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French resources and support

Your Subject Librarian

Your Subject Librarian

Damien McManus

Other Arts and Social Sciences Library staff can answer your more general library queries.

Recommend other items

French resources are available in these branch libraries

The majority of the French collections can be found in the Arts and Social Sciences Library.
Information about opening hours, borrowing limits, fines at the ASSL.
Some books on cultural theory are located in the Geographical Services Library.
Information about other branches.
See our Library collections and eResources pages for details of our more general printed and online resources.

How to find books, journals, and more

Books

Search the library's online catalogue to find printed books and e-books. If you cannot find books published before 1978 on the online catalogue, please consult the Card Catalogue Online.

Journals

Search our eJournals catalogue for access to online journals provided by the library. Printed journals can be found by using the library's online catalogue.

DVDs and videos

These can be found on the second floor of the Arts and Social Sciences Library. A viewing room is available. Please enquire about bookings at the attendants' desk on the ground floor.

Databases

Essential for research, the library subscribes to a to a wide range of databases for French. See the 'Subject resources' tab on these subject pages for more information.

Special Collections

Rare and valuable items can be found in our Special Collections Department.

Microforms

The Arts and Social Sciences Library holds microfiche and microfilm collections covering a range of subjects. These, and microform readers, are located on the first floor of the Arts and Social Sciences Library.

Other materials

The library has collections of theses and past examination papers.

Access to other libraries

Access to other academic libraries is often possible via the SCONUL Access scheme. The British Library may issue Reader Passes to researchers, subject to restrictions.

Inter-Library Loans and ILL vouchers

The Inter-Library Loans (ILL) service can be used to obtain Items not held in print in the University's branch libraries or available online. There is a charge for this service, though it may be possible to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher to pay for this:

  • French department staff can obtain ILL vouchers from the School of Modern Languages Office.
  • Postgraduates should ask at the Graduate School of Arts and Humanities about the availability of vouchers.
  • Undergraduates should ask Hannah Blackman in the School of Modern Languages about the availability of vouchers.

Information for academic staff and researchers

  • Our Research support pages cover finding information, managing information, and exploiting your research, together with sources of further help and advice.
  • Each academic department in the university has its own library representative, whose duties are detailed in these guidelines. The Library Representative for French is Dr. Nick Rees-Roberts.
  • Book purchase recommendations and suggestions for new journals or databases can be made direct to the Subject Librarian, though in the latter case it is best to also discuss the matter with the departmental library contact, Dr. Nick Rees-Roberts.
  • New academic staff are welcome to contact the Subject Librarian to arrange a session on how the Library can help you.

Databases

MetaLib: your resource gateway provides access to a vast range of online resources, including databases, search engines, subject gateways, and selected Internet resources.

Internet links

  • Bibliothèque nationale de France - homepage of France's national library
  • Intute: Arts and Humanities - extensive links to organisations with interests in French studies. Once you have opened Intute, click on the French link under the heading 'Modern languages and area studies'. Please note that after July 2011 Intute will no longer be updated.
  • Agence de la Francophonie - this organisation promotes the use of the French language worldwide, and includes news items, forthcoming events of interest and initiatives hightlighting the use of French
  • The University of Bristol Language Centre's French links - coverage of many websites relating to French Studies including search engines; learning materials; sites concerned with the media, science and economics; cultural sites covering literature, cinema and more
  • The University of Bristol Department of French - information for current and prospective students at the Department; staff details and their research interests; selected internet resources and details of forthcoming conferences and seminars

Quick reference tools

The following resources are available in the Arts and Social Sciences Library.

Dictionaries

Collins Robert French dictionary, 9th ed. (2010
Oxford language dictionaries online (online dictionary available via MetaLib)
Le petit Robert (2010)
Many other monolingual French dictionaries are available at PC2625; bilingual English-French dictionaries at PC2640.

Grammars

Le bon usage: grammaire française, 14th ed. (2007) [older editions also available]
A reference grammar of French (2011)
Many other grammars of French are available at PC2111.

Literature

The new Oxford companion to literature in French (1995)
Dictionnaire des littératures de langue française, updated ed. [4 vols] (1994)

Reviews and bibliographies

Review journals can be a very good way of keeping abreast of current developments in your areas of interest. See, for example, French studies, Modern language review and The year's work in modern language studies. These titles are available via the library's online catalogue and eJournals catalogue.

Research bibliography for French (PDF, 304 KB)

Information skills training for undergraduates

  • Library lectures and training are organised in consultation with the School of Modern Languages; students will be notified when training has been arranged for them. I am always happy to see students individually to discuss any specific needs.
  • A number of general 'Self-learning resources' are available below, including video tutorials, downloadable library guides, and web resources.
  • Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

Information skills training for postgraduates

  • Taught postgraduates are required to attend an introduction to library research as part of their Research Skills unit.
  • I aim to meet research postgraduates individually to discuss their requirements.
  • I am always happy to see students individually to discuss any specific needs.
  • Students taking the Diploma or MA in Translation can find detailed information about library resources in Blackboard.
  • A number of general 'Self-learning resources' are available below, including video tutorials, downloadable library guides, and web resources.
  • Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

Self-learning resources

  • Video tutorials - topics include the Library Catalogue, understanding references on reading lists, using the MetaLib resource gateway, off-campus access to eResources, etc.
  • Finding and using information pages - covering key aspects of information skills, including researching a topic, effective use of Google, evaluating your search results, avoiding plagiarism, etc. Also includes a Jargon-buster page.
  • Library guides - downloadable guides to each branch library, our main search tools, special library services, etc.
  • External resources for developing your information skills - including online tutorials and downloadable guides.
  • Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

Referencing guidance

Referencing

  • There is no single way of writing references. Two well-known styles are the Harvard system and the Modern Humanities Research Association (MHRA) system. You will need to use the style specified by your department or by the body or journal to which you are submitting your work. The Arts Faculty has produced a useful guide to citing academic work. If there are no guidelines specified, you should make sure that you write your references in a consistent way.
  • General referencing guidance
    includes Why reference? What is included in a reference? Referencing styles, How to reference, Links to useful sites on referencing, and brief details of EndNote and EndNote Web referencing software (see the EndNote referencing software section below for more details).

Journal title abbreviations

Probably the most troublesome are abbreviated journal titles as they can make finding a journal difficult.

To find journal title abbreviations you could try:

If you are unable to find a title or journal title abbreviation you are looking for please ask a member of the Library staff.

Writing for the subject, and how to avoid plagiarism

EndNote referencing software

EndNote is the University of Bristol's recommended bibliographical management software, which can be used to collect, store, organise and manage references, and to output them as reference lists or bibliographies. A particularly useful function is 'Cite While You Write', enabling you to format Word documents, producing bibliographies and adding references within the text.