Our Resource of the Month for March: CAB Abstracts

Each month, one of our Subject Librarians chooses an electronic resource which they feel will be of interest to you.

Subject Consultant, Andy Kernot, sat at a computer in the SSL.

March’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 CAB Abstracts. It was chosen because it is one of the less well known databases that is more specialised but has particular relevance to geography as well as other subject areas.

Overview

CAB Abstracts is a bibliographic database compiled by CABI. It covers the significant research and development literature in the fields of agriculture, forestry, human health and nutrition, animal health, and the management and conservation of natural resources. Over three million records have been added to the database since its computerization in 1973 and it searches over 1200 academic journals.

Where can you access the resource

CAB Abstracts is hosted on the OVID platform and can be accessed through SOLO. A Single-Sign-On (SSO) is required to access this database, as it is restricted to Oxford University students and staff members.

 

Our Book of the Month choice for March

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.

Subject Consultant Andy Kernot selecting a book from the SSL shelves.

March’s Book of the Month was selected by Andy Kernot, Subject Consultant for Geography, Social Policy & Intervention, Public Policy, and Internet Studies.

The front cover of the book 'Taming the Flood' by Jeremy Purseglove, which features an image of flooded countryside. On top is a rosette with the words 'SSL Book of the Month' on it.

 

 

Taming the flood: rivers, wetlands and the centuries-old battle against flooding

Jeremy Purseglove

William Collins, 2015

GB1399.PUR 2015

 

 

It was chosen because it is regarded as a standard work on flood alleviation, nature conservation and river management.

Book Overview

In recent years the Somerset Levels suffered from the worst flooding in over twenty years, and more recently, flooding in Cumbria and other parts of Britain have reached new levels of severity. Taming the Flood analyses many of the conflicting demands made on rivers and wetlands, offering practical solutions which aim to protect, rather than destroy, these important ecological habitats.

Exploring the old arguments and new solutions raised over the last 400 years, this completely updated edition of the classic Taming the Flood reveals how harnessing nature, rather than attempting to repress it, is the only answer to the environmental disasters we are faced with today.

Reviews

Taming the Flood most deserves its status as a classic […] for its evocation of place […] the descriptions of wetlands are exquisitely written. This fine book calls for, and takes, a longer view.

The Sunday Times

Jeremy Purseglove has a gift that is increasingly rare in these days of scientific specialisation of joining practical wisdom about working with nature and the land to an imaginative appreciation of their place in our history and culture.

Richard Mabey

A most authoritative book which appears at a very appropriate time. It will give rise to new attitudes in an extremely important aspect of conservation, and new hope to those who are fighting for a more enlightened approach to wetlands.

Sir Peter Scott

How can I access it?

We have two lending copies of this book. One of our copies is currently located in our New Books Display Area (around the corner from our Issue Desk). Its shelfmark is  GB1399.PUR 2015

Image of an open book with the pages curled to form a love heartWhat 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.

Not sure where to study in the library? Find out more about our study spaces

A person stood with their finger to their chin and head slanted to one side, looking quizzical. A large question mark is in the air above them.

Not sure where to study in the SSL? We have a variety of study spaces/seating for you to choose from. We also have different volume levels assigned to our study spaces, so you can easily find a silent space or somewhere you can talk. Read on below to discover the different options and then all you have to do is decide what suits you best!

Prefer to study with your friends? Does being surrounded by other people studying help you get down to work?

Our open plan seating might be your best choice. We have two options available:

One of open plan seating areas in the Social Science Library

A large open plan seating area on the Manor Road side of the library. Floor to ceiling windows ensure lots of natural light. The desks are roomy which means you can spread out your study materials. Desks are equipped with devices to lock your laptops to and power sockets (either above or below the desks). This area of the library is designated a Silent Zone (silent study, no conversations)

The open plan seating area in the Social Science Library with partitioned seating

Our second area of open plan seating is located on the river facing side of the library. These desks are partitioned, to allow for a degree of privacy. Again, there is plenty of natural light from the windows adjacent to the seating and a more leafy view. Desks are equipped with power sockets. This area of the library is also designated a Silent Zone (silent study, no conversations)

Does being surrounded by others distract you? Do you prefer a space where you can be completely on your own or with only a few people nearby?

