Libraries and learning resource centres
In many institutions, the current trend is for libraries to be part of Learning Resource Centres, or Integrated Learning Resource Centres, in order to emphasise the fact that sources of knowledge are no longer exclusively paper-based.
However, for convenience and brevity, this chapter will refer only to libraries, leaving readers to translate the terminology to fit the style of their own institutions.While different libraries may use different systems to organise their stock of books and other materials, most libraries arrange their stock according to a classification system, with books usually being grouped together according to their subject matter. (Some books may be housed on open access shelves, with others being retained in short-loan, reference-only or reserve sections, to which only the librarians have access.) It is also common for books to be located separately from journals, law reports and other media, such as CDs, DVDs and microfiche.
When searching for material, your first port of call should be the library catalogue. Although some specialist collections still use card-based and microfiche catalogues, in most modern libraries the catalogue will be electronic. Electronic catalogues can always be accessed from dedicated computer terminals in the library itself, but may in many cases also be accessed via the Internet.
Using the library catalogue to search for materials is a better way of identifying whether the library has the resources you need than physically browsing the shelves. This is because much of the library’s stock will, at any given time, be in use by other readers, either within the library or on loan. Online catalogues usually allow you to reserve books which are currently out on loan, and this will often be the easiest (and sometimes the only) way to get hold of a popular text during term time.
If you are living away from home during term time, it is worth checking what arrangements for vacation access your college or university library has with other colleges and universities. In each case, of course, if you are to make good use of any other libraries to which you have access, you will need to spend some time familiarising yourself with the way they are organised.
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- Introduction
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- The revival of Roman law
- 2. Research, Development, and Extension
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- 6. Technical Assistance
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- Online resources
- The Constitutional Framework
- GERRY SIMPSON[132]
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- List of archival sources