Books & eBooks

The Library’s collection includes both academic eBooks and other fiction and non-fiction eBooks available through the Libby platform. All academic eBooks will appear in your search results in the Library Catalogue. Those available through Libby are also in our Catalogue but can also be searched separately through the Libby platform, which you also need in order to access these titles.

If you are searching for primary resources as part of your research you may find that you are frequently being directed to shelfmarks that do not appear on any of the floor plans. These are usually Safe collections. To access these collections you will need to ask the staff on the Issue Desk. Many volumes in the safes can be borrowed under a Guarantee Form, however some will need to be invigilated by a member of staff and cannot be taken out of the Library. Staff will be able to inform you which status applies to the items you are looking for. Invigilation requires at least 72 working hours notice.

Some aspects of research the Library’s collection can help with include:

History and Culture of Clothing, Fashion & Costume

Within the Library’s book collection, there are several collections and shelfmarks which may contain items of relevance to this field of study. The most important shelfmarks to be aware of are A. Dress (Mezzanine, Central Stack), A. Dress, 4to. (Ground Floor, Art Room) and A. Dress, sm. folio (Mezzanine, Central Stack). This is where you will find the majority of books on the history and culture of clothing and fashion from around the world.

Elsewhere in the Library, you may find it useful to consult the History collection (Level 4-2, Back Stacks), particularly any shelfmarks relating to social history (H. _________, Social &c.) as you may find volumes where clothing and fashion are discussed. In addition, the Art collection also contains works on, amongst other things, the history of jewellery and gems, gold and silver work, fans and snuff boxes!

Designers, Fashion Houses and Clothing Brands

If you are intending to research the creative output of a particular designer or house, your first port of call should be the A. Dress, A. Dress, 4to. and A. Dress, sm. folio shelfmarks. Many designers, houses and brands will be given their own section within the shelfmark (e.g. A. Dress, Dior, 4to. or A. Dress, Biba) meaning that you should be able to find any books we have about their work all in one place on the shelf, including retrospectives, criticism and exhibition catalogues.

If you are searching for biographical works relating to a particular designer, these can be found in the Biography collection, arranged alphabetically by surname. The Biography collection begins on the 4th floor of the Central Stack and ends on the 3rd floor.

The collection includes diaries, letters, memoirs, autobiographies and biographies and is shelved under the surname of the subject. For example, biographical works relating to the designer Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel will be found under ‘Biog. Chanel, Gabrielle’. Under each shelfmark, any primary sources (letters, diaries, autobiographies) will be shelved first, followed by any other biographies by third parties. They will be shelved alphabetically according to their author.

It is also worth remembering that collective biographies of members of certain movements, schools or traditions may also be found in ‘Biog. Colls.’ on the 3rd floor of the Central Stack.

Art, Artists & Craftspeople

The Art collection is usually broken up by media or process including those more generally aligned with craft (see ‘Textiles & Craft’ for more information) as well as Fine Art. General works including Art History and criticism will be shelved at A. Art (Gen.) (4to., Art Room, 8vo. Mezzanine, T.S. Eliot House). A detailed guide to the Art Collection can also be found at the Issue Desk.

Works relating to the creative outputs of specific artists or craftspeople will usually be found in the Art collection. As in A. Dress, within each shelfmark (e.g. A. Painting, A. Embroidery etc.) books relating to the work of a specific person will first be shelved under their name (e.g. A. Painting, Rubens) and then alphabetically by their author. Please be aware that many artists and artisans will appear in numerous places throughout the collection, depending on the media they are working in. For example, works relating to the artist Henri Matisse can be found in A. Drawing, A. Sculpture, A. Painting and A. Collage. As with research into individual fashion designers or makers, biographical works relating to an artist or craftsperson will be found in the Biography collection (see above).