Our study carrels, individual partitioned seating or individual study desks will be your best choice:

Two of the individual study carrels in the Social Science Library

We have ten study carrels. Two are double carrels and the rest are single. All are sound proofed, have power sockets and Wi-Fi. All have over head lighting and are equipped with desk lamps. The carrels designated for general use operate on a first-come, first served basis. See our guide to study carrel etiquette.

The individual study desks along the west side of the Social Science Library

If the study carrels are all in use, there are individual desks situated on the side of the library facing the St Cross Building, overlooking the car park. These are also helpfully removed from distractions and noise (turn right at the end of the Issue Desk and then go left past the Discussion Rooms to reach this area). Note that these desks do not have power sockets. This area of the library is designated a Silent Zone (silent study, no conversations)

photo (c) John Cairns

The alternative is the study area at the back of the library (running along from in front of the Quiet Study Room towards the Silent Study Room) this is a partitioned seating area for quiet individual study. Half of these seats have been designated a laptop free zone. We request that readers do not use a laptop or a device with an external keyboard at these seats. Tablets and other devices with silent keyboards may still be used. The seats in this area are clearly labelled. All desks in this area have power sockets. This area of the library is designated a Silent Zone (silent study, no conversations)

Looking for a space to have a discussion, give a presentation or engage in group work? Our Discussion Rooms will suit your needs.

A groups of students having a conversation in the Small Discussion Room in the Social Science Library

photo (c) John Cairns

Our Small Discussion Room comfortably seats 8 and the Large Discussion Room seats 16.  Both rooms are equipped with whiteboards and projectors. Marker pens, board rubbers and remote controls for the projectors can be borrowed from the issue desk. Power sockets are also available. Both rooms are equipped with dimmer switches, so you can choose the light level you require. Use our online booking tool to book one of the rooms. These 2 rooms have been designated a Discussion Zone: Discussions, presentations, group work and conversations are permitted

Do you want plenty of desk space to spread out? Do you want to be away from the main open plan study areas? Our two Study Rooms at the back of the Library will be a good choice for you.

The Quier Study Room in the SSL.

Our Quiet Study Room is equipped with whiteboards and all desks have power sockets. Besides large spacious desks, the room also contains one manual height-adjustable desk and one standing desk. Windows along the back wall provide natural light. This room has been designated a Quiet Zone where brief, low volume conversations are permitted.

The Silent Study Room in the SSL.

The Silent Study Room contains desks with partitioned seating and power sockets.The room also has one electronic and one manual height-adjustable desk. Windows on two sides provide natural light. This room has been designated a silent zone (silent study, no conversations).

The Q-Step Centre Teaching Lab in the Social Science Library

An alternative space is the Q-Step Centre Teaching Lab (located at the back of the library, on the side facing the St Cross Building). This room is used for teaching Quantitative Methods to undergraduate students from 1pm – 6.15pm every weekday of the teaching term (Weeks 1 – 8). Outside these hours the room is accessible to all readers.

Forgotten your laptop or would prefer to work on a proper computer with desk space? Our computer area or Information Skills Training Room will be a good choice.

Our main computer area is equipped with 23 PCs, this includes a dedicated Data Area with PCs containing specialist software.

The Information Skills Training Room in the Social Science Library

The Information Skills Training Room offers 20 PCs, LCD projector and screen. It is occasionally booked for training sessions but if it is free, you are welcome to use it. This area is normally less busy than our main computer area. All the monitors and keyboard are housed within the desk, so lift the covers of the desks to access them. This room is equipped with a dimmer switch, so you can choose the light level you require.

