Home University of Edinburgh Library Essentials
March 2, 2026
Were the Tudors terrible?
*The Library has access to The Cecil Papers until 31st July 2024 as part of ProQuest Access 350.*
The Library currently has trial access to The Cecil Papers, which may help you find out.
This fascinating archive offers you crucial insights into the events of one of the most dynamic periods of history.
The Cecil Papers cover the period 1520-1668 and are a privately held archive of around 30,000 16th and 17th century manuscripts. In the main, these consist of the correspondence of William Cecil, Lord Burghley (1520-1598) and his son Robert, the 1st Earl of Salisbury (1563-1612). Read More
100 Great Ideas
We’re always thinking of ways to improve the library, and today we’ve been asking for your ideas. As part of Innovative Learning Week, we’ve been in the foyer today trying to get 100 ideas for what could make this space better.
We even made a little Lego model of the foyer – do you recognise it?
We want to hear any ideas that you have, and some of them have been a little bit crazy! Anyone fancy a slide from the first floor down to the ground? Or maybe a Library yurt?
There have been lots of great suggestions though, how about some library beanbags? Or some thought provoking challenges to get your brain working as you come in to the Library before you have to study?
There is still time to contribute your ideas, either visit the library today, or contact us on Facebook or Twitter and let us know what you’d like to see here!
5 library databases you didn’t know you needed in your life…
…until now.
The many bibliographic and indexing databases you can access through the Library are fantastic and essential resources for your research and study whether you are an undergraduate, postgraduate or member of staff.
However, the Library subscribes to a large number of different kinds of databases that can be just as useful for your learning, teaching and research needs and we wanted to highlight just a small number of these that you may not have been aware of and might want to explore.
All databases can be accessed via the Databases A-Z list, unless otherwise noted.
In no particular order…
1. Box of Broadcasts (BoB) Read More
All you need is library love
As Valentine’s Day approaches this weekend, we want to let all students know that their library loves them!
We were down in the Library Foyer today handing out origami hearts that we made this week, and inviting students to give it a go:
Origami is a great way to take a break from studying, and it only takes six minutes of quiet activity to relax you. The hearts are so easy that you could make a couple in that time! You can find the instructions for the bigger hearts here, and the little bookmark hearts here.
These students all had a great time doing it!
If you do make a heart, take a photo and show us on Facebook or Twitter! Make sure to follow us as well, because we will be posting about more fun events in the Library Foyer in the coming weeks! Library love is all around!
Copyright waffle and the illusion of choice.
ice cream cone trio by stu_spivack : http://edin.ac/1Rm0wEi
An academic colleague of mine recently had an article accepted for publication in a journal. As usual they were emailed by the publisher who asked them to sign an Author Publishing Agreement which would transfer copyright to them. However, the author noticed that the publisher also allowed authors to retain their own copyright by instead signing a Licence to Publish.
Keep your copyright!
The researcher wasn’t sure whether to assign copyright to the publisher, or if it would be preferable for them to retain copyright. On the face of it, it seems like a no-brainer – keep your copyright rather than signing it away. This is the mantra that open access advocates have been saying for years.
BUT more importantly.
Always read the small print – or get someone else to do it for you – and understand what you are getting yourself into.
The illusion of choice
In this particular case, if you read both the standard Publishing Agreement (to transfer copyright) and the Licence Agreement (to keep copyright) with a fine-tooth comb you will find that they pretty much contain the same language verbatim. There is no practical difference between them both in the end results. Both the author and the publisher will end up with exactly the same rights for exactly the same duration. There is the illusion of choice but it literally doesn’t matter which piece of paper is signed. This is an example of Copyright Waffle and it sidetracks from the important things.
Waffles by Brenda Wiley: http://edin.ac/1Rm13Gq
Important things:
- By hook, or by crook, make your work open access.
- If you don’t know how, then ask someone who does; generally speaking Librarians will always be able to help you.
- If you have the option, publish your work with a Creative Commons licence; CC-BY is our favourite flavour.
New Subscription to Duke University Press E-Journals Collection
Following a successful trial last year to additional e-journal content from Duke University Press, we now subscribe to the e-Duke Journals Scholarly Collection
There are now 45 titles in the collection and these have been added to DiscoverEd.
