 hours.

     

    FAQ: 

    This message is a result of not accepting the terms in the print assist box.

    FAQ: 

    Step 1:

    • click on Tools, Internet Options, Colours
    • untick Use Windows colours
    • change: Text to black; Background to white
    • click OK

    Step 2: (may not be necessary depending on the browser)

    • click on Accessibility
    • check off Ignore colours specified on web pages

    Go into Tools, Internet Options, Advanced tab. Scroll down until you see the printing section. Select "Print background colors and images" and then click on OK.

    Refworks (11)

    • At this time using a proxy configuration with Write-N-Cite on a Mac may cause errors. If this happens, an alternative is to access it via group code.
    • First time users of Write-N-Cite (WNC):
      • when you download and run WNC, it will ask you for a group code. You got his group code in your RefWorks welcome email, but if you don't have a record of it, you can get it mailed to you
    • Previous WNC users who are encountering errors:
      • un-install your proxy configuration:
        • start up WNC
        • when Word opens, click on the WNC window again
        • from the main WNC menu bar, select Preferences > Proxy, and delete the proxy server url
      • quit and restart WNC
      • you will prompted for a group code.You got his group code in your RefWorks welcome email, but if you don't have a record of it, you can get it mailed to you
         

     

    FAQ: 

    Method 1: Set Google Scholar Preferences

    NOTE: There are problems with this feature. In order for it to work from off-campus, you must use a proxied URL for Google Scholar. In addition, in some cases Google is not exporting complete data to RefWorks. Use with caution.

    To set up the import to RefWorks feature in Google Scholar:

    1. go to Google Scholar using this proxied URLhttp://libaccess.mcmaster.ca/login?url=http://scholar.google.com/
    2. log in using your MAC ID or LibAccess credentials
    3. click on Settings in the upper right of the screen
    4. scroll down to Bibliography Manager
    5. select Show links to import citations into and choose RefWorks from the drop-down menu
    6. click the Save button 
    7. an Import into RefWorks link should appear below each citation in your Google Scholar search results
    8. click the Import into RefWorks link
    9. if you are logged into RefWorks, a pop up page will confirm the import; if you are not already logged into RefWorks, you will be prompted to enter your RefWorks username and password

    Method 2: Get it @ Mac Links

    If your reference has a get it@Mac or a find it@Mac link you can use it to import to RefWorks:

    1. click on the get it@Mac link (to the right of the reference) or find it@Mac link (below the reference)
    2. at the bottom of the pop-up, new window, or new tab, click ﻿More Options
    3. click Add this citation to RefWorks (brief citation only)

    Method 3: RefGrab-it

    • you can use the RefGrab-It tool if no other direct export option exists, but this will work only under certain circumstances (i.e. if there is an ISBN, PubMed ID, or doi number on the web page)
    • to install RefGrab-It log in to RefWorks and look under Tools > RefGrab-It
    FAQ: 
    To search the library catalogue from within RefWorks
    • log in to RefWorks
    • from the Search menu select Online Catalog or Database
    • under Online Catalog or Database to Search, select McMaster University
    • select the maximum number of references you want to download
    • type your search strategy in the Quick Search box or in the Advanced Search lines and click Search

    Viewing search results

    • the progress of the search displays with each reference represented by a # mark
    • the progress of the import displays in a RefWorks temporary window – each reference represented by an asterisk *
    • the results of your search are shown in a RefWorks search results window; this window functions much like the reference view window in RefWorks, however these records are not in your database until you choose to import them
    • to view the details of a reference, click the View link next to the reference
    • keep in mind that the search results window is a temporary window, and the references appearing here are lost when you close the RefWorks program or you perform another online search

    Importing references

    • to permanently import references into your database, select the references you want to import
    • either click the Import button or select a folder from the list
    • references are always placed in the Last Imported folder as they are when you import from the main program
    • if you have designated your default source type as electronic in the Tools, Customize area, the Electronic Source Related Fields will appear for you to update

     

    If you get the error message "Unauthorized, please verify your login information." when you log in to RefMobile, check that:

    1. you are logging in to http://refworks.scholarsportal.info/mobile/, not refworks.com
    2. you are using upper and lowercase letters for the McMaster group code; since the code is case sensitive, the capital and small letters must be typed correctly
       

     

    FAQ: 

    RefWorks is a web-based citation management tool that allows you to:

    • create your own personal database of references imported from text files or online databases
    • create footnotes, in-text references and bibliographies in the style you choose, in seconds (MLA, Chicago, APA, etc.)
    • access your references any time, from any computer with an Internet connection

    RefWorks is freely available to all currently registered McMaster students, and all staff and faculty.

