Liaison: Janardan Kulkarni (jmkulk01@gwise.louisville.edu), Kersey Library

Date:     2 March 1999

 I. Program Description and Purpose of Collection:

Chemical engineers use their knowledge of basic sciences, mathematics, and economics to transform raw materials into useful products and translate the developments of basic scientists into large scale production. The Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Louisville’s Speed Scientific School offers programs of study leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. It also offers an integrated five-year program of cooperative education leading to the professional degree of Master of Engineering. The department requires 30 credit hours for the Masters programs and 72 credit hours for the doctoral program. In addition to the degree programs, the department houses a Materials Research Laboratory and an Industrial Assessment Center.

The purposes of the library collection in chemical engineering are: to support the coursework and research of students at the undergraduate and graduate levels; to support the work of staff in the Department of Chemical Engineering; to support the instruction and research of the Chemical Engineering faculty; and to support the needs of practicing engineers for continuing education and work related information.

The Department of Chemical Engineering currently has 9 faculty and 1 laboratory technician.

Library collections in Chemical Engineering are also available at the following local institutions: University of Kentucky, University of Cincinnati, and the University of Tennessee. In addition, several local chemical and food science companies maintain small collections consisting of reference sources and periodicals relevant to their area of interest.

II. Description and Analysis of Current Collection:

Major specialties within the Chemical Engineering program at the University of Louisville encompass engineering materials, process control, catalysis and chemical reactors, polymers, separation methods, computer-aided engineering, thermodynamic properties, environmental controls, waste reduction, and biotechnology.

Related subject areas important to the program in Chemical Engineering are chemistry, biomedical engineering, surface science, solid state science, crystallography, simulation process, optimization and control, energy technology, electrochemical processes, heat and mass transport, and kinetics.

Basic materials purchased in chemical engineering include periodicals, serials, and monographs (books). Reference materials purchased include encyclopedia, dictionaries, handbooks and tables, indexes and abstracts. Textbooks and conference proceedings may be added when received as gifts. Solutions manuals and study guide that accompany textbooks may be placed on class reserve at the request of an instructor.

The collection is almost entirely in print format. Back volumes of some periodicals are held in microform. Major indexes and abstracts are available as electronic databases. In general, only materials in English are purchased. Emphasis is given to materials published within the past 4-5 years, and to classics in the field.

Faculty submit recommended materials for the library to purchase through their department representative to the Kersey Library User’s Group.

III. Classifications and Recommended Level of Development:

Total Titles: 4,554

Total Volumes (estimated):

Current Subscriptions/Standing Orders:

Electronic Resources: TITLE* FORMAT AVAILABLE AT U OF L

* First title given is that of the CD-ROM version. The second title is that of the WEB version. Title in parentheses is the name of the print version.

The libraries have a large collection of electronic resources. For more information about resources supporting this field of study and research, please visit the Libraries’ Research Center web site:

http://www.louisville.edu/library/research/

IV. Expenditures Summary:

*In future years, a full report of expenditures will be available for Chemical Engineering. In 1997/98 the total expenditures for subscriptions and standing orders for all departments supported by the Kersey Library was $1,132,590.

V. Resource Sharing:

The libraries have resource sharing agreements with several regional and national consortia: Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET); Metroversity (Louisville area libraries); the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL); State Assisted Library Consortium of Kentucky (SAALCK). The primary resource sharing service is Interlibrary Loan, available at the Ekstrom and Kornhauser Libraries. The Libraries also can take advantage of discounted pricing for many electronic databases, through membership in consortia. In 1999, the Kentucky Commonwealth Virtual Library is going to become available, providing statewide access to a core set of electronic databases.

VI. Related areas: Chemistry, Mathematics, Pharmacology (?), and Physics.