STN (Scientific and Technical Information Network) provides access to more than 130 databases covering biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, health & safety, materials science, geology, medicine and other fields of science. In addition to the bibliographic databases, STN offers full-text files which provide access to the complete text of important scientific journals. Other databases and STN's search capabilities provide access to scientific data such as chemical structures, the properties of materials, and nucleic acid/protein sequences. In North America, STN is operated by Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS). Through CAS and Kenyon's CAS Online Academic program, faculty and students themselves may search CAS files such as the Chemical Abstracts (CA) and Registry files (see below). Other STN files are available by means of mediated searching.
BIOSIS
With over 8.7 million bibliographic records, BIOSIS covers the worldwide literature of biology, biomedicine, and related fields, and is the world's most comprehensive life sciences database. Sources indexed by BIOSIS include journal articles, meeting abstracts/papers, reviews, technical reports, patents, and books. Abstracts are provided for some records (journal articles). Coverage is from 1969 to present, and the database is updated weekly.
The CA File includes almost 11 million bibliographic records covering the international literature on chemistry and chemical engineering since 1967. Major subdivisions covered are: biochemistry; organic chemistry; macromolecular chemistry; applied chemistry and chemical engineering; and physical, inorganic, and analytical chemistry. CA indexes journal articles, reports, books, and dissertations. Abstracts are available for most records. The database is updated weekly.
Registry
The REGISTRY File is a chemical structure and dictionary database containing over 12 million records for unique substances as identified by CAS since 1957. REGISTRY is searchable by CAS Registry Number, CA index name, commonly used synonyms, molecular formula, and structure. It includes structure diagrams, and identifies the 10 most recent documents citing the substance.
CA or Registry Files
Students, faculty and staff wishing to search the CA or Registry files should contact the Library Information Desk (PBX 5691). After an initial consultation or training, users are given an STN account number and password. Access to these databases is limited to 5pm - Midnight Monday - Friday, 3pm - 6pm Saturday, and 5pm - 7pm Sunday.
Other STN Files
Students, faculty and staff seeking access to other STN databases may arrange for a mediated search performed by a librarian. Contact the Library Information Desk (PBX 5691) or complete an "Online Search Request" form to initiate this process.
Further information on STN, and the databases available through this system, is available at the Library Information Desk.