Each month, one of our Subject Librarians chooses an electronic resource which they feel will be of interest to you.
September’s Resource of the Month has been selected by Andy Kernot, Subject Consultant for Geography, Social Policy & Intervention, Public Policy, and Internet Studies.
Andy’s choice is Overton. It was chosen because it provides access to the world’s largest searchable index of policy documents, guidelines, think tank publications and working papers.
Overton is a database of policy documents and the relationships between them and provides access to policy documents from governments and official bodies as well as from IGOs, some NGOs and think tanks. The database provides access to over 9 million full text policy documents and guidelines from more than 29,000 organisations in 188 countries. Overton extract topics, subject areas, authors, citations, and other metadata from each document, and helps users track the influence of research on government policy, both locally and internationally.
The SSL ‘Book of the Month’ feature highlights a book in our collection that has been chosen by one of our Subject Consultants. This may be a recent addition to our stock or an existing item that we would like to share with you.
Septembers’s Book of the Month was selected by Andy Kernot Subject Consultant for Geography, Social Policy & Intervention, Public Policy, and Internet Studies.
Understanding the Digital World: what you need to know about computers, the internet, privacy, and security
by Brian W. Kernighan
Princeton University Press, 2021
QA76.KER 2021 (library use only)
It was chosen because it is a must-read for all who want to know more about computers and communications. It explains, precisely and carefully, not only how they operate but also how they influence our daily lives, in terms anyone can understand, no matter what their experience and knowledge of technology.
Computers are everywhere. Some of them are highly visible, in laptops, tablets, cell phones, and smart watches. But most are invisible, like those in appliances, cars, medical equipment, transportation systems, power grids, and weapons. We never see the myriad computers that quietly collect, share, and sometimes leak vast amounts of personal data about us. Through computers, governments and companies increasingly monitor what we do. Social networks and advertisers know far more about us than we should be comfortable with, using information we freely give them. Criminals have all-too-easy access to our data. Do we truly understand the power of computers in our world? Understanding the Digital World explains how computer hardware, software, networks, and systems work. Topics include how computers are built and how they compute; what programming is and why it is difficult; how the Internet and the web operate; and how all of these affect our security, privacy, property, and other important social, political, and economic issues.
“This is the clearest and simplest explanation of the world we now all depend on–how it works and why it does what it does—from one of our best-known inventors. Everyone on Earth needs to read it.”
Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Alphabet Inc. and Google
“This book takes the mystery out of computers and the Internet, and everyone can learn from it. With a friendly and accessible style, Kernighan connects what is happening inside machines to the news of the day and developments about the digital world.”
Harry Lewis, coauthor of Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty, and Happiness after the Digital Explosion
“Kernighan tells us exactly what we need to know about computers and computer science, focusing on ideas that are useful and interesting for everyday computer users. He covers a fascinating range of topics, including fundamentals such as computer hardware, programming, algorithms, and networks, as well as politically charged issues related to government surveillance, privacy, and Internet neutrality.”
John MacCormick, Dickinson College
We have one library use only copy of this book, which is currently located in our New Books Display Area (around the corner from our Issue Desk). Its shelfmark is QA76.KER 2021 (library use only). It is also available as an eLegal Deposit Book. The eBook can be accessed from a Bodleian Library computer only.
What would your SSL Book of the Month be? Do you have a favourite book in our collection? If so, we would love to know what it is. Add a comment below or email us.
Please note the following new changes to our library catalogue SOLO:
Find further information on how to use SOLO in the Bodleian Libraries SOLO Subject & Research Guide.
Any questions, contact us or use the Live Chat service available via the SOLO webpage.
We have a new unified lending policy for Bodleian Libraries. This aims to provide an inclusive and consistent user experience in response to feedback.
Changes are as follows:
There are new loan limits:
Books will automatically renew if no-one else has requested them – check on SOLO to see when they are due back. You can also renew items manually if you’d like to set the due date to a certain day of the week.
All loans, except Same Day Loans, have a maximum renewal period of 112 days. If you wish to borrow an item for longer than 112 days, you will need to bring it back to the library to be re-issued.
We would love to hear what you think about these changes. Email us your feedback, or click on ‘Feedback’ at the top of the SOLO website.
Oxford researchers now have access to 5 new databases providing access to source materials for Middle and Near Eastern history in the 19th and 20th centuries. The sources are all drawn from the US Department of State records:
These resources are useful to those researching:
See the History Faculty Library blog post for more details and other related resources.
The library will be closed for the upcoming August Bank Holiday weekend from Saturday 26 to Monday 28 August inclusive.
We will reopen on Tuesday 29 August at 9.00am.
For full details of our opening hours see here.
Each month, one of our Subject Librarians chooses an electronic resource which they feel will be of interest to you.
August’s Resource of the Month has been selected by John Southall, Bodleian Data Librarian and Subject Consultant for Economics and Sociology.
John’s choice is Convergence. It was chosen because it is new subscription for a database that has been frequently requested by readers in the past.
Convergence is the global network for blended finance. It generates blended finance data, intelligence, and deal flow to increase private sector investment in developing countries. Its global membership includes public, private, and philanthropic investors as well as sponsors of transactions and funds, offering this community a curated, online platform to connect with each other on blended finance transactions in progress. It also offers exclusive access to tailored training packages, case studies and reports.
Convergence is available to access via SOLO. A Single-Sign-On (SSO) is required to access this database, so its use is restricted to Oxford University students and staff members.
This resource also requires you to register before use:
The SSL ‘Book of the Month’ feature highlights a book in our collection that has been chosen by one of our Subject Consultants. This may be a recent addition to our stock or an existing item that we would like to share with you.
August’s Book of the Month was selected by John Southall, Bodleian Data Librarian and Subject Consultant for Economics and Sociology.
Doughnut Economics: Seven ways to think like a 21st-Century Economist
by Kate Raworth
Penguin Books, 2022
It was chosen because of the way it dissects seven core principles of Economics and considers how they can be updated for the 21st Century.
Raworth critiques the idea of ‘rational economic man’ and what really makes us act in the modern world. She argues an obsession with equilibrium has left economists helpless when facing the boom and bust of the real-world economy. She highlights the dangers of ignoring the role of energy and nature’s resources – and the far-reaching implications for encouraging economic growth when we take them into account.
Overall, Doughnut Economics is excellent at describing economic concepts in accessible terms. In addition, Raworth’s in-depth summary of climate change is very well argued, and in this sense, the book is also more about sustainable development than economics.
“This rigorous collection brings home how we are living through a crucial period in which data is mobilised in increasingly powerful and pervasive ways.”
Mike Savage, Professor of Sociology, LSE.
“An admirable attempt to broaden the horizons of economic thinking.”
Martin Wolf, Books of the Year, Financial Times
“the book holds multidisciplinary promise and Raworth draws upon appealing and evocative metaphors and examples to convey economic concepts”
Maria Zhivitskaya, LSE Review of Books
We have 7 copies of this book, one is currently located in our New Books Display Area (around the corner from our Issue Desk). Its shelfmark is HB75.RAW 2022 (see HB75.RAW 2017 and HB75.RAW 2018 for additional copies). All copies are available to be borrowed by Oxford University students and staff members. It is also available as an eLegal Deposit Book. The eBook can be accessed from a Bodleian Library computer only.
What would your SSL Book of the Month be? Do you have a favourite book in our collection? If so, we would love to know what it is. Add a comment below or email us.