    Resources

    FAQ: 
    • RefGrab-It is a feature within RefWorks that allows users to capture data from web sites and seamlessly add them to RefWorks with a single click
    • there are two versions of RefGrab-It: a bookmarklet version, and a plug-in version 
    • these are available for both Internet Explorer and Firefox
    FAQ: 
    • you will be able to access your McMaster RefWorks account until your MAC ID expires
    • while you still have access to your McMaster RefWorks account, you can export your reference data to another citation manager (e.g. Reference Manager, Endnote, etc.) using one of RefWorks' Export options
    • alternatively, while you still have access to your McMaster account, you can convert your McMaster RefWorks account to an individual subscription, or if you have access to a new organizational RefWorks subscription, you can move your account
    • more information about purchasing an individual subscription is available at the RefWorks corporate website
    • to move your account, select Tools, Backup/Restore and make a backup of your database.  You will be prompted to save a .zip or .rwb file to your computer.  In your new account, select Tools, Backup/Restore and use the restore option to add the .zip or .rwb file to your new account. 

     

    FAQ: 

    Firewalls, pop-up blockers and third-party toolbars may interfere with your ability to use RefWorks and/or Write-N-Cite.

     

    FAQ: 

    Your browser or personal firewall or security software may be blocking pop-ups.  Pop-up blockers can interfere with several areas of RefWorks. You have 3 options. You can:

     

    FAQ: 
    1. Go to the library homepage and on the left side of the screen under "Popular Links", click on RefWorks, and log in using your MAC ID or your LibAccess logon.
    2. You should now be able to get to the RefWorks login page without using the group code.
    3. Once you're at that page, simply click on "Forgot your log-in?", and RefWorks will immediately email your RefWorks password and the McMaster group code to the email address you supplied when you set up your RefWorks account.
    4. You now have the group code to use when needed.

     

     

     

     

    This is due to IE's Phishing Filter (a new feature to IE7) that evaluates web page contents. Microsoft has a downloadable patch that can rectify this. You can download the patch here.

    Sentenceworks is a web-based writing tool that reviews text and offers guidance on, but does not automatically correct, grammatical errors. For more about what Sentenceworks does, and how to use it, please see the following pages at the Centre for Leadership in Learning website:

     

    Primary sources:

    • are created at the time of, or very soon after, an event, or
    • are created by a person who directly experienced the event
    • examples: diaries, letters, interviews, newspaper and magazine articles at the time of the event

    Secondary sources:

    • are created after the original event
    • provide criticism or interpretation of the event and its primary sources
    • examples: textbooks, biographies, books and articles about past events

    Some starting points to find primary sources:

    • search the library catalogue for your topic and include one of the following words or phrases:
      • autobiography
      • correspondence
      • description and travel
      • diaries
      • interviews
      • personal narratives
      • pictorial works
      • sources
    • use an appropriate tool from this list: Historical Journal, Magazine and Newspaper Articles

     For more information on defining and finding primary and secondary sources, please see these links:

    • go to our Ulrichsweb page, and click on the title Ulrichsweb.com to connect
    • at Ulrichsweb type the publication title into the text box and click Search
    • find your publication title in the resulting list, and click its title to see the details
    • if your title is academic/scholarly, the Basic Description section will include a line that says: "Content Type: Academic/Scholarly"
    • if your title is peer-reviewed/refereed, the description will include a line that says: "Refereed: Yes".
    • a referee shirt icon will also display in the Basic Description and in the search results list, if the title is peer-reviewed

     

    Articles in "scholarly" journals, also known as "academic" journals, are distinguished from those in mass-media magazines (Maclean's, Chatelaine, Newsweek) by the following characteristics:

    • they report on or review original research, experimentation, or in-depth analysis
    • their authors are scholars (researchers, experts) in a particular field of study, and are identified as such
    • they are formal in writing style and format, aimed at a specialized, academic audience and use specialized language
    • articles tend to be lengthy and usually consist of a number of distinct sections such as: abstract (a short summary of the article); introduction and statement of the problem; literature review; methodology; data collection; analysis; conclusions and recommendations for further research
    • sources are cited with footnotes or a bibliography at the end of the article
    • they contain little, if any advertising
    • Examples: American Sociological Review; Brain and Cognition; British Journal of Aesthetics
    • to verify whether a journal is scholarly you can also look up the journal in Ulrichsweb.com

    Most, though not all scholarly journals are peer reviewed.

