The Library holds a wide range of reference resources such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories and indexes. Some of these are printed resources which are shelved in the Reference Collection on the First Floor of the Library. These are arranged by subject and may not be borrowed. Increasingly key reference resources are in electronic format. All reference resources have an entry on the Library catalogue|. For publications in print the catalogue will indicate the class-mark of the publication, and for electronic publications there will be a link to the full text. Electronic publications can be accessed remotely using your LSE user name and password.
Language dictionaries
The Library has foreign languages dictionaries from all over the world. Shelved in the Reference Collection the main ones are - English language PE1625, English-Spanish PC4640, English-French PC2640, and English-German-PF3640. To find the exact location of a dictionary do a keyword search on the catalogue - for example - "English-Chinese dictionary".
There are a number of quotations and abbreviations dictionaries including the Oxford dictionary of modern quotations at PN6080 O91
For law abbreviations see the Cardiff index to legal abbreviations| or see Index to legal citations and abbreviations on the shelves in the Reference Collection at K50 R15
A number of language dictionaries can also be accessed online for example the
Oxford English dictionary | (OED).
Bilingual and subject dictionaries are available on Oxford reference online |
Encyclopedias and subject dictionaries
The Library has one general encyclopedia - Encyclopedia Britannica in the Reference Collection at AE6 E51.
There are a range of subject dictionaries and encyclopedias across the social sciences. Use these to check terminology and short descriptions of topics in your subject area.
In the Reference Collection these are classified by subject, for example - Economics - HB, Economic history - HC, Sociology - HM, Law - K.
A select list of key resources would include -
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New Palgrave dictionary of economics online HB61 N53. This is now also available online.
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International encyclopedia of the social sciences H41 I61
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International encycopedia of business and management HD30.I5 I61
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Encyclopedia of religion B31 E51
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Encyclopedia of bioethics QH332 E51
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Strouds judicial dictionary of words and phrases KD313 G79
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Palgrave encyclopedia of world economic history since 1750 HB61 B21
Some reference resources are now available online.
Some of the key encyclopedias online include
To find if the Library holds a subject dictionary or encyclopedia go to the Library catalogue and do a keyword search , for instance "Human rights dictionary ", or browse the shelves in the Reference Collection.
Yearbooks
Yearbooks provide a source of quick information about a country, for instance population, geographical area, main newspapers and head of government. In the Reference Collection you will find the following two publications.
World of learning AS2 - information on organisations and countries
Europa World Yearbook D2 - basic country information - geography, politics and government
There are also a number of specialised yearbooks in the Reference Collection such as "Africa South of the Sahara".
Online you can find the CIA world factbook| - a free internet resource
History and biography
Reference works are divided by country - DA- DK Europe, DS- Asia, DU - Australasia, E- North America, F-Latin America. Coverage is the most current for the UK
Who's who and Who was who - DA566.9 Current issues are in the Reference Collection and the backfile is at the same classmark in the Main Collection.
Who's who online and Who was who | are also now availalble online- latest edition only available online . Previous edition is in the Reference Collection.
The current edition of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (DNB) is only availalble online. The earlier edition is in the Reference Collection in print.(DA28 D55)
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |
Atlases and gazetteers
The Library has a small collection of atlases and gazetteers which are shelved in the Reference Collection at G103. These include - the Times Atlas of the World and the Atlas of World History.
European Union information
Reference resources for European Union information, including the EU encyclopedia and directory are shelved at HC241.2. For publications on the European Parliament go to JN36.
Basic information about the European Union including member countries, symbols and anthems and treaties, travelling and working within the European Union, can be found on EUROPA| - the web site of the European Commission. This also has links to other main European Union web sites. For full details on the European Documentation Centre see our subject guide to European Information.|
Business and management
The Library holds some encyclopedias and dictionaries for business and management. Access to company information is availalble on a number of company databases such as Orbis | and Global Market Information Database | which also contains much market research information. If you wish to use this information see our subject guide to Management |and the Data Library.