| Journal | ISSN | eISSN | HighWire Availability | HighWire URL |
| American Literary Scholarship | 0065-9142 | 1527-2125 | 2000-2015 | http://als.dukejournals.org |
| American Literature | 0002-9831 | 1527-2117 | 2000-Current | http://americanliterature.dukejournals.org |
| American Speech | 0003-1283 | 1527-2133 | 2000-Current | http://americanspeech.dukejournals.org |
| boundary 2 | 0190-3659 | 1527-2141 | 2000-Current | http://boundary2.dukejournals.org |
| Camera Obscura | 0270-5346 | 1529-1510 | 1976-Current | http://cameraobscura.dukejournals.org |
| Common Knowledge | 0961-754X | 1538-4578 | 2002-Current | http://commonknowledge.dukejournals.org |
| Comparative Literature | 0010-4124 | 1945-8517 | 2000-Current | http://complit.dukejournals.org |
| Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa and the Middle East | 1089-201X | 1548-226X | 1981-Current | http://cssaame.dukejournals.org |
| Cultural Politics | 1743-2197 | 1751-7435 | 2005-Current | http://culturalpolitics.dukejournals.org |
| differences | 1040-7391 | 1527-1986 | 1999-Current | http://differences.dukejournals.org |
| East Asian Science, Technology and Society | 1875-2160 | 1875-2152 | 2007-Current | http://easts.dukejournals.org |
| Eighteenth-Century Life | 0098-2601 | 1086-3192 | 2000-Current | http://ecl.dukejournals.org |
| Environmental Humanities (new for 2016) | 2201-1919 | TBD | TBD | |
| Ethnohistory | 0014-1801 | 1527-5477 | 2000-Current | http://ethnohistory.dukejournals.org |
| French Historical Studies | 0016-1071 | 1527-5493 | 2000-Current | http://fhs.dukejournals.org |
| Genre | 0016-6928 | 2160-0228 | 2000-Current | http://genre.dukejournals.org |
| GLQ | 1064-2684 | 1527-9375 | 1993-Current | http://glq.dukejournals.org/ |
| Hispanic American Historical Review | 0018-2168 | 1527-1900 | 2000-Current | http://hahr.dukejournals.org |
| History of Political Economy | 0018-2702 | 1527-1919 | 1969-Current | http://hope.dukejournals.org |
| Journal of Chinese Literature and Culture | 2329-0048 | 2329-0056 | 2015 | http://jclc.dukejournals.org |
| Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law | 0361-6878 | 1527-1927 | 1976-Current | http://jhppl.dukejournals.org |
| Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies | 1082-9636 | 1527-8263 | 2000-Current | http://jmems.dukejournals.org |
| Journal of Middle East Women’s Studies | 1552-5864 | 1558-9579 | 2005-Current | http://jmews.dukejournals.org |
| Journal of Music Theory | 0022-2909 | 1941-7497 | 1999-Current | http://jmt.dukejournals.org |
| Labor | 1547-6715 | 1558-1454 | 2004-Current | http://labor.dukejournals.org |
| Mediterranean Quarterly | 1047-4552 | 1527-1935 | 2000-Current | http://mq.dukejournals.org |
| Modern Language Quarterly | 0026-7929 | 1527-1943 | 1940-Current | http://mlq.dukejournals.org |
| New German Critique | 0094-033X | 1558-1462 | 2006-Current | http://ngc.dukejournals.org |
| Nka | 1075-7163 | 2152-7792 | 1994-Current | http://nka.dukejournals.org |
| Novel | 0029-5132 | 1945-8509 | 1999-Current | http://novel.dukejournals.org |
| Pedagogy | 1531-4200 | 1533-6255 | 2001-Current | http://pedagogy.dukejournals.org |
| Poetics Today | 0333-5372 | 1527-5507 | 2000-Current | http://poeticstoday.dukejournals.org |
| positions | 1067-9847 | 1527-8271 | 1993-Current | http://positions.dukejournals.org |
| Public Culture | 0899-2363 | 1527-8018 | 1988-Current | http://publicculture.dukejournals.org |
| Radical History Review | 0163-6545 | 1534-1453 | 1975-Current | http://rhr.dukejournals.org |
| Small Axe | 0799-0537 | 1534-6714 | 2001-Current | http://smallaxe.dukejournals.org |
| Social Text | 0164-2472 | 1527-1951 | 2000-Current | http://socialtext.dukejournals.org |
| South Atlantic Quarterly | 0038-2876 | 1527-8026 | 2000-Current | http://saq.dukejournals.org |
| the minnesota review | 0026-5667 | 2157-4189 | 2005-Current | http://minnesotareview.dukejournals.org/ |
| The Philosophical Review | 0031-8108 | 1558-1470 | 2000-Current | http://philreview.dukejournals.org |
| Theater | 0161-0775 | 1527-196X | 1968-Current | http://theater.dukejournals.org |
| Tikkun | 0887-9982 | 2164-0041 | 2000-Current | http://tikkun.dukejournals.org |
| TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly | 2328-9252 | 2328-9260 | 2014-Current | http://tsq.dukejournals.org |
| Twentieth-Century Literature | 0041-462X | 2325-8101 | 2009-Current | http://tcl.dukejournals.org |
| World Policy Journal | TBD | TBD | TBD | Starts 2016 |
*New* Medieval Family Life
The Library has recently purchased access to Medieval Family Life, a collection of letters and manuscripts from c1400-1490. Only five major letter collections exist from fifteenth century England and they are all available for the first time in this resource.
