ASTM announces improvements to the content and interface of the ASTM Compass database. 

At the VDOT Research Library we're not surprised to see VDOT employees download 4,000+ full-text documents from ASTM Compass year after year.  

After all, you can't argue with free full-text access ASTM Standards, through VDOT's subscription, not to mention an additional 100,000 ASTM and AASHTO standards, technical reports, symposia papers, articles and more.

So if you work at VDOT and you use standards, run tests, or need engineering information, I hope you'll get your free ASTM Compass account today by following the instructions in this ASTM Compass Quick Start Guide. 

But here's the big news... Believe it or not, ASTM Compass has more than doubled in size in the past 4 years. These days they're also adding instructional video content, and are constantly working to make sure the user interface is intuitive and easy to use. 

Here are some recent enhancements: 

 Easy Sign In, Cleaner Search Results
The login page has been redesigned with a cleaner design that offers a user sign-in location, academic access, and the ability to translate the login page.

In addition, search results have a cleaner and more organized view. When you search for a standard, it will remove all historical versions from the search results and condense them into the collapsed search result for that single active standard.  Here's what the new display looks like now:
 

New Partnerships
ASTM is also constantly adding new publishing partners, the latest of which is the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Other publishers you'll find include joint standards with the International Standardization Organization (ISO) as well as the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Don't forget you can also access publications from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) through ASTM Compass as well!

But perhaps the most important thing to know is that if you ever need a hard-to-find standard or another kind of document from from just about any publisher you can simply fill out this Document Delivery Form and we'll find and deliver what you need free of charge. 

E-Learning
Finally, there are all kinds of interesting new instructional videos being added to ASTM Compass these days. We don't subscribe to all of it, but we have some. If you work in a VDOT lab or need to refresh your memory on selected ASTM test methods in Building and Construction, Mechanical Testing, Metallography/Materialography, or even overview materials (like "Introduction to ASTM Standards") this is the place to go for video tutorials, clear learning outcomes, lesson plans and quizzes. From the main screen click on "E-Learning" option, as shown below:
 

Questions?

Get in touch with us at any time...we're always here to help!
 

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library

Click on the image above to jump to the library's latest "What's New" page then request items with one click. Yes, we ship!!

At the VDOT Research Library we are continuously receiving new print publications and expanded electronic resources, from publishers you rely on like: AASHTO, ASTM, TRB, ITE and many others. 
 

Check out the January update to our "What's New Page" to see selected new items added in the past 90 days. Library staff review new acquisitions, select some of the most relevant items, then group them by category to save you time and energy.

Best of all, this online listing lets you choose "Ship to me" or "Hold for me" and so we can reserve your items (first come first served!) and ship them free of charge to any VDOT employee, in any district or division!  It's as easy as 1-2-3...
 

Also, don't forget, we also provide an Online Recommendation Form that VDOT employees can use to suggest new items for our collections. We'll consider anything that's within the scope of our collection development policy. 
 

If you have questions about Library collections please contact Gil Kenner (434-293-1926) and if you have questions about borrowing contact Barb Neyman (434-293-1902).

As always, we're here to help!
 

Ken Winter
(434) 962-8979
VDOT Research Library