     

    There are 3 major ways to find out if a particular journal is peer reviewed (refereed):

    • If you're searching for articles in certain interfaces (Scholars Portal, EBSCO), you can limit your search to peer-reviewed sources simply by selecting a tab or checking a box on the search screen.
    • If you're looking at the journal itself, look at the editorial statement or instructions to authors (usually in the first few pages of the journal or at the end) for references to the peer-review process.
    • Another way is to look up the journal in Ulrichsweb.com (AKA Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory) to find out whether the journal is peer reviewed. If Ulrichsweb says the journal is "refereed", it's peer reviewed.
    • Tip: an easy way to look up a journal in Ulrichsweb is to click the Get it! button for the article, and at the bottom of the Get it! window, click "More Options" then click "Learn more about this journal". You will go to Ulrich's automatically and see the info for the journal, including if it's peer-reviewed (refereed) or not.

     

    The Find Article guide should get you started. If you need more help finding articles, ask us!

    Library and Archives Canada provides free online tools for searching Canadian Census files.

    Follow the link to Library and Archives Canada and click on search only 'Archives'. On this page, you will see a list of ArchiviaNet research tools where all available Census files are available.

    If you need some general information about the files, click on the link for the Canadian Genealogy Centre.

    If the CDROM requires you to install software on the hard drive, the CDROM cannot be used in the library or the computer labs.

    If the CDROM is read-only and does not need installation, then it can be used in the library or computer labs.

    Note: if you borrow one of the loaner laptops from the Mills, Thode, or Innis Libraries, you can install software; however, if the laptop needs rebooting to finish the installation, the install will not be successful. Rebooting returns the laptop to its original state (thus wiping out any user-installed software).

    1. Go to the library homepage and on the left side of the screen under "Popular Links", click on RefWorks, and log in using your MAC ID or your LibAccess logon.
    2. You should now be able to get to the RefWorks login page without using the group code.
    3. Once you're at that page, simply click on "Forgot your log-in?", and RefWorks will immediately email your RefWorks password and the McMaster group code to the email address you supplied when you set up your RefWorks account.
    4. You now have the group code to use when needed.

     

     

     

     

    For assistance using Get It!, get in touch with Research Help.

    For technical queries and troubleshooting, please visit the SFX overview page at the Ex Libris Group website.

    If you are a McMaster student, staff or faculty member:

    • to get a copy of an article in a journal held by one of the Hamilton Health Library Network libraries, you may request the article through RACER (you can find more info on RACER and Interlibrary Loan on this page).

    If you're not a McMaster student, staff or faculty member:

    • Usually the collections at the hospital libraries (e.g. Joseph Brant) are not available except to hospital personnel.
    • One option would be to travel to a library that owns the journal. You can find out which Ontario libraries own a journal by searching for the journal in RACER (you can login with guest access).
    • Before actually going to one of these libraries, however, it's advisable to double-check that they actually own the issue you require, and will allow outside users to access it. You can check individual library catalogues through links on this page.
    • If you don't want to travel to another library to obtain the article, you may inquire at your local public library to see if they will obtain the journal article for you through their Interlibrary Loan department.

     

    RSS (5)

    Check out these resources:

    FAQ: 

    To subscribe to any RSS feed, right-click on the feed URL button button, select "Copy Shortcut" (or "Copy Link Location"), and paste the URL of the feed into your RSS reader.

    FAQ: 

    Everytime you see the feed symbol Library News Feed on a page, it represents a feed you can subscribe to. Here's a list of feeds we publish:

     

    FAQ: 

    An RSS reader (also called an aggregator) is a software application that allows you to read blogs and Web sites that publish RSS feeds. There are a number of RSS readers available freely on the Web, check this site for a comprehensive list. If you are looking for a free, Web-based reader that does not require a download, we recommend Google Reader or Bloglines.

    FAQ: 

    RSS ("Really Simple Syndication") is a format that allows you to receive updated content from sources of your choice. For example, the library's RSS feeds deliver all the news and information that is posted to the Library News Blog without having to visit the news page! The Blog has an accompanying RSS file that is updated everytime a new post is added, and in order to read that file, you need an RSS reader.

