Skip to Main Content

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

a guide for engineering students and faculty to find relevant library materials and other types of information to conduct their research.

What are Technical Reports?

technical report is a document that describes the process, progress, or results of technical or scientific research or the state of a technical or scientific research problem.  They are prepared for internal or wider distribution by many organizations.  Technical reports often present cutting edge research before being published in journals or conferences.

Techical Reports

US Federal Government Technical Reports

What is a Standard?

standard is "a recognized unit of comparison by which  the correctness of others can be determined."  Another definition is "a set of characteristics or qualities that describes features of a product, process, or service."   

To locate a standard, you should have at least some of the following details:

  • Name of the publishing organization (often referred to as the SDO - Standards Developing Organization)
  • Standard number
  • Title
  • Subject

Locating standards can be difficult.  Databases for locating standards often only have a title for you search by keyword.  Standards are regularly updated (usually) and the version that you want might depend on your specific information needs.

FSU Standards Databases

Searching for Standards on these sites is free, but getting full standards often costs money.

What are Conference Papers & Proceedings?

Conferences papers are the papers presented at a conference, meeting, symposium, etc. by individual speakers.

Proceedings are the collection of conference papers that are published by the organizing institution of the conference or via a publisher.  They are distributed as printed books or made available online.  Proceedings may include whole papers or just the abstracts.

Locating conference proceedings can be complicated because of variations in:

  • publication title
  • publication type (separate, one-time publications, serials, or as special issues in journals)
  • content (abstracts, extended abstracts, or complete papers)
  • publication date (some proceedings may be published long after the actual conference date)
  • sponsoring associations' name

FSU Conference Papers & Proceedings Databases

The Florida State University Libraries
FIND & BORROW | RESEARCH & PUBLISH | VISIT & STUDY | COLLECTIONS | ABOUT | HELP & SUPPORT

© Florida State University Libraries | 116 Honors Way | Tallahassee, FL 32306 | (850) 644-2706