LIBRARY
Guide 12
Library services for International students
More than 4,000 students from around the world choose to study at Oxford Brookes every year. If you
are a student from overseas, Brookes University and the Library offer a range of support and services.
Contents:
1. How the library works
pp.1-2
2. Library guides and Web pages
p.2
3. When you have a question
pp.2-3
4. Help with studying
p.3
5. Language resources
pp.3-4
6. Links with home
p.4
7. Getting to know Oxford
p.4
8. Support for International Students at Oxford Brookes University p.5
1. How the Library works
You may have used other academic libraries in the past which are quite different from Oxford Brookes.
This guide has some tips that will help you get used to how Brookes Library works. For full details of
Library services for students, see our Student guide to Library services available from the Library and
from our web pages at http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/guideintro.html
How the stock is arranged
All library materials have a shelfmark - a code of numbers and letters which indicates what subject the
item covers and where it is shelved. Brookes Library uses the Dewey Decimal system - for more
information, see our Guide to the Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme available from the Library
and from our web pages at http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/guides/rg13dewey.doc
To find the shelfmark for any Library item, you will need to do a search on the Library Catalogue.
Remember that you will need the letters as well as the number in order to trace the item. Use the signs
to help you find the shelfmark. The shelfmark will always have at least three numbers, followed by some
letters e.g. 338.4791 REE. On each shelf the items are arranged in a numerical sequence from left to
right. Start by looking along the shelves for these first three numbers, then look for any numbers after the
decimal point, digit by digit. If there are several items with an identical number, look at the letters. These
will help you locate the right book.
Borrowing and reserving books
You do not have to pay to borrow items from the Library. However, fines are charged if you bring back
an item late - see our guide Fines and how to avoid them for more information. When you borrow a
book from the counter, the date it's due for return is stamped on the date label. If you use the self issue
machines to borrow a book, the date it's due for return is on your receipt.
If you want a book which is not on the shelf - perhaps because it's already been borrowed or it's at one
of the other Brookes libraries - then you can reserve it. This service is also free.
Reading lists
You may be given a reading list for each module you study. If the list has been sent to the Library, it will
be available via the Library reading list service Talis Aspire on Moodle. Your reading list may tell you to
WWW.BROOKES.AC.UK/LIBRARY
read sections of some key books. Copies of the most popular recommended books may have been
placed in the Short Loan Collection. These books can be borrowed for a limited length of time or you
may just want to photocopy the section you need.
Researching a topic
In addition to the key texts on your reading list, you may be encouraged to read other sources (books,
journal articles etc) on your subject, especially if you are writing an essay or assignment. So how can
you find these sources?
Your reading list may contain titles of additional books that could be relevant.
Think about your topic and consider what you want to cover and what you want to exclude. Make
a list of all the search terms that best describe your topic.
Try doing a search on the Library Catalogue using these search terms. The Catalogue will give
you the shelfmark and you can then browse around the shelves at that number for other books
on the same subject.
Take a look at the Library's Subject Help pages for details of other resources you can search,
e.g. databases and web sites. These pages will also give you details of your Subject Librarian
who can give you further help.
See our guide to Finding and using information at http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/finding.html
for more advice on researching a topic.
Electronic resources
The Library subscribes to a huge number of electronic resources - databases, e-journals, e-books and
electronic newspapers. These are all listed in our Electronic Library at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/eleclib.html
These resources are available to you while you are a student at Oxford Brookes, but passwords are
required for access to most resources – see our online guide at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/password.html.
2. Library guides and Web pages
The Library web site at http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library gives up-to-date information about
Library opening hours, Library services and links to all of our electronic resources.
Printed guides are available in the Library and also via our website at:
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/guideintro.html
The key guide for students is Student guide to Library services which will tell you all you need
to know about borrowing books and other library services.
Guides to resources for specific subjects are available on the different subject floors and also via
the Subject Help section of the Library website at http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/subject.html
The guide A-Z of Library jargon at http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/jargon.html is designed to
help you with terms used regularly in the library which may be unfamiliar to you.
3. When you have a question
Subject Librarians
Each School/academic discipline has its own Subject Librarian who answers enquiries, teaches
information skills, orders library stock and generally looks after the library needs of the students and staff
in their subject area. For contact details for your Subject Librarian, check our website at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/substaff.html
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If you are an Oxford Brookes International student, you are welcome to contact the Subject Librarian for
Languages for further help and advice
Joanna Cooksey – Subject Librarian for Languages
Tel: 01865 483138 Email: jcooksey@brookes.ac.uk
Headington Library, Oxford Brookes University, Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane, Headington,
Oxford OX3 0BP
Enquiry services
There is a Help Zone or enquiry desk in each library where you can ask for help.
An Electronic Enquiry Service is also available - email libraryenquiries@brookes.ac.uk
IT support is available from the OBIS IT Services web pages at http://obis.brookes.ac.uk/ and
the OBIS Service Desks.