    FAQ: 

    Telnet (1)

    Secure Shell Client has been install on selected computers in Mills, Innis and Thode which will allow you to telnet.

    Dual Boot Computers

    Upon startup/restart, a menu will appear which will allow you to select an operating system. You have 20 seconds to select an operating system, otherwise the default will load. Use the arrow & enter keys to select an operating system.
    Note:  iMacs are no longer dual boot except for the Wong classroom computers which are slated for replacement by windows only machines.  iMacs run OSX only.
    1. Insert a blank, writable CD (CD-/+RW recommended) into the CD recorder.
    2. Open My Computer.
    3. Click the files or folders you want to copy to the CD. To select more than one file, hold down the CTRL key while you click the files you want. Then, under File and Folder Tasks, click Copy this file, Copy this folder, or Copy the selected items.
      If the files are located in My Pictures, under Picture Tasks, click Copy to CD or Copy all items to CD, and then skip to step 5.
    4. In the Copy Items dialog box, click the CD recording drive, and then click Copy.
    5. In My Computer, double-click the CD recording drive. Windows displays a temporary area where the files are held before they are copied to the CD. Verify that the files and folders that you intend to copy to the CD appear under Files Ready to be Written to the CD.
    6. Under CD Writing Tasks, click Write these files to CD. Windows displays the CD Writing Wizard. Follow the instructions in the wizard.

    Users can open pdf or html files from a floppy disc or keychain drive by using the My Computer icon in the Programs menu of public stations. To open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files on library computers, see this FAQ.

    Browsers: opening from the File menu of the web browser on public PCs was disallowed due to a bug. Instead, public users can open documents by clicking Start button, Programs, My Computer, selecting the drive and filename.

    You can configure the Pop-up Blocker so that pop-ups are allowed for this site by following these steps:

    • go into the Tools menu -- Pop-up Blocker -- Pop-up Blocker Settings.
    • in the "Address of Web site to allow" section, enter the address for the site that is not functioning properly and click the Add button.
    • if you want to re-enable pop-ups for all sites, go into the Tools menu -- Pop-up Blocker -- Turn-off Pop-up Blocker.
    • alternatively, you can go into the Tools menu -- Internet Options -- Privacy tab -- disable Pop-up Blocker.

    This error may occur when attempting to connect to the Internet via a PPPoE (Point-To-Point Protocol over Ethernet) connection, a connection type often used with DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Internet connections, as a result of a disabled network card.

    • From the Desktop, right-click My Computer and choose Properties.
    • Click the Hardware tab and click the Device Manager button.
    • Once the list populates, use the plus sign (+) beside Network Adapters to expand that branch of the navigation tree.
    • Find your network card, which will probably have a yellow exclamation mark beside it. Double-click the network card and choose Use This Device (Enable) from the Device Usage drop-down list.
    • Click OK, close the Device Manager, and try your PPPoE connection again.

    Microsoft has a similar resolution at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316395&Product=winxp

    Ensure the Cisco VPN service has been started and is set to 'automatic' (Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services).

    Also, check that the Cisco VPN network connection has not been disabled (Control Panel - Network Connections) (Right-click on Cisco VPN, select 'enable').

    • check the indicator light for the wireless card to make sure that the card is active.
    • Some laptops have a switch for the wireless card on the side of the laptop, others enable the card by holding down the function key and hitting one of the keys F1 to F12 (which one varies with the brand of computer)
      • refresh the browser
    • If you're still having problems, check http://www.mcmaster.ca/uts/network/vpn/vpnfaq.html#t3.
    There are four common problems that can make the VPN connection stop working:
    1. Your computer goes into screen saver/hibernation/standby mode, or powers down the network card to save energy. You must stop and restart the VPN client in order to reconnect.
    2. Your computer loses its connection to the VPN server briefly. This can happen when the signal strength of a wireless access point fluctuates or when the wired network connection you are using is too busy to permit the VPN client to maintain its connection with the VPN server. You might want to try moving to another location/floor in the Library where access points may not be as busy.
    3. Your connection has timed out. VPN sessions from an MacConnect network connection (wired and wireless) will time out after 30 minutes of inactivity, or 3 hours of continuous use. VPN sessions from off campus will time out after 30 minutes of inactivity or 24 hours of continuous use. If the VPN times out and your IPSec connection is terminated, click OK and bring up the VPN Dialer again.
    4. If you are using Windows XP with the Firewall feature enabled, you may experience timeout problems (your session may disconnect within 5 minutes) if the following type of traffic is not allowed to pass through the firewall: UDP port 500.
      Changes required to avoid timeout issues:
      • Start->Control Panel->Windows Firewall Under the "General" Options Tab, ensure that the "Don't allow exceptions" is NOT checked. That is, you DO want to allow exceptions ...
      • Next, select the Exceptions Tab ...
      • Select "Add Port"
      • Specify a Name for this exception, in the "Name:" field (call it anything you like. Example: UDP500)
      • Specify 500 as your Port number.
      • Select UDP.
      • Select OK.
      • Select OK again, to close the Windows Firewall window.

