Guide to Shelfmarks
Electronic Books
Key Reference Books
Other Useful Library Resources
Useful Web Links

 Guide to Shelfmarks

The main collections of books can be found on Levels 4 and 5 of the Library.

Books in heavy demand are placed in the Short Loan Collection on Level 1. The Short Loan Collection contains 1 day loan books; 7 day loan books are shelved with the ordinary loan books on the upper floors.

Use the Library catalogue to find the exact shelfmark and location for each book. If you are searching for books on a particular topic, use a keyword search.

Literature 8

Electronic Books

You can use the Electronic Books page to access eBooks on Literature. The most
useful collections for English textbooks will be Dawsonera, Ebrary and MyILibrary.

There are also links from reading list titles on the Library catalogue to electronic versions of the text - look for "e-link"

 Key Reference Books

• Dictionary of English literature e-book
• Dictionary of literary symbols 809.915/FER
• Penguin dictionary of literary terms and literary theory 8(03)/CUD
• Edinburgh encyclopaedia of modern criticism and theory e-book
• Writers' and artists' yearbook 808.0205/WRI
• Oxford guide to literature in English translation 820.90/OXF
• Cambridge guide to children's books in English e-book
• Cambridge guide to literature in English e-book

Other Useful Library Resources

Newspapers

The main source of literary reviews for all types of literature are the Times Literary Supplement, international, national and local newspapers.

The Library takes certain daily British broadsheet newspapers. Recent copies are on the Level 1 of the Library and older copies are kept on Level 2.

British newspapers and a huge variety of international papers can also be read electronically on Nexis.

For recent literature and obituaries, use the online newspaper archives in Nexis for published reviews. For older works and obituaries, you will need to locate reviews published at the time of publication or event. It helps for you to know the title of the work; the year and preferably month of publication/event and also the author.

Use books in the Library about the work concerned or its author to help identify these details. Or use the following reference books:

Dictionary of English literature
Oxford dictionary of national biography

Also use the online reference books on the Electronic Books page

Times Digital Archive, 1785-1985: The complete digital edition of The Times (London) capturing the entire newspaper, with all articles, advertisements and illustrations/photos divided into categories to facilitate searching.

Also of interest may be: The Times held on microform from 1910 (in microform). Palmers Index to the Times 1790-1941(in microform) and Times Index 1941-1999 ( in the printed abstracts section).

Videos/DVDs

The video and DVD collections are held on Level 2 of the Learning Centre.

Most DVDs are on 1 day loan and are provided in locked boxes. Take the DVD to the self-issue machines on Level 1 and issue it. The staff at the Staff Hub will unlock the box.

Watch Videos/DVD's in:

If you are searching for a video or DVD on a particular topic, use a keyword search and set the Collection box to "Recordings" on the Library catalogue.

Good Study Guides

• The good study guide 378.147226/NOR
• How to write better essays 808.042/GRE
• The arts good study guide 7/CHA
• Write great essays 808.066/LEV
• Excellent dissertations 808.066378/LEV

Guides to Referencing

Look at the help pages provided by the University of Surrey.

Also look at Pears, R. Cite them right: referencing made easy (Newscastle Upon Tyne: Northumbria University Press, 2008) which is available in the Library at 808.027 PEA

Ask Gill for advice (office 02LC02) 

 Useful Web Links

Other Libraries

You may wish to search the catalogues of other libraries:

British Film Institute National Library the world's largest collection on film
and television. Reference use only. A charge is made to use the Library.
Check opening times before arrival.

British Library

Westminster Reference Library is a public reference library

Sconul Access is a reciprocal scheme between HE Libraries that gives reference rights to undergraduates.  Ask at the membership desk for a card.

Other Useful Web Links

General

British Council web pagesfor creative writing

English Subject Centre, HE academyA collection of useful links for creative writing

Explore WritingExtensive online resources for writers

Association for Creative Writing and EducationPartnerships between Manchester Metropolitan University and schools and teachers.  It organises Manchester's Children's Book Festival

Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)

Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP)

National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE)

Resources for writing short stories

ABC TalesA free online community of short story writers and editors

East of the WebA repository of short stories.  It accepts submissions from new writers

One Million Stories"A friendly creative space run by, for and with writers."

Story A site that "celebrates the short story and campaigns for its greater recognition"

I read a short story today Shares short stories

Resources for poetry writing

HappenStance Recommended poetry magazines

Poetry Kit Poetry publications, competitions, discussion list, funding etc

Michael Schmidt of Carcanet Advice on submissions for poets

Journalism, TV, Radio and Film writing

BBC College of Journalism Shares training resources created by the BBC

BBC Writers Room Submission of scripts by new writers, awards, employment

Online Poetry and Prose Magazines

The Cadaverine

The London Magazine

MsLexia

Neon Magazine

Quantum Muse

Open Wide Magazine

3:AM Magazine