library collections

There are several different collections found in different parts of the library. You can use the library catalogue to search our collections. Please see our Help and Guidance web page for information on how to search the catalogue for resources, or ask a member of staff at the Enquiry Desk. Also many of the library's resources are electronic - to see the full range, and to access them, please visit the Library's Electronic Resources web page.

General library collection

The general library collection consists of academic and theoretical texts to support the subject areas taught in at Newman. The collection also includes:

• General reference materials; including dictionaries, encyclopaedias, directories and yearbooks

• Education reference materials; including Department for Children, Schools and Families reports and curriculum materials

• Pamphlet collection

• Audio-visual materials

Journals collection

Newman Library has an extensive collection of journal titles to support learning and teaching at Newman. Journals are an excellent source of information on your subject, and are important for research and keeping informed of professional changes and developments. Some are printed and can be found in the Journals room in the library, whilst others are available electronically.

The printed journal collection is for reference only, so titles should be accessible in the library at all times. Use the Journals A-Z list to check which journal titles we hold. If you experience any problems finding the title you need contact a member of staff. If you need an article that we don't hold in the Library or have access to electronically, we may be able to provide it to you via our inter-library loans service.

Many journal titles are available electronically, although not all of the titles we subscribe to are available online. To see a listing of e-journals or check for a particular title please check our Journals A-Z list.

School Experience Collection

All resources to support students on School Experience placements can be found in the School Experience Collection. The collection includes:

• Teachers' notes and lesson plans
• Music cds
• Cd-roms and software
• Videos
• Pictures and posters
• Topic kits
• Children's non-fiction
• Religious, historical and other artefacts

All School Experience materials are on a loan period of 6 weeks. See Borrowing Information for details of how many items you can borrow from the library.

The Children’s fiction collection is also part of the School Experience Resources area. The collection was established following a successful bid (“Through the Looking Glass”) to the regional development organisation MLA West Midlands.

The collection is available for loan to students, staff and external borrowers. The library also hopes to work with the English Department in particular to provide opportunities for students to learn more about children’s fiction, so that trainee teachers are better placed to encourage pupils into reading.

For further information please contact the Library (library-enquiries@newman.ac.uk).

John Henry Newman collection

The John Henry Newman Collection at Newman Library covers a wide range of Newman's own works, including letters, diaries, essays and sermons, as well as many works by other members of the Oxford Movement. Also included are secondary sources on the material, with other works on Catholic Theology, from early Patristic writings to more modern titles. The collection comprises approximately 500 books and pamphlets. For further details please see the library's John Henry Newman collection web page.

Local history collection

Covers every aspect of West Midlands history in a variety of different media, including photographs, maps, newspapers on microfilm, the 1871 Census for Birmingham, copies of archival material and 4,000 books and pamphlets. For further details please see the library's Local History web page.