Science and Engineering Collection

The Science and Engineering Collection, established in its current organizational format in July 2000, is a collection of materials on various disciplines, including Agriculture, Chemical Processing, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering (General), Forestry, Geology, Marine Sciences, Library Science, Mathematics, Medicine, Metallurgy, Nursing, Physics, Science (General), and Zoology. It consists of monographs, reports, and serials in these disciplines.

Physically, the Collection is divided into two sections: an open access section consisting of monographs and serials, and a closed access section housing the Special Reserve Collection. The serials are open access but must be read only in the closed section. Current issues of some 163 serial titles are displayed as a form of current awareness service. Each section has a large reading area in addition to the shelved monographs and serials.

Services Offered by the Collection

Information to Readers

A formal Orientation Programme is offered to first-year students (Freshers) at the beginning of each academic year. This program introduces students to the Collection and registers them so that they can avail themselves of the services. Further information services are offered as requested by the users.

Online Public Access Catalogs (OPACs)

Access to the materials in the Collection is through OPACs, introduced in the academic year 2000/2001. Both monographs and serials, including details of the holdings, can be accessed through OPACs.

Loans of Materials

Loans are available for books on open access. The normal loan period is three weeks for students and faculty. The number of loans per user varies, ranging from 5 books for undergraduates, 10 for post-graduate students, and 20 for faculty members.

Issue of Special Reserve Materials

Materials from the Special Reserve Collection must be read within the Collection and are issued on short loan periods of two to four hours. There is great demand for these materials since they are core reading materials available to a wide section of the students in the mentioned disciplines. These materials are too expensive to be purchased individually.

Production of Accession Bulletins

The Collection regularly produces an Accessions Bulletin to inform faculty and students about new materials that have been added. Some of the Accessions Bulletins have a supplement on the most recent serial titles on a selected topic.

CD-ROM and Online Databases

CD-ROM and electronic databases are currently available in the Reference Department. CD-ROMs covering the mentioned disciplines include: Compendex Plus, GEOBASE, LISA, Life Sciences Collection, POPLINE, TROPAG and RURAL, Environmental Abstracts, Applied Science and Technology Index, Derwent Biotechnology Abstracts, ISMEC, and Science Citation Index.