4. Help with studying
The Upgrade Study Advice Service based in the Forum in the John Henry Brookes Building offers help
with study skills issues such as planning and writing essays/ assignments. Upgrade also offers support
at Harcourt Hill and Wheatley campuses. More information is available at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/services/upgrade/
The Library guide Citing information sources and plagiarism at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/skill/skill1d.html gives tips on how to cite your sources and avoid
plagiarism. For more help with referencing, contact your Subject Librarian
The Library has many books on study skills and writing assignments, at the shelfmarks 808.066 and 378.
Some useful titles are:
Reinders, H. (2008) The international student handbook. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan.
Cottrell, S. (2008) The study skills handbook. 3rd ed. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan.
Burns, T. (2008) Essential study skills : the complete guide to success at university. 2nd ed.
London : SAGE
Pritchard, A. M. (2008) Studying and learning at university : vital skills for success in your degree.
London : SAGE.
Bailey, S. (2006) Academic writing : a handbook for international students. 2nd ed. Abingdon :
Routledge.
Foskett, N. (2006) Postgraduate study in the UK : the international students guide. London :
SAGE.
Lowes, R. (2004) The international student's guide : studying in English at university. London :
SAGE.
Barron, T. (2003) Get set for study in the UK. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Try browsing the shelves at 808.066 and 378 for other useful books.
5. Language resources
Resources for English Language studies (books, tapes/ CDs, dictionaries…) are shelved around 420 on
Level 2 (Zone E) of Headington Library.
The Library also subscribe to several online dictionary services:
OED Full text Web version of the Oxford English Dictionary.
Oxford Reference Online Web database which gives access to full text material from a
collection of Oxford University Press reference books, including English and foreign language
dictionaries.
Oxford language dictionaries online is a collection of fully searchable bilingual dictionaries in
French, Chinese, Spanish, and Italian. The database also includes a wide range of language
learning resources and study materials.
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For free internet resources, see our guide Language studies and linguistics on the Internet at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/lang/internetsites/lingweb.html which provides links to online language
sites and dictionaries.
6. Links with home
Factiva is an international news database providing an archive of 10,000 sources from 152 countries in
22 languages. You can use it to keep with news and events in your home country. You can connect to
Factiva via the Electronic Library section of our website.
Note that Factiva is a huge database so it is best to put limits on your search:
To search Factiva for articles from a specific source, e.g. 'Le Monde' or 'Kabushiki Shimbun', click
on 'Source' and type the newspaper title in the 'Find a Source' box.
If you want to search through all French or Japanese publications on the database, for example,
click on 'Source'. Use the ‘Select Source Category’ drop-down menu to select Publications – By
Region, then browse for your region/country.
The default Language setting is to look for articles in English. To change this, first click on
English to remove it from your search. Next, click on 'Language' and select your preferred
language from the list.
Type your keywords in this language in the 'Free text' box.
Our News Web sites page at http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/news/internetnews.html has links to news
sources all over the world.
You’ll also find useful links on countries and travel at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/refdesk/refcountry.html
Headington Library has an extensive collection of films to support the Film Studies course. While Film
Studies students have priority, other students are also able to borrow from the collection which is on
Level 4 (Zone C). Films are shelved according to their director’s nationality:
791.43094 European cinema
791.43095 Asian cinema
791.43096 African cinema
791.43097 American cinema (USA, South America, Canada)
Box of Broadcasts (BoB) is an online service available from the Library Web site that lets you view and
record UK radio and TV programmes. You can also create clips and playlists.
7. Getting to know Oxford
You’ll find lots of Oxford-related web links in our guide Oxford on the Internet at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/efl/oxweb.html
Our printed guide Oxford is available in the Library and online at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/guides/local.doc
There are links to information about Public transport at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/library/refdesk/reftransport.html
You can look in the Local Collection (on Level 3 (Zone E) of Headington Library) for guidebooks
to Oxford and Oxfordshire
Local maps and street plans of the local area are kept in the Map Collection on Level 3 (Zone E)
of Headington Library.
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8. Support for International Students at Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes International
Oxford Brookes International offers a range of English Language and study skills courses, support and
advice:
The English and pathway courses programme is designed to help new students progress on to
their chosen degree course as quickly as possible
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/international/pathway
In the summer there is also an International Summer Schools programme
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/international/pathway/summer/
When you join an undergraduate or postgraduate course at Oxford Brookes University, a variety
of English language support is available for the duration of your studies.
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/international/support/english/
Student support at Brookes
Support is offered by individual academic departments and also University-wide.
ISAS: International Student Advisory Service The team of international student advisers
(ISAS) provide help and advice for overseas students. Their web pages at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/student/services/isas/ include information about social activities and
international student blogs.
Oxford Brookes University pages for International and EU Students are at
http://www.brookes.ac.uk/international
The Student Guide - Undergraduate Modular Programme (UMP) has some useful information
about studying at Brookes http://www.brookes.ac.uk/services/asd/registry/sas/student_guide/
The web site for the Oxford Brookes Students' Union is at http://www.thesu.com/ and has
information about all the student societies.
The Upgrade Study Advice Service based in the Forum in the John Henry Brookes Building
offers help with study skills issues such as planning and writing essays/ assignments. Upgrade
also offers support at Harcourt Hill and Wheatley campuses. More information is available via
their web pages at http://www.brookes.ac.uk/services/upgrade/
JC internationalguide.doc 08/12
JH 02/14
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