Textiles & Crafts

Generally, works on textiles- including their history, culture and trade- are to be found at S. Textiles (Level 6, Back Stacks), S. Textiles, 4to. (Level 5, Back Stacks) and S.Textiles, folio (Level 4, Back Stacks). Also in the Science and Miscellaneous collection you will find S. Cotton (Level 4, 4to. Level 6, Back Stacks), S. Silk (Level 6, 4to. Level 5, Back Stacks) and S. Wool (Level 7, 4to. Level 5) where you will find items that specifically relate to these textiles.

Whilst textiles and the textile industry are to be found in Science and Miscellaneous, processes and crafts traditionally associated with textiles are most likely to be found in the Art collection. A full list of relevant shelfmarks can be found at the end of this guide.

Jewellery, Ornament & Accessories

Researchers interested in jewellery and ornament will frequently find themselves directed to the Art collection. Here you will find several shelfmarks relevant to your area interest including A. Gems &c. (4to. Art Room, 8vo. Mezzanine), A. Gold & Silver Work &c. (4to. Art Room, 8vo. Mezzanine), A. Finger-Rings (4to. Art Room, 8vo. Mezzanine) and A. Ornament &c. (4to. Art Room, 8vo. Mezzanine). At these shelfmarks you will find general works on the history or cultural relevance of jewellery and precious stones and metals, as well as books and catalogues relating to particular collections in addition to works on the history and output of particular jewellers or makers.

Aside from jewellery, the majority of books on fashion accessories will be found in A. Dress. This includes hats and millenary, ties, scarves, bags and purses, umbrellas and parasols, gloves, hair accessories and hosiery. There are some notable exceptions to this, for example works specifically relating to shoes can be found at A. Shoemaking (Mezzanine, Central Stack, 4to. Gallery, Art Room). Meanwhile, watches and other time pieces will be found at A. Clocks (4to. Art Room, 8vo., Central Stack, Mezzanine) whilst fans can be found at A. Fans (4to. Art Room, 8vo. Central Stack, Mezzanine).

Theatrical Costume

Works on costume for theatre and performance can be found in several places around the Library. Books about the design and production of costumes for performance (particularly theatre and film) can be found at the A. Dress shelfmarks. Meanwhile, books about the role of costume in theatrical tradition and staging are more likely to be found in the Literature collection under L. Drama, Hist. of and L. English Drama, Hist. of (both 2nd Floor, Central Stack.). In addition, books about the costuming of dance, in particular ballet, can be found in S. Dance (Level 4, Back Stacks, 4to. Level 6, Back Stacks).

Fashion Media & Journalism

Books on journalism, magazines, and newspapers can be found at S. Newspapers &c. (Level 5, Back Stacks). Some works on the history of newspapers and journalism, particularly where they relate to their role in the history of writing and literature can be found in the Literature collection. Journalistic writings, whether by an individual or anthologies, will also be kept here.

The Library also has many books on fashion photography which can be found at A. Photography (Mezzanine, Central Stack), A. Photography, 4to. (Gallery, Art Room) and A. Photography, sm. folio (Mezzanine, Central Stack). Books which feature the photography of magazines will also be found at this shelfmark, and not at S. Newspapers &c.

Retail

Books on retail and its history are to be found at S. Shops & Shopping (Level 6, Back Stacks). Here you will find general works on the history and culture of shopping and retail, as well as works on the history of specific brands and shops.
You may also find it useful to consult some many economic journals and reviews to which the Library subscribes, both in print and online. We also offer access to the archives on many major newspapers and magazines including The Times and The Guardian.

Cosmetics, Cosmetology & Perfume

Works on the history and culture of cosmetics, cosmetology and perfumery will all be found in S. Perfumes &c. (Level 5, Back Stacks, 4to. Level 5, Back Stacks). This includes books on the cosmetics industry and particular brands. As with fashion, works on the lives of individual cosmeticians, hairdressers or perfumers can be found in the Biography collection.
If you are researching stage make-up, you will need to look in L. Drama, Hist. of (Gen.).