Most of the electronic resources for business and management are only availalble for current LSE staff and students.
International directory of company histories , a major resource for business history, is shelved in the Main Collection at HD2721 I61
Government and IGO information
There are a number of guides in the Reference Collection to UK government departments, quangos, parliamentary constituencies and MPs, general election results and local government information. These include the Civil Service yearbook (JN421), DOD's parliamentary companion (JN500), Municipal yearbook (JS3000 E81) and the Directory of London government (JS3553 D59).
See also Library guides to government and intergovernmental publications|
There are also collections of British general elections manifestos at JN1121 B86 and there is a web site for manifestos for all the main UK political parties up to 2007 - Party election manifestos |
The Library has large collections of government documents which are not on the catalogue. These include UK parliamentary papers. The TSO catalogue (formerly HMSO catalogue) is kept in the Reference Collection in print format at Z2009.A6 Parliamentary papers from the 20th century are kept on the Lower Ground Floor.
Access to some parliamentary papers can be found online
House of Commons parliamentary papers online | or for more recent publications
Public Information Online |
The Library receives a depository collection from the US Federal Government. These are not on the Library's catalogue. They are held in microfiche and, from 1976, their reference numbers and some full text can be found on GPO access |
For earlier publications the printed monthly GPO index is held in the Reference Collection.at Z1223.A18.
Or search the US monthly catalogue online |with full text of documents 1895-1976
The Library collects IGO material comprehensively and there are some printed indexes and guides to this material in the Reference Collection. However increasingly, indexes and full text documents can be found online. For United Nations publications for instance - see the following databases -
For further information about using these collections ask staff at the Library Help Desk on the First Floor of the Library or consult the more detailed subject guide to government and IGO material - Government and intergovernmental organisations
Printed volumesof the Yearbook of international organizations going back to 1948-2004 are held in the MAIN COLLECTION at JX1904.
This publication is now called International organizations online | and is available online from the Library catalogue.
Finding theses and dissertations
The Library keeps copies of all LSE PhD theses. They are listed on the catalogue and can be found by author, title, subject or department. Copies of London University theses are kept at the Senate House Library, University of London.
To find out what theses have been completed at other UK universities use Index to theses | which has indexed theses from 1715 onwards.
To find a theses completed in a US university use Dissertations and theses |
There are some links now to the full text of theses from these but you may have to place an inter-library loan request. (LSE staff and students only)
The full text of Canadian theses from 1998-2002 is available on Theses Canada Portal|, with abstracts going back to 1965.
If you are looking for help with writing your dissertation there are a number of style manuals available. Chicago manual of style is in the Reference Collection in print at Z253 C53. There is also an online version which is shorter - Chicago manual of style |
To find more style manuals use the Library catalogue and key in "style manual" into the keyword search box.
Education
Commonwealth universities yearbook - L916.C - use this to trace academic staff in other universities.
If you are looking for funding for your studies consult the Grants register at LB2337.6.G7 G76
To find information about past LSE staff go to the LSE calendar - LF449.L9
Check out current research in your field - Current research in Britain at LB2372.3
Other useful resources
Charity choice - find details on charities at HV245 and the Directory of grant making trusts at HV245.A2 C47
British social attitudes - the current edition of key facts on the UK population at HN400.S8
Find out "The current value of old money|" what was the pound worth in years past?
Collections on microfilm and microfiche
Collections on microfilm and microfiche have one catalogue record for the whole collection but there are guides shelved in the Reference Collection which you will need to consult if you wish to have them fetched for you. The classmarks of these guides in the Reference Collection are in the Library's catalogue records.
The Index to the Times is at ZA121.T46 and the FT Index at ZHG11. These titles are purchased by the Library on microfilm. The Library also has access to the Times digital archive |
This resource is availalbe for LSE staff and students and on the Visitor PCS.
For an overview of what is held in the Library's microfilm and microfiche collection see the guide to Microfilm and microfiche collections in the Library |
For more information consult the Library catalogue.|