The Library's book collection can be accessed using the Library Catalogue. When you find a print book, note down the details of the shelfmark, including the letters after the number e.g. 371.30281 COT.
E-books can be accessed by clicking on the full-text link in the book record.
(Click on the books below to view the eBook or the catalogue record with details of where to find the print book in the library)
You will normally be able to renew items as many times as you need to, unless someone else has reserved them. Also, outstanding fines of over £20, any fine outstanding for more than two weeks, or a very overdue item for which you have been invoiced will all prevent you renewing.
Our reservations service allows you to reserve a book or DVD when all copies are out on loan.
When a copy becomes available, we will put it aside for you and send you an email to let you know it's here.
Please see the sections below on how to place a reservation and where to collect it from.
Books on the library shelves are arranged according to a numerical classification system. Each book is assigned a number which relates to its subject and locates books on similar topics together. The classification or shelfmark can be seen on book spine.
When you want to find a specific book you will have to write down its shelfmark as well as the author suffix letters which come after the classification number.
The classification numbers that relate to History can be found below. To find maps of where these numbers are located in the library scroll down to the bottom of the page.
| SUBJECT AREA | SHELF CLASSIFICATION |
| Philosophy and Theory of History | 901 |
| Biography, Geneaology Insignia | 909 |
| European History | 940 |
| British History | 941 |
| England and Wales History | 942 |
| History of Northern America | 970 |
| World History | 909 |
| Politics | 320 |
| Global Politics | 327 |
| Ideology | 320.5 |
| Broadcasting History | 384 |
| Transport History | 385-388 |
| Media History | 302.230 |
Library e-books
Library e-books are ordinarily viewed through a web browser. This means they can be viewed on any device and don't have to be downloaded (See below). There are many advantages to using e-books including
Full-text searching - Search within the text of all the e-books held in a particular collection for a subject or keyword. This is an efficient way to find relevant information on a particular topic.
Bookmark, Highlight and Annotate - All notes can be saved so that next time you sign into an e-book all of your notes will be there
No Library Fines! - However some e-books only let a few people access them at any one time
All e-books will allow you to download a fair usage amount (often around 5%) as an unrestricted pdf file.
In some cases you will be able to download the entire e-book for a limited period. Click on the images to get instructions for doing this.
