Books

Book collections at LSE Library

Course Collection (1st floor) 

In the Course Collection, there are copies of many of the essential books on your reading lists. Note that not all items are available in print, some may be online only. You can borrow these books for 7 days. Items can be renewed if not required by others.  

Main Collection (1st to 3rd floors) 

The Main Collection contains printed copies of the background readings on your reading lists and other titles for additional research. You can borrow these books for 90 days (7 days if requested by someone else). Items are automatically renewed unless required by others.  

Find/access printed books and ebooks 

1. Use Library Search to search for the title or author of your book/chapter. 

2. Run your search and use filters to refine your results by availability. Choices include full text online (for ebooks) and available in the Library for printed items. Not all items on your reading list will be offered in both formats.  

3. To access ebooks, click on the Check online access option from the catalogue entry. This opens the record. Click on the link displayed under full-text availability and login with your LSE email address. 

4. Ebooks may have restrictions on loan periods, downloading or printing set by suppliers. Consult the individual website for details.  

5. Ebooks should be fully accessible. If you have problems or require alternative formats, contact Library staff.

6. The location of a printed book is displayed on the main catalogue record. Note the collection and classmark (eg: Course Collection Books HV7921 C65). Select the red Locate icon to get directions. There are also Library floor plans. 

7. Items on loan are marked as Checked out and can be requested. 

Further details on borrowing, renewing and requesting.

Dictionaries and encyclopedias

• Oxford English Dictionary (OED). Authoritative guide to the English language.  
• Oxford Reference Online. Multilingual dictionaries and specialist encyclopedias. 
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Information on over 50,000 people who have shaped UK history.  
• Who's Who. Biographies of influential people in the UK from 1897 to the present day. These include politicians, judges and celebrities.
• Locate printed dictionaries and reference works via Library Search.

Finding books in other libraries 

LSE students can use most other libraries of the University of London. Search their catalogues via:

• Library Hub Discover. A database of 201 UK and Irish academic, national and specialist library catalogues. Check item availability in advance of visiting.

Material not available at LSE can also be requested via our Get it for Me service.

Get further help 

If you need any further help, please contact us. Staff are available during office hours to help you find material or answer any other queries you have.