Get Started
On this page, you will find info about a few of the key resources to help you find standards.
The library also offers a more comprehensive Standards guide, which includes info about:
- Standards 101
- What standards does the library have access to?
- What if the library doesn't have the standard I need?
- Accessing ISO and IEC standards
- Not sure which standards you need?
You can also watch this brief webinar - How do I get free access to the standards I need? A Bite-Sized Webinar - for an overview of this information.
If you have questions, please contact Jodi Bolognese at j.bolognese@northeastern.edu.
Key Resources
Northeastern-affiliated students, faculty, and staff have access to a selection of standards in the following databases.
If the standard you need is not available through one of these existing subscriptions, we may be able to purchase it for you using (limited) funds allocated for this purpose. Please see the next section What if the library doesn't have the standard I need? for more information about requesting standards.
- ASTM Compass This link opens in a new windowASTM standards going back to 1998 and international versions of ISO and IEC standards. Also complete issues of ASTM journals, special technical publications, symposia publications, manuals, monographs, and instructional videos.
- IEEEXplore (IEEE/IET Electronic Library) This link opens in a new windowAccess to citations and full text from IEEE journals, conference proceedings, and standards. Includes IEEE Spectrum Magazine, the Now Publishers Foundations and Trends Technology eBooks Engineering and Energy Library.
- MADCAD This link opens in a new windowAn online, searchable library of codes and standards. Our core collection includes access to select ASCE, ASHRAE, and ICC codes, plus USGBC LEED Reference Guides and AISC Steel Design Guides.
- Standards.govLinks to standards organizations that offer free access to their standards.
What if the library doesn't have the standard I need?
Due to the high cost and wide variety of standards, the library is not able to subscribe to all of them. However, we may be able to purchase standards for individual use by request, depending on the price and format of the standard, and available budget.
To request a standard, please email Jodi Bolognese, the Engineering Librarian at j.bolognese@northeastern.edu with the full title and number of the standard(s), for example "ISO 14688-1 - Geotechnical investigation and testing - Identification and classification of soil. Part 1 - Identification and Description". We will investigate purchase options via Madcad.com or IHS Markit and (if budget allows) work with you to gain access.
Learn more about what happens after you submit a request.