Policy studies resources and support

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• Most Policy Studies materials will be found in the Arts and Social Sciences Library with many of the core works being found at classmarks H, HM, HN, HQ and HV, (although much relevant literature will be found at other locations in the branch).
• The Education Library, the Wills Library (Law), and the Geographical Sciences Library may also have resources of use to you.
  

Course based materials

Materials to support Policy Studies courses are available in the Arts & Social Sciences Library:

• Recommended textbooks (books in high demand for essays, for example) are kept in the Short Loan Collection (SLC)
• Examination papers: past papers can be found on the first floor of the Arts and Social Sciences Library, on the shelves next to the pamphlet collection.

Thesis collection

University of Bristol Policy Studies PhD theses are held in the Arts and Social Sciences Library thesis collection, kept in a locked cage on the first floor. They may be consulted within the library, and you will need to complete a slip for each one. Please ask at the library issue desk

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• Quick search on the Library homepage
  search for books, journals, or articles and databases using our various search tools, plus Internet search using Google Scholar.
• The Subject resources section of these pages includes key policy studies databases (via MetaLib) for searching for journal articles references, etc, quick reference tools, and Internet links.
• Our Library collections and eResources pages give full advice on finding all types of materials.
• 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. See below for more details. Access to other university libraries and the British Library may be a useful alternative.

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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:

• Policy Studies academic staff should be able to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher to pay for this from the secretary of your Centre.
• Policy Studies research postgraduates may be able to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher to pay for this from Andrea Osborne in the School for Policy Studies.
• Policy Studies undergraduates and taught postgraduates may be able to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher if you speak to your supervisor.

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• 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 the School for Policy Studies is Dr Frances Heywood.
• Suggestions for book purchase can be made to your Subject Librarian, but new journal / database subscription requests should go directly to your departmental Library Representative, who may need to consider the cancellation of existing resources to fund new ones.
• If you are new to the department you are welcome to contact your subject librarian to arrange a session to discuss how the library can support you, your research and your students.

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

• Policy Studies databases via MetaLib (list with brief details)
  This link takes you to a list of the most useful databases and other information resources, with brief details displayed against each. Click on the Info icon to display the full details. Alternatively, Policy Studies databases via MetaLib (cross-search list) lists the same databases, but with a cross-search option. For details of a particular resource click on the Info icon next to the resource name.
  

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• Intute - Social Sciences - the key subject gateway to quality resources in the social sciences
• ESRC - Society Today - details of research funded by the Economic and Social Science Research Council
• Intute - Health & Life Sciences - a gateway to quality Internet resources in medicine and related topics
• University of Bristol, School for Policy Studies - provides links to websites from the ESRC, UK government offices, UK healthcare providers, other UK social policy departments and women's studies resources
• C-SAP - The LTSN National Centre for Learning and Teaching for Sociology, Anthropology and Politics - based at Birmingham University this site provides software and online resources for teaching and learning, including information on workshops in its subject areas
• SWAP/LTSN (Social Policy and Social Work) - the site for social work and related topics from the Learning Technology Support Network
• The Intute Virtual Training Suite - excellent 'teach yourself' Internet tutorials which includes Internet for Social Workers, as well as many others such as European Studies, Social Policy, Social Research Methods etc
• The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) The SCIE works to disseminate knowledge-based good practice guidance to all those involved with social care. It also hosts the database Social Care Online

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The following quick reference items can be found in the Arts and Social Sciences Library:

Item/ description	Reference number
Municipal year book, current edition provides descriptions of local authorities in the UK, including functions, elected councillors and senior officers	Serial JS 3003.M8
Housing and planning year book guide to the relevant central government offices, local authorities and professional associations	HD 7333.A3.H8
Social services year book, Current edition guide to UK social services provision in the private, public and voluntary sectors	Serial HV1.S578

General Sociology dictionaries and encyclopedias

Many printed reference dictionaries and encyclopedias of sociology (and the social sciences in general) can be found in the Arts and Social Sciences Library. They can be used to get a good overview of the subject, or to research specific aspects of it.

Some of the best ones are:

• The Penguin dictionary of sociology (HM 17 ABE)
• The Sage dictionary of sociology (HM 17 BRU)
• Blackwell encyclopedia of sociology (HM 425 BLA)
• The Cambridge dictionary of sociology (HM 17 CAM)
• The concise Oxford dictionary of sociology (HM 17 CON)
• The international encyclopedia of the social sciences (Oversize H 40.A2 INT) (also available electronically)

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• Your Subject Librarian will be pleased to run classes on library and information skills if requested by your department.
• Internet Social Worker
• Internet for Social Research Methods
• Internet for Social Policy
• 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'.

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• Your Subject Librarian will be pleased to run classes on library and information skills if requested by your department.
• Internet Social Worker
• Internet for Social Research Methods
• Internet for Social Policy
• 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'.

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• 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'.

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Referencing

• 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

Literature references are often written with abbreviated terms. Probably the most troublesome are abbreviated journal titles which can make finding a journal difficult.

To find journal title abbreviations you could try looking at:

• Alkire, L.G.: Periodical Title Abbreviations, in the Arts and Social Sciences Library at Oversize Z6945.A2PER.
• Leistner, Otto. Internationale Titelabkürzungenvon Zeitschriften, Zeitungen, in the Arts and Social Sciences Library at Oversize Z6945.A2 LEI

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

Other resources

For general information, please visit the journal abbreviations page.

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• General advice on writing and style guides
• Our Plagiarism: information and advice for students page explains what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, and the consequences of plagiarism.

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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.

• EndNote Basic (formerly EndNote Web) help, advice and training sessions
  This is the recommended version for all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students - it is available free to UoB students and staff.
• EndNote Desktop support
  Academics, researchers and research postgraduates can use the desktop version, which may be installed on their UoB PC. See the 'Help and support' page of EndNote Desktop support for details of self help training materials.

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