Chemical Information Sources Wikibook:
the open source created by chemical
information professionals for chemical
information professionals
Charles F. Huber
Davidson Library, University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010
Presented at the 250th ACS National Meeting
Boston, MA Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Chemical Information Sources
Wikibook
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Origins and history
What it contains; how it works
What the future holds…
250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aig. 19, 2015
2
History: Before the Web…
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Gary Wiggins (1991) Chemical
Information Sources McGraw-Hill.
“…is designed to give the chemist,
librarian or student the command of
the chemical literature which is needed
to solve most chemical information
problems.”
Described key concepts in chemical
information, information sources, and best
techniques for their use.
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250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aug. 19, 2015
Migration to the Web
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To improve accessibility and ease of
updating, Gary created a web version of
his text:
1994: Chemical Information Sources
from Indiana University (CIS-IU)
250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aug. 19, 2015
Migration to Wikibooks
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In 2007, Gary moved to the more flexible
Wikibooks platform, creating:
Selected Internet Resources for Chemistry
(SIRCh),
Chemical Information Instructional Materials
(CIIM) (which grew out of a print collection
by the ACS CINF Education Committtee)
Chemical Information Sources Wikibook
250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aug. 19, 2015
Further developments
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Following Gary’s retirement, G. Ben
Wagner (University at Buffalo) took over
as editor-in-chief in 2011.
In 2014, it was proposed that the CINF
Education Committee take the project
under its wing.
250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aug. 19, 2015
And now…
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Prof. Martin Walker (SUNY Potsdam)
has taken over as Technical Editor.
Chuck Huber has volunteered to act as
editor-in-chief for a three year term
(2015-2018).
250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aug. 19, 2015
Where we are now
Main Topic
Includes
How and Where to Start
The Publication Process
Guides to Chem. Inf. Sources
General Search Strategies
Current Awareness and Reviews
Monographs, Encyclopedias, etc.
How and Where to Search: General
Author and Citation Searching
Subject Searching
Chemical Name and Formula
Structure Searching
How to Search: Specialized
Synthesis and Reaction Searches
Chemical Safety and Toxicology Searches
Analytical Chemistry Searches
Physical Property Searches
Chemical Patent Searches
250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aug. 19, 2015
Where we are now (cont.)
Main Topic
Includes
Communicating in Chemistry
Blogs, Social Networks and Mailing Lists
Molecular Visualization Tools and Sites
Science Writing Aids
Miscellaneous
Chemical History, Biography, Directories and
Industry Sources
Teaching and Studying Chemistry
Careers in Chemistry
Cheminformatics
Supplemental Information
SIRCh
CIIM
Information Competencies for Chemistry
Undergraduates
CHMINF-L
250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aug. 19, 2015
Where are we going from
here?
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Integration of SIRCh and CIIM into the main
Wikibook structure.
Reorganization for easier navigation.
Updating and enhancing of articles…some
sections need work!
Adding additional material to cover neglected
areas and new topics, e.g.:
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Biochemistry and Chemical Biology
Materials Chemistry
Metrics (both traditional and altmetrics)
250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aug. 19, 2015
How you can help!
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Visit the Wikibook:
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https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Chemical_Information_Sources
Explore it, critique it, and let us know what you think, both
good and bad. What’s missing? What could be better
organized? What’s out of date?
Volunteer to write/edit sections that match your
interests and expertise.
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Contact: Chuck Huber, [email protected]
250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aug. 19, 2015
Acknowledgements
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Gary Wiggins, Prof. Emeritus, Indiana University
A. Ben Wagner, Univ. at Buffalo
Grace Baysinger, Stanford University, Chair of CINF
Education Committee
Martin Walker, SUNY Potsdam, Technical Editor
All the writers and editors who have contributed to
the Chemical Information Sources Wikibook to make
it the powerful resource it is, and those who will
make it more so in the years to come.
250th ACS National Meeting,
Boston, MA, Aug. 19, 2015