The decision to select library materials is the responsibility of the Liaison Librarian, Dan Sich, in consultation with the Department Library Representative, Stefan Idziak.
Materials are collected to support teaching and research to the PhD level in Physics. Research Groups in this Department influencing current collecting include:
Applied & Industrial Physics
Astrophysics & Gravitation
Atomic, Molecular and Optical
Audio Research
Biophysics
Chemical Physics
Condensed Matter Physics: Theoretical and Experimental
Confocal Microscopy Group
Laser Science and Technology
Subatomic
Visual Optics
Quantum Computing
For core materials, the emphasis is on English. Materials in other languages are collected if relevant.
Emphasis is on current publications.
In general, the Library does not acquire materials in a format for which access cannot be provided in the Library.
The following types of materials are generally included: books, textbooks, and periodicals in print or electronic format as appropriate.
The following types of materials are collected selectively: reference works, conference proceedings, symposia, dissertations and theses.
The following types of materials are excluded: reprints.
Using the Section A: Physics of the INSPEC Classification (also used by Physics Abstracts)
(see http://www.ieee.org.uk/)
| A00 General | |
| A02 Mathematical methods in physics | 4 |
| A03 Classical and quantum physics; mechanics and fields | 3 |
| A04 Relativity and gravitation | 4 |
| A05 Statistical physics and thermodynamics | 3 |
| A07 Specific instrumentation and techniques of general use in physics | 3 |
| A10 The Physics of Elementary Particles and Fields | |
| A11 General theory of fields and particles | 4 |
| A12 Specific theories and interaction models; particle systematics | 3 |
| A13 Specific reactions and phenomenology | 3 |
| A14 Properties of specific particles and resonances | 3 |
| A30 Atomic and Molecular Physics | |
| A31 Theory of atoms and molecules | 2 |
| A32 Atomic spectra and interactions with photons | 2 |
| A33 Molecular spectra and interactions with photons | 4 |
| A34 Atomic and molecular collision processes and interactions | 3 |
| A35 Properties of atoms and molecules: instruments and techniques | 2 |
| A36 Studies of special atoms and molecules | 2 |
| A40 Fundamental Areas of Phenomenology | |
| A41 Electricity and magnetism; fields and charged particles | 2 |
| A42 Optics | 4 |
| A43 Acoustics | 4 |
| A47 Fluid dynamics | 2 |
| A50 Fluids, Plasmas and Electric Discharges | |
| A52 The physics of plasmas and electric discharges | 2 |
| A60 Condensed Matter: Structure, Thermal and Mechanical Properties | |
| A61 Structure of liquids and solids; crystallography | 4 |
| A62 Mechanical and acoustic properties of condensed matter | 3 |
| A63 Lattice dynamics and crystal statistics | 3 |
| A64 Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions | 4 |
| A66 Transport properties of condensed matter (nonelectronic) | 2 |
| A68 Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers | 4 |
| A70 Condensed Matter: Electronic Structure, Electrical, Magnetic, and Optical Properties | |
| A71 Electron states in condensed matter | 4 |
| A72 Electronic transport in condensed matter | 3 |
| A73 Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, and thin films | 2 |
| A74 Superconductivity | 4 |
| A75 Magnetic properties and materials | 4 |
| A76 Magnetic resonances and relaxation in condensed matter; Mössbauer effect | 4 |
| A77 Dielectric properties and materials | 2 |
A78 Optical properties and condensed matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation |
4 |
A79 Electron and ion emission by liquids and solids; impact phenomena |
2 |
| A80 Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Related Areas of Science and Technology | |
| A81 Materials science | 2 |
| A82 Physical chemistry | 4 |
| A87 Biophysics, medical physics, and biomedical engineering | 4 |
| A90 Geophysics, Astronomy and Astrophysics | |
| A92 Hydrospheric and lower atmospheric physics | 2 |
| A94 Aeronomy, space physics and cosmic rays | 3 |
A95 Fundamental astronomy and astrophysics, instrumentation and techniques and Astronomical observations |
4 |
| A96 Solar system | 2 |
| A97 Stars | 4 |
| A98 Stellar systems; Galactic and extragalactic objects and systems; Universe | 4 |
0. Out of Scope
The library does not collect in this subject.
1. Minimal Information Level
The collection supports minimal inquiries about this subject with a limited selection of monographs and reference works.
2. Basic Information Level
The collection serves to introduce and define the subject. Only the most important reference works, general surveys, the most significant works of major authors, and a limited selection of representative general periodicals are collected.
3. Instructional Support Level
The collection supports all courses of undergraduate study and master’s degree programmes. Materials collected include a wide range of reference works, fundamental bibliographic tools, and an extensive collection of monographs and periodicals. Access to owned or remotely-accessed electronic resources, including texts, journals, data sets, etc. is provided.
4. Research Level
The collection includes major published source materials required for doctoral study and independent research in the subject. All formats, including appropriate foreign-language titles, are acquired. Historically important monographs, archival materials, and back-runs of serials are acquired as necessary.
5. Comprehensive Level
The collection is exhaustive in its depth and scope. All relevant materials, in all formats and applicable languages, are retained and preserved. The collection may be recognised as a national resource.
All collections should be systematically reviewed for currency of information and to ensure that essential and important resources are retained. Superseded editions and titles containing outdated information should be withdrawn as necessary. Classic retrospective materials should be retained and preserved to serve the needs of historical research.
| QB 1-991 | Astronomy |
| QC 1-999 | Physics |
The Library continues to explore various initiatives from a TriUniversity Group and Ontario Council of University Libraries perspective
The Guelph-Waterloo Program for Graduate Work in Physics: Composed of 75 members from three universities (Guelph, Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier) and affiliated research laboratories; Canada's first and most innovative joint graduate program in physics: http://gwp.on.ca/
The most significant and useful Web resources relevant to Physics are located on the Physics discipline page at: http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/discipline/physics/index.html
Date of creation: December 18, 2000
University of Waterloo Library
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519 888 4883
contact us | give us feedback | privacy statement | © 2011
University of Waterloo