The Main Library has an extensive collection of books and periodicals relating to film, linguistics and to foreign literatures and languages, as well as collections of dictionaries and reference books, and access to CD-ROM and on-line bibliographic databases. Make sure you attend the scheduled introductory talk about the Library at the beginning of your first year, to help you make efficient use of the Library’s collections and services. Mr Stuart Jones, the Subject Librarian for the School, can be found on the 2nd floor of the Library and can help you with enquiries during your studies. A range of printed Library guides is also available.
Students are reminded that the Library is a place for study. It is not a social space. Please:
There is system of sanctions for non-compliance with the above, starting with one-day bans and escalating to four-week bans and worse for frequent offenders. The School fully supports these measures and we may take our own action against any student who does not respect the study environment.
You should expect to take advantage of your location and status as a student of the University of London during your studies. As a student at Queen Mary, you will be able to benefit from using the other libraries of the University, and in particular, will find it useful also to join the University of London Library at Senate House in Malet Street. You simply need to produce your Queen Mary student card in order to obtain a reader’s ticket. This will give you access to an even larger collection of publications than can be found in Queen Mary Library. A reciprocal agreement between the University and its Colleges means that often publications are available at Senate House which are not available in individual College libraries; this is done deliberately to extend the range of books available.
Queen Mary has several corporate memberships of the British Film Institute Library, 21 Stephen Street (off Tottenham Court Road, nearest tube Tottenham Court Road, website: http://www.bfi.org.uk). This is an invaluable study resource with a wide selection of journals and books relating to film. Opening hours are Mon & Fri 10.30 –5.30, Tues & Thurs 10.30 – 8.00, Wed 1.00– 8.00. It is free if you use one of our cards. Cards can be borrowed the morning you intend to go, from the Queen Mary Library issue desk.
However, you must be prepared to buy your own copies of at least the core texts for your studies each year. You must buy the books required for close study in the modules that you are following. Language students will also need a good dictionary and a grammar book. Recommendations will be made by Module Organisers. Try to build up your own personal library. Many of the required or recommended texts together with a selection of general critical studies can be bought on campus in the Smith & Sons Bookshop, next to the Student Union Hub. You may also find it convenient to order the books you require from internet sites such as Amazon; foreign-language books may be cheaper from their French, German etc. sites.
A very good modern languages bookshop (nearest Tube station - Oxford Circus) with a large stock is:
Grant & Cutler
55-57 Great Marlborough Street
W1V 2AY
(Telephone: 020 7734 2012)
You could also try the bookshop near Senate House: or:
Waterstone’s University Booksellers European Bookshop
Malet Street 5 Warwick Street
London WC1 London W1R 5RA
(Telephone: 020 7636 1577) (Telephone: 020 7734 5259)