These letter collections and associated manuscripts take you into the world of medieval family, business, relationships, trade, politics and community.
Medieval Family Life contains the letter collections of the Paston, Stonor, Cely, Plumpton and Armburgh families. Read More
E-Resources currently on trial
American National Biography on trial until 11th February. This database offers portraits of more than 19,000 men and women — from all eras and walks of life — whose lives have shaped American history and culture. From astronauts to missionaries, chemists to musicians, and cowboys to Vikings, the portraits combine to reflect the rich diversity of American life, from pre-colonial times onward. More than a decade in preparation, the American National Biography is the first biographical resource of this scope to be published in more than sixty years.
Oxford Reports on International Law new modules • International Law in European Courts and • International Trade Law are on trial until 18th February. This resource brings together decisions on public international law from international law courts, domestic courts, and ad hoc tribunals. In this resource, the full scope of international case law is available in one place, accompanied by expert analysis and cross-case navigation via the Oxford Law Citator. New cases are added daily, making Oxford Reports on International Law the most up-to-date source of international case law available.
SAGE Video on trial until 12th March. This resource supports the teaching and learning needs of undergraduate students, through to the needs of the academic researcher within Counseling and Psychotherapy, Communication and Media Studies, and Education. With new and original video productions, including contributions from our book and journal editors and authors across the world, SAGE Video offers quick definitions, short tutorials and in-depth interviews for a range of academic viewpoints. It also features extensive footage of practitioners in real-life professional settings designed to illustrate best practice and provide a unique insight for students to master the theory, skills and techniques needed to succeed.
Feedback and further info
A list of e-resources on trial can be found on our trials webpage along with links to trial feedback forms – please do fill one out if you found the resource useful as your comments help decide future purchases. Resources on trial are also added to DiscoverEd – please note an entry for Sage Videos will be added to DiscoverEd later on this evening.
A Suffragette Belt
The CRC has recently acquired a rare belt previously owned by a Scottish suffragette. The belt has already been attracting lots of interest on Twitter so we’ve been exploring where it sits in the context of Suffragette textiles and symbolism.
The belt is made from a strip of ribbon, embroidered with enamelled motifs in the signature white, green and purple associated with the suffrage movement. It has a pink lining on the reverse and a gilt buckle fastening. The belt is in amazing condition despite some oxidisation of the silver in the ribbon, leading the silver threads to turn dark grey.
Mockingbirds and Cuckoos
The library’s most borrowed books are all textbooks. Of course it is important that our library acts as a resource, but what can it offer you after you have completed your reading from Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine? Certainly, we have more than textbooks here!
We compiled a list of some novels and autobiographies that the library holds. From Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl to Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being, this list is full of great, thought-provoking reads:
- Junot Diaz, The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (PS3554.I259 Dia.)
- Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything is Illuminated (PS3606.O38 Foe.)
- Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl (DS135.N6 Fra.)
- Joseph Heller, Catch-22 (PS3558.E476 Hel. )
- Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (PS3561.E667 Kes. )
- Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being (PG5039.21.U6 Kun.)
- Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird (PS3562.E353 Lee. )
- Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom (DT1949.M35 Man.)
- George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London (PR6029.R8 Orw.)
- Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture (QA76.2.P38 Pau.)
- J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (PS3537.A426 Sal.)
- Kathryn Stockett, The Help (PS3619.T636 Sto.)
We were in the foyer of the Main Library today asking students which book on the list they found most inspiring. To Kill a Mockingbird was the clear winner, while One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Catch-22 were tied for second place, closely followed by The Catcher in the Rye.
Do you agree? Tell us which of these books you find most inspiring! Haven’t read them? It only takes six minutes of quiet reading to relax you, so borrow one from the library and start today! You never know what might come from it.
Collections
Hill and Adamson Collection: an insight into Edinburgh’s past
My name is Phoebe Kirkland, I am an MSc East Asian Studies student, and for...
Cataloguing the private papers of Archibald Hunter Campbell: A Journey Through Correspondence
My name is Pauline Vincent, I am a student in my last year of a...
Projects
Cataloguing the private papers of Archibald Hunter Campbell: A Journey Through Correspondence
My name is Pauline Vincent, I am a student in my last year of a...
Archival Provenance Research Project: Lishan’s Experience
Presentation My name is Lishan Zou, I am a fourth year History and Politics student....