For New Users: Getting Started
Let's face it, navigating the universe of scientific information is complicated. The Libraries are here to help you. This checklist will help get you set up and ready to do research in chemistry. New graduate students should also see the
For Graduate Students page. If you're a new undergraduate, check out the
For Undergraduates orientation page.
Obtain your UT EID
- You will need your EID and password to conduct your online library business, log into library workstations, and access information resources from off campus.
Be safe and secure:
- Make sure that you choose a strong password, which is required for login to library workstations and most other things.
- NEVER share your EID and password with anyone else
- NEVER provide your password to a spammer or phisher who asks for it!
- New postdocs: UT-EIDs assigned to incoming postdocs and official visitors may not have the correct privileges to allow you to access library resources remotely (off campus) or to enter the SciFinder registration pages.
Organize your E-mail identity.
- Set up any necessary UT email accounts, and make sure all your new mail is forwarded from accounts you will not use much to the account you will use most.
- Migrate your old email from past accounts into a new one if desired.
- Log into UTDirect and make sure your preferred email address is entered. This is the address to which official University communications - including mail from the Libraries - will be sent. You are solely responsible for making sure official communications reach you.
- Make sure mail from lib.utexas.edu is not automatically marked as junk. This is where automated Library overdue reminders and recall notices will come from. Failure to receive notices does not excuse borrowers from circulation policies or penalties.
Set up your computer.
- Obtain BevoWare software to get UT-compliant security, media viewers, browsers, email clients, virus protection, etc. Bevoware is free to students and faculty.
- Make sure you have a good anti-virus system and that it's always up to date.
- Remember that UT offers special pricing and licensing options for many commercial software products.
- Mac users: Not all relevant software is available for Macs, but you can run Windows on a Mac too. See MacWindows.com for a survey of options.
Install a good Web browser:
- Firefox is probably the best all-purpose browser. It's widely compatible with third-party tools and has lots of cool add-ons for extra functionality. Google's Chrome browser is not yet widely supported by many key sites, such as SciFinder.
- Install necessary plugins for chemistry applications. Some are generalized and others are site- or application-specific.
- Make sure you have the latest Java and JRE versions installed. These are often needed for chemical structure viewing and are essential for SciFinder and Reaxys.
- Configure your browser to open and read PDF documents as desired. Install the latest version of Adobe Reader.
- Install browser add-ons and widgets to help you in your research.
Register for your SciFinder search account.
(If you already have an account from another institution, you'll have to get a new one.) An email account ending in utexas.edu is required.
Set up wireless ethernet connectivity for your laptop.
Bookmark some important starting points:
Start keeping up with the literature:
- You can set up alerts or RSS feeds for your favorite journals.
- You can set up Keep Me Posted alerts in SciFinder or Web of Science.
- You can set up alerts in the Library Catalog to find out about new books matching your interests.
- Browse our New Book Shelf regularly, or scan our virtual Recent Arrivals site.
Be ready to use the physical library.
- Always carry your UT ID card. You can't check out anything without it.
(Postdocs: Your UT ID card will not be automatically validated for library checkout. Your appointment information will need to be complete and verified in our systems, and you will need to provide a valid email address, before you can check out books.)
- Buy a copy card to use photocopiers and fee-printers in the Libraries.
- Familiarize yourself with important reference sources in chemistry subjects.
- View the Library Hours page to know when libraries are open.
If you have any questions, please ask a staff member or send us an email.
