Books
Books can be accessed in print or digital format. Our library collections contain almost one million print books and 300,000 ebooks.
Go to: Types of books | Finding books in your subject area | Reading lists | Classmarks | Ebooks
Types of books
Books are good for background reading, enabling deeper knowledge of a topic, and learning about theories or methods. There are two main types of academic book, which can be available in print or electronically:
- Textbooks – good for gaining an understanding of a new topic
- Monographs – collections of data or detailed information, discussion, and explanation of research
There are a number of ways to find print and electronic books for your subject, including NUsearch [UK, China, Malaysia], your one-stop shop for searching our collections.
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Finding books in your subject area
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Using reading lists
Reading lists are created by your lecturers and give details of core and recommended reading to support your studies.
They provide access to a range of resources, including books, eBooks, journal articles, websites, and other online material.
Watch: Introduction to reading lists
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Finding books using classmarks
Each book in the library has a shelf location, known as a classmark, consisting of a series of letters and numbers.
The classmark is displayed on the spine of a book and allows all titles on a similar subject to be shelved together.
How do I find the classmark for my book?
You can find the classmark for your book on NUsearch under 'Find in library' on the book's record page.
How do I find a book in the library by using its classmark?
- Books on the library shelves are arranged alpha-numerically by classmark.
- Each bay of shelving will tell you which classmark range is located in that bay.
- The format of classmarks can vary between different libraries and campuses.
Interpreting a classmark
The table below shows a breakdown of how the classmark for “Urban habitats by C. P. Wheater” (QH 541.5.C6 WHE) is constructed:
Classmark breakdown for 'Urban Habitats by C. P. Wheater'
Biology | Ecology | Special habitats | Cities | First three letters of the authors name |
QH |
541 |
.5 |
.C6 |
WHE |
Watch: What is a classmark?
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Using ebooks
Wherever possible, the library buys copies of your recommended reading in electronic format.
With most ebooks you can:
- access them at any time, both on and off campus
- read them online and on mobile devices
- access them at the same time as others
- perform keyword searches and make electronic notes
Find ebooks on your reading lists, or via NUsearch.
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Continue your journey
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