Chemistry Research Guide

On this page, you can learn when books are most useful for research, how to borrow books from other libraries with Interlibrary Loan, and even search the UML collection with our catalog widget.

We’ve also curated some select Chemistry handbooks that are available to view in eBook format. For other Library-accessible and open access titles (on biochemistry, polymers, and more), visit Chemistry Textbooks Libguide.

Depending on the title, you might need to log in with your UML credentials or create a different free account (Internet Archive, O'Reilly Media, etc.) before you can view eBook content.

What is a Book?

Any long-form written work can be considered a book, but the scope, publishing process, and intended audience (popular or scholarly) can vary greatly. In academic research, these variables mean that books can be more or less useful, depending on your topic.

Books are good for...

• Broad overviews
  • Books have the time and space to give a "big picture" history or survey of a topic.
  • Academic books often include overviews in the first chapter or at the start of each chapter.
  • Encyclopedias and handbooks are specifically written to provide this.
• Deep dives
  • Some books use the extra space to go into greater detail on a specific topic.
• Historical information
  • Books are especially useful for information that doesn't change much over time.
• Reliability, depending on the publishing process
  • Self-published books have an unclear editing and fact-checking process.
  • Formally published books will have standard, sometimes extensive, editing procedures.

You can also visit the Library’s Guide to Searching for Books for strategies on finding useful books in our online catalog.

What is Interlibrary Loan?

• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is a free service that allows UML Library patrons to access items we don’t own by borrowing from partner libraries.

How do I use Interlibrary Loan?

• Create an account
  • Visit our ILL Login Page and click "First Time Users."
  • On the new page, scroll down and click "Continue to new user registration."
  • Fill out the form and click "Submit Information."
• Place your request
  • Once you’ve created your account, visit our Guide to Interlibrary Loan to learn how to submit an ILL request through our Library’s catalog and databases.

Can I get Interlibrary Loan items quickly?

• Depending on how rare the item is or which libraries own a copy, it might take longer to process your ILL request. Be sure to allow enough time for your item to arrive.
  • Physical books, CDs, and DVDs usually arrive within 2-14 business days
  • Articles and book chapters often arrive in 1-2 business days, sent by email as a PDF

If you have questions about your ILL request or account, please send an email to ILLSOUTH@uml.edu.