The Library has recently subscribed to the online version of Oxford University Press’ Very Short Introduction series for the Social Sciences.

The Social Sciences collection includes titles within the following fields of study:

• Anthropology
• Human Geography
• Politics
• Sociology
• Warfare & Defence

And also includes titles on business, management, economics, education, research and information.

You can access Very Short Introductions via the Databases A-Z list on the Library website. Once into the site you can click on Browse by Subject and click on the relevant subject under the Social Sciences heading. Or you can use the search facility on the site, though full text access is only available to titles within the Social Sciences collections.

Launched in 1995 by OUP, Very Short Introductions offer concise introductions to a diverse range of subject areas. Since the series was launched it has continued to offer new books each year for students and scholars, and the avidly curious, offering a bridge between reference content and higher academic work. All titles provide intelligent and serious introductions to a huge range of subjects, written by experts in the field who combine facts, analysis, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make challenging topics highly readable.

The Library also holds the print copies of many of the Very Short Introduction titles; you can find these in the Library Catalogue.

Caroline Stirling – Academic Library Support for Social and Political Science.