These resources contain basic overview information that can be useful when you're just beginning your research.
You can also search URSUS for engineering-specific encyclopedias and handbooks, many of which are accessible online! A few examples are below, but there are many more.
Once you have a good understanding of your topic and have selected a few keywords, OneSearch is a great place to start your research! OneSearch is a convenient way to search almost all of the library’s resources using a single search box.
Trade journals are a type of magazine covering news and features of interest to a particular field of work or industry. They can be found in some databases (look for a list of document types in the lefthand sidebar after you run your search), in OneSearch, or in professional organizations. A few freely available engineering trade journals are listed here.
Below are just a few of our databases useful for engineering research. For more databases with engineering content, check out our Databases A-Z page and select "Engineering" from the drop-down.
You can search for books in our library and other libraries using the links below. If you're not sure how to find what you're looking for, ask us!
There are many ways you can get research materials from other libraries. In the vast majority of cases, there is no charge to you for this service!
Example:
URSUS is the combined library catalog for the entire University of Maine system. You can search the entire system, or select University of Southern Maine Libraries in the drop-down.
Other helpful tips:
Most databases, as well as URSUS and MaineCat, assign subjects to books and articles. A subject is a designated word or phrase that describes an idea or concept and groups all articles or books about that concept together.