Use the Library website to search for books and ebooks:
Choose from the different search options:
Find books - search for print books in the Library and some eBooks. Try searching by author surname and a few keywords from the book title, or the book title, if searching for a specific book. Use keyword searching to find books on a particular topic.
Find books and articles - search by keywords to find books, some eBooks and journal articles across multiple electronic databases.
Advanced search - this is the recommended Library search option to use when searching for books and journal articles as it provides more options to build your search and refine your search results. Search by keywords to find books, some eBooks, journal articles and other sources across multiple electronic databases.
The books in the libraries are organised by the Dewey Decimal System. Each book has a number on the spine called a shelfmark.
In the University Library, the first floor has books with shelfmark numbers from 000-649 (apart from 340-349.99 which are in the Law Library on the third floor) and the second floor has books with numbers from 650-999.
Try browsing the shelves for books on a particular topic or search on the Library catalogue (https://library.lincoln.ac.uk) to find out where the books are located. Keep in mind that since medieval studies comprises a lot of different topics (literature, art, religious studies, and history, just to give a few examples), the books you will use can be found all over the library. For example:
090 Manuscripts and Rare Books
180 Ancient, medieval, Oriental philosophy
189 Medieval Western Philosophy
270 Christ Church History
281 Early Church & Eastern Churches
477 Old, Postclassical Vulgar Latin
723 Architecture from ca. 300 to 1399
724 Architecture from 1400
820 English & Old English literatures
829 Old English (Anglo-Saxon)
875 Medieval and modern Latin literature, 500 A.D. onwards
As for the history shelfmarks, these are divided by chronology (go to the 930s to read about the ancient world including Late Antiquity) but primarily by geographical area. So if you are interested in medieval Europe, you'll be browsing the 940s, the 950s to read about the Far East, the 960s to read about Africa, the 970s to read about North America, the 980s to read about South America, and the 990s for all other areas.
If you are having any trouble finding a book on the shelves, please do not hesitate to ask for help.
Most modules will have an online reading list. Reading lists often provide links to essential and recommended readings for the module. They can also be a good starting point for finding books and other resources for assignments. Reading lists can be accessed via the relevant module site on Blackboard. Alternatively go to the Reading Lists site directly and search by module code or name.
More information on reading lists is available on the Library guide Reading lists: a guide for students.
The Cathedral Library has loaned a large selection of History books to the University Library (see list below). Many of these books are on medieval subjects, so medieval studies students are particularly encouraged to explore this collection.
The books are all for reference only and can be looked at in the Zibby Garnett Library on the first floor with a member of the Customer Services Team present. Please ask at the ground floor library desk if you would like to access them.
Inter-library loans are requests for items not held in our collections to be obtained via other libraries. The inter library loan service is open to staff, postgraduate researchers, postgraduate taught students, and final year undergraduate dissertation students. For more details and to make requests go to the Library's Inter-library loans page.
SCONUL Access is a scheme which allows many university library users to use or borrow books and journals at other libraries which belong to the scheme. Click here to learn more about it or sign up.
