Library Resources for Health Sciences
About the Library
Santa Monica College Library is the information access hub for SMC students. The Library collection includes over 95,000 circulating books and 6,000 reference volumes. The Library provides access to over 18,000 periodicals in print and/or electronic format.
Various library services are provided to assist library users in fulfilling their research needs. Many library services are now offered over the Internet, providing easy home access to the library. Students visiting the library in person enjoy a studious atmosphere, helpful reference librarians, and a computer lab with Internet access.
Our library homepage has grown into a virtual library, where library users can acquire information about the library facilities, discover helpful Internet resources, and access the library's catalog. Santa Monica College Library's web site is at .
Library Services
Online Public Library Catalog
The Library’s Online Public Access Catalog allows users to search the Library's collections. This online access enables users to search the catalog from home, as well as in the library. Users can easily search the library catalog by author, title, subject, or keyword.
Library Databases
The library subscribes to many online information resources, including full-text databases, periodical indexes and encyclopedias. These databases are available to SMC students from both on- and off-campus, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To access these databases from off-campus you will need your SMC network account. See below for more information on activating your network account.
Health Sciences Databases
Below is a list of selected databases that will assist you in your research needs. For a comprehensive list of databases, please see the library website.
Nursing Journals (Ovid)
A collection of twenty nursing journals from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins made available through Ovid.
Nursing Resources
Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition provides more than 550 scholarly full text journals focusing on many medical disciplines and also features abstracts and indexing for nearly 850 journals. Clinical Pharmacology provides access to information for prescription drugs, herbal and nutritional supplements, over-the-counter products and new and investigational drugs. CINAHL provides indexing for over 500 journals in nursing and other allied health disciplines.
STAT!Ref
Resources for nursing and other healthcare professionals that includes core e-book titles, evidence-based care sheets and other tools.
Health Source
Health Source: Consumer Edition offers information on many health topics including the medical sciences, food sciences and nutrition, childcare, sports medicine and general health. Has full text for nearly 300 journals.
CINAHL Plus with Full Text
Provides complete coverage of the professional literature in nursing, 14 allied health disciplines and health sciences librarianship. In addition, there are over 560 journals in full text.
Oxford Reference: Medicine
Dictionaries and reference titles on medicine.
Medline
Search abstracts from over 4,600 biomedical journals for information on medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, pre-clinical sciences, and much more.
Alt HealthWatch
Coverage of alternative medicine and complementary, holistic and integrated approaches to health care and wellness. Full text for articles from more than 180 journals, reports and proceedings, as well as association and consumer newsletters.
Academic Search Premier, MasterFile Premier
Academic Search Premier and MasterFile Premier provide full text for over 6200 periodicals including full text for more than 3,500 peer-reviewed journals. Coverage spans virtually every area of academic study and offers information dating as far back as 1975.
Reference Services
Reference librarians are on duty all hours the library is open. The reference librarians can assist library users in meeting their research needs, and can direct them to the best resources, whether in print or online. In addition, the reference librarians offer scheduled orientations to classes or groups desiring an introduction to the library facilities and services.
Computer and Internet Resources
The Santa Monica College Library maintains a computer lab that provides Internet access and printing capabilities. In addition, there are a number of computers located on the library main floor for catalog and database searches.
Library Courses
There are two library courses offered each semester that will enhance your research skills. Library 1, a one-unit course is transferable to CSU. This course introduces students to the research process, including evaluating information resources, citing sources and using library resources. Library 3, a three-unit course, is transferable to CSU and UC. It covers advanced research skills, including evaluating web resources andusing web search engines and electronic databases. This course enables students to use computer-based information to fulfill their research needs by familiarizing them with a variety of information technologies now used in libraries.
Your SMC Network Account
Your free SMC student network account allows you to access library databases from off campus, use computers in the Library lab and other computer labs on campus, and gives you a free SMC email address. To sign up for your account, go to
Library Hours:
Fall/Spring Semesters
Mon-Thurs: 8:00 a.m. - 9:45 p.m.
Fri: 8:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Sat:11:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Winter/Summer Sessions
Mon-Thurs:9:00 a.m. - 7:45 p.m.
Fri:9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Library Phone Numbers:
Circulation Desk:(310) 434-4334
Reference Desk:(310) 434-4254
Library Address:
Santa MonicaCollege Library
1900 Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Web Site: