Purpose of collection

The principal function of the Chemistry Library is to support the research and teaching needs of the Department of Chemistry.

This includes the provision of advanced texts and a wide range of periodicals in support of research activity and the key texts required by the F.Y.B.Sc., S.Y. B.Sc., T.Y.B.Sc. , M.Sc.-I and M.Sc.-II chemistry courses.

The core collection of books and journals covers the fields of inorganic, organic, physical and theoretical chemistry, which, at the research level overlap with physics, materials science, biochemistry, biology and medicine.

The Library serves students reading chemistry at all levels of the Natural Sciences Tripos, access being granted according to the rules.

Categories of material

The Library collects the following categories of material :

Borrowable - Core Stock

This includes undergraduate texts, research monographs and conference proceedings.

Non-Borrowable - General Reference Stock

This includes dictionaries, data books, handbooks, safety manuals and final examination papers.

Reference Works

The Library maintains a reference section, containing mainly dictionaries, encyclopaedia, data books, safety manuals and handbooks of relevance to chemistry and related subjects. The Library aims to maintain reasonably up-to-date editions of these reference works within the constraints of its budget. Many reference works are available in electronic format.

Electronic media

Electronic journals

The trend to electronic resource provision has gathered pace and some publishers' pricing models have shifted in emphasis from print to electronic format. New titles are sometimes appearing in electronic format only. Although journal back files are increasingly being digitized full-text access to these represents a very large cost and in the medium term the printed journal archive in the library remains of great importance.

Electronic books

Chemistry Library supports the electronic books scheme. Originally introduced to acquire texts for undergraduates this service is developing to meet research needs as well. Chemistry Library monitors developments in this area and makes recommendations for purchase.

Books