    To use the wireless network service (MacConnect), you will need:

    Note: if the laptop is powered on in an area where wireless is available and you open your web browser, the UTS VPN web page will automatically load which provides a link to download the VPN client software.

    1. Click on the round Office button located in the upper left corner of the screen.
    2. Click on the Word Options button at the bottom right of the menu.
    3. Click Display in the Word Options menu.
    4. Check the box next to Print background colors and images under the Printing options section of the menu.
    5. Click the OK button in the lower right corner of the menu.
    6. Word should now print the background colour or image used in your document.

    To insert the file name and path into the body of a Word document:

    • Click on the Insert tab
    • In the Text group, click Quick Parts
    • from the drop-down, choose Field
    • in the dialog box, under Categories, choose Document Information
    • under Field names, select FileName
    • on the right of the dialog box, under Field Options, check the box beside Add path to filename
    • click OK

    You will need to position the border setting (even if you haven't defined a border) relative to the Page Margin and Change the Margin Setting for the Page.

    Word XP/2003:

    1. On the Format menu, click Borders and Shading.
    2. Click the Page Border tab, and then click Options.
    3. In the Measure from list, click Text, and then click OK twice.

    Word 2007:

    1. in the Page Layout tab, click the Page Borders icon
    2. click Options button
    3. in the Measure from list, click Text, and then click OK twice.
    You will need to download the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats. You can download the file here.

    Re-open the MS application (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint) on the same computer on which you saved your document using the same username and password for authentication as before, and you should be able to find and open the document. Save it from the application to your own CD or USB storage device

    Not all CD-rom recording programs let you save a file from an office program directly. A workaround is to save to the harddrive (U:\ drive on Mills, Innis, and Thode public PCs) first and then burn the file to CD/DVD. For more information, see this page.

    Microsoft Office Suite is installed on selected computers for creating, editing, or printing files; authorization by MAC ID or LibAccess is required. Note: this software is also installed on computers in the UTS computer labs, see: UTS student technology centre.

    Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Viewers are installed on most public stations in Mills, Innis, and Thode Libraries for users to view or print MS files.

    To view or print your Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file from any public station using the Microsoft Viewers:

    • Click Start, then Programs
    • Click Microsoft Accessories
    • Select the appropriate application (Word, Excel, or PowerPoint Viewer)
    • In the "Open" dialogue box, change "Look in" to the appropriate drive for your file
    • Select your file, then click Open
    • Click Print
    • Follow the instructions on How to Send a Job to the Networked Public Printer
    1. Right-click on the attachment and save the file to the RAMDISK (U:). If there is no RAMDISK (U:) listed, save the file to the Desktop.
    2. Open the appropriate application (Note: if you saved the file to the Desktop and it is an MS Office document, use the appropriate MS application or viewer)
    3. Click File... Open.
    4. Locate your file on drive U (or the Desktop), and open it.

    Related links:

    You will first need to save your attachment to the RAMDISK which has been assigned drive U on the public computers in Mills, Innis and Thode. Then start the Microsoft Office application (non-McMaster users will need to open the Microsoft viewer) and open the file from drive U.

    Users can open pdf or html files from a floppy disc or keychain drive by using the My Computer icon in the Programs menu of public stations. To open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files on library computers, see this FAQ.

    Browsers: opening from the File menu of the web browser on public PCs was disallowed due to a bug. Instead, public users can open documents by clicking Start button, Programs, My Computer, selecting the drive and filename.

    Files saved on the U drive (virtual RAM disk) are cleared each time the machine is restarted. There are competing requirements for the need to clear these files in that most students do not want their documents to stay on a publicly accessible computer; on the other hand, when something goes wrong, file retention would be an asset. Also, if files were allowed to accumulate on the hard drive, performance would deteriorate.
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