Sociology resources and support

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Sociology resources can be found in the following branches:

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

Course based materials

Materials to support Sociology 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 Sociology 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 sociology databases and other useful resources (via MetaLib) for searching for journal articles references, etc, and quick reference tools.
• 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:

• Sociology academic staff and research postgraduates should be able to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher from your departmental Library Representative (see Information for academic staff and researchers).
• Sociology undergraduates and taught postgraduates should always consult their personal tutor before applying for an Inter-library loan. If the tutor deems the request reasonable, it may be possible to issue the student with an Inter-library loan voucher (though these are generally reserved for use by academic staff and researchers).

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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 a library representative, whose duties are detailed in these guidelines. For Sociology the Library Representative is Dr Will Atkinson.
• Suggestions for book purchases should be made directly to your Subject Librarian, but requests for new subscriptions to journals or electronic databases should be made via the departmental Library representative. Note that to fund any new subscription it may be necessary to cancel an existing one, so consider this when you make your request.
• The changing loan periods page gives information about how books on high demand from students may be given an appropriate loan period in the Arts & Social Sciences Library; and also describes how academic staff should request books be placed in the Short Loan Collection.
• If you are new to the department, please feel free to contact Catherine Downs to arrange a session to discuss how the library can support you, your researches and your students. You may want to discuss, for example, information literacy sessions for students; or perhaps want some instruction yourself in using a particular database. Whatever your library needs - run them past us, and we'll see if we can help!

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• Sociology databases and other useful resources via MetaLib
  This link takes you to the list of databases, etc, with cross-search option. Click on the Info icon to display the full details.

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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 Sociologist
• Internet for Social Research Methods
• Internet for Women's Studies
• Internet Anthropologist
• 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 Sociologist
• Internet for Social Research Methods
• Internet for Women's Studies
• Internet Anthropologist
• 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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• 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).
• General advice on Journal title abbreviations

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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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