Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there an alphabetical list of the subjects covered by the Library showing the Library classmarks?
- How can I find books on the subjects I'm interested in?
- What do the letters R and P before a classmark mean?
- What do the different coloured labels on the books mean?
- Where can I find the children's literature?
- I've been given a reading list - how can I tell which references are books and which are journals?
- Is there a list of all the journals taken by the Faculty of Education Library? How do I find which journals the Faculty of Education Library takes?
- I've searched BEI and ERIC and now I have a list of references - how do I find them?
- How do I search for a journal on the Newton catalogue?
- The Newton catalogue doesn't give a classmark for journals - how do I find them?
- I can't access an ejournal. Why not and what should I do?
- How can I find MEd. or MPhil. theses in the Faculty of Education Library?
- How can I suggest books for the Library to purchase?
- If the Faculty of Education Library hasn't got the book I want, how can I find out if it's in another University of Cambridge Library?
- Am I allowed to use or borrow from other Departmental and College libraries in Cambridge?
- I have lost/forgotten my Raven password. What shall I do?
- How can I return books when the Library is closed?
- Can I renew books online?
1. Is there an alphabetical list of the subjects covered by the Library showing the Library classmarks?
There is a leaflet available in the Library called 'Classification - a quick guide.' You can also search for books by subject on the Catalogue - see point 2 below for further information.
Please ask a member of Library staff if you need help.
2. How can I find books on the subjects I'm interested in?
Use the Newton catalogue and from the homepage:
- Click on Guided Search
- Click on More Search Limits
- In the Location Box
- Select Education Faculty Library
- Click on Set Limits.
- Type your search terms (in this case, 'classroom' and 'observation') in the boxes on the left.
- Highlight Keyword Anywhere on the drop-down menus on the righthand side.
- Click on the Search button at the bottom of the screen.
3. What do the letters R and P before a classmark mean?
- If a classmark has 'R' in front of it, it means that the material is for reference use and can only be consulted in the Library.
- A 'P' means the item is a pamphlet - these are kept on Lily Pad 2 and can be borrowed.
4. What do the different coloured labels on the books mean?
See the following table for an explanation of the different coloured labels used in the Library:
| White | Theoretical or mainly theoretical books |
| Yellow | Resource material for use in the classroom; school textbooks |
| Green | Reference material |
| Blue | Children's literature - novels |
| Silver | Children's literature - fairy tales, legends |
| Orange | Children's literature - short stories |
| Grey | Children's literature - poetry |
5. Where can I find the children's literature?
The children's literature is kept on the Lower Ground Floor, directly behind the Issue & Enquiry Desk, and on the lower ramp.
6. I've been given a reading list - how can I tell which references are books and which are journals?
A typical book reference will appear as follows:
Holt, J.(1982) How Children Fail .Rev. ed. New York: Perseus Books.
The information that you are given here is the author, date of publication, title, edition, place of publication and publisher of the book. You can search by author and title on the Newton catalogue.
A typical journal article reference will appear as follows:
Thomas, Gary. (1998) The myth of rational research. British Educational Research Journal, 24 (2):141-161.
The information you are given is the author of the article, the date of the publication, the article's title and the title of the journal. The numbers at the end of the reference refer to the volume number of the journal, the number in brackets is the number of the particular issue and the final numbers are the pages of the article. To see whether the Faculty Library holds this journal, search the Newton catalogue for the journal's title. FAQ no. 9 shows you how to do this.
7. Is there a list of all the journals taken by the Faculty of Education Library? How do I find which journals the Faculty of Education Library takes?
In the navigation menu on the lefthand side of any of the Faculty of Education Library pages, click on Faculty journals. This will show you a list of all journals currently taken by the Library with links to online versions where available. The Library also holds a number of journals which are no longer current so if you cannot find the one you want, search the Newton catalogue (see point 7 below) or ask a member of Library staff.
8. I've searched BEI and ERIC and now I have a list of references - how do I find them?
Go to the Library webpage and click on the link on the left: Locating an article.
9. How do I search for a journal title on the Newton catalogue?
From the Newton catalogue homepage:
- Choose Search
- Type in the title of the journal you are searching for
- Highlight Journal Title on the drop-down menu.
- Click on the Search button at the bottom of the screen.
10. The Newton catalogue doesn't give a classmark for journals - how do I find them?
The current issues are displayed on the racks in the journals area on the Lower Ground Floor of the Library. Bound volumes of past issues are shelved in alphabetical order by title on Lily Pad 1. If you are unable to find the journal you need in either of these locations, please ask a member of Library staff.
Please note that all journals are for reference use only and may not be borrowed from the Library.
11. I can't access an ejournal. Why not and what should I do?
From the menu on the left of the webpage, click on ejournals@cambridge to check that the particular volume and date of the ejournal you are trying to access is available in electronic form.
If you need to use a password, check that you have and are using the right one.
If you have any queries, please ask a member of Library staff.
12. How can I find MEd. or MPhil. theses in the Faculty of Education Library?
Recent theses do not appear on the Newton catalogue but a list of titles is available at the Issue & Enquiry Desk, so please ask a member of Library staff.
You will need to fill in a pink request form for each thesis you want to see. Give your forms to a member of Library staff who will fetch the theses for you. Remember they are for reference only and no photocopying is permitted.
13. How can I suggest books for the Library to purchase?
If there is a book which you think the Library should buy, and you are in the Library, fill in the details on the white request forms which are kept near the catalogue terminals and give it to a member of Library staff. Make sure you specify that it's a request for a new book.
Alternatively you can e-mail your request to the Library (library@educ.cam.ac.uk).
The Acquisitions Librarian will let you know if it is to be ordered and you will also be notified when it is ready to be borrowed.
14. If the Faculty of Education Library hasn't got the book I want, how can I find out if it's in another University of Cambridge Library?
From the Newton homepage:
Click on Search Multiple Catalogues.
To search all the other libraries, hold down the shift key and highlight all libraries in the list.
Search for your book as you would for the Faculty of Education Library.
15. Am I allowed to use or borrow from other Departmental and College libraries in Cambridge?
Each Departmental and College library has its own regulations. You will be able to use any Departmental library for reference purposes and some may allow you to borrow. You will not be able to borrow from any College library unless you are a member of that College. Many College libraries will allow you to use material for reference, especially if it is not available elsewhere in Cambridge. You'll usually need to make an appointment to use a College library. To find addresses, phone nos., e-mail addresses etc. of other libraries, go to www.cam.ac.uk.
16. I have lost/forgotten my Raven password. What shall I do?
Email lib-raven@lists.cam.ac.uk
If you need to check that your Raven account and password are current and
working properly, please go to the following website:
http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/raven/test/
17. How can I return books when the Library is closed?
If the Faculty building is open but the Library is closed, you will find a book return box near the entrance to the Library next to Reception.
The opening hours for the building are :
Monday-Thursday: 6.30am - 9.00pm
Friday: 6.30am - 8.00pm
Please note that there is no access to the Faculty Building at weekends other than on Saturday mornings during term time.
18. Can I renew books online?
If your books have not been recalled and are not overdue, you can renew them via Your Account on the Newton online catalogue.
To do this:
- Click on the Newton library catalogue
- Click on Your Account
- Enter your barcode in the first box (5 characters on the back of your Library card)
- Enter your Last Name
- Select Education Faculty Library from the drop down list
- Click on Login
- Select an item to be renewed by clicking on the box next to each title, or tick Select All
- Click on Request Renewal