Have your own device but want to connect it to a monitor? We have 6 monitors available for you to use

Monitiors on desks in the SSL

The monitors are located at the end of our main computer area, on desks adjacent to the windows. Cables to connect your devices can be borrowed from our issue desk.

Prefer to be more relaxed and sit in individual comfy chairs or want to take a break from studying? Our comfortable seating area, which is also a Wellbeing Corner, will suit your needs.

The comfortable seating in our Wellbeing Corner

There are 6 blue comfortable chairs on the side of the library facing the St Cross Building, behind our main computer area. There is plenty of natural daylight in this area. Our Wellbeing Corner has a selection of puzzle and colouring books for you to use in the library, as well as a jigsaw puzzle.

We also have a range of Ergonomic Furniture for you to use:

The Library has 7 height-adjustable desks (5 electronic, 2 manual) and 6 fixed height standing desks in the following locations:

Electronic Height-Adjustable Desks

Two of the height adjustable desks in the Social Science Library

  • 2 are behind the main computer area (also equipped with PCs)
  • 2 in the open plan study area on the river facing side of the Library
  • 1 in the Silent Study Room

Manual Height-Adjustable Desks

  • 1 in the Quiet Study Room
  • 1 in the Silent Study Room

Fixed-Height Standing Desks

  • 3 in the study area on the river facing side of the Library
  • 1 at the end of the partitioned seating area outside the Silent Study Room
  • 1 in the quiet study area by the windows facing the St Cross Building
  • 1 in the Quiet Study Room

Ergonomic Chairs

The Library also has 10 RH Logic ergonomic chairs located around the library. Please feel free to move them to where you would like to sit (or ask staff for assistance with doing this).

Standard adjustable chairs are available in the silent and quiet Study Rooms and at desks equipped with PCs. Library staff will fetch or move these on request.

The back of a person's heads. They are in the process of putting on some headphones

Look out for signage indicating the volume level for a zone:

A speaker with a cross next to it, on a blue backgroundSilent Zone: Silent study, no conversations

Main seating areas & Silent Study Room

Information Skills Training Room & Q-Step Centre Training Lab (when not in use for teaching)

 

 A speaker with a cross next to it, on a yellow background

Quiet Zone: Brief, low volume conversations permitted.

Quiet Study Room

 

A speaker with a cross next to it, on a green background

Discussion Zone: Discussions, presentations, group work and conversations are permitted

Large Discussion Room and Small Discussion Room

Take some time out from your studies in our new Wellbeing Corner

Comfortable seating area in the SSL on a table is a jigsaw puzzle, colouring books, pens and puzzle books

Need a break from your studies? Why not spend some time in our new Wellbeing Corner. Located in our comfortable seating area behind our library PCs, you will find:

  • mindful colouring books, with colouring pencils
  • a quick crossword book
  • a sudoku puzzle book
  • a word search book
  • a jigsaw puzzle for you to complete

Please feel free to use any of the materials in the library but do return them to the coffee table, for others to use, after use.

The back view of a person sat reading a book on an electronic device

Want to improve your wellbeing by reading? Explore the collection of online self-help books recommended by the Oxford University Counselling Service book recommendations:

 

 

 

Help the library and win an Oxford River cruise for two!

Close up on hands typing on the keyboard of a laptop,

  • Do you have a reading list and don’t know where to start?
  • Do you want to find your readings on your reading list more quickly?
  • Do you have difficulty in finding essential readings on your reading list?

Help us in helping you by taking part in a 20 – 30 minute review on your experience in finding resources from your reading list and enter a prize draw for an Oxford River Cruise for Two!

The Survey closes on Friday 8th March.

Note that this survey is intended for University of Oxford students on taught undergraduate and postgraduate programmes (including MPhil, MSc, MSt degrees) in social science subjects supported by the SSL.

Green Action Week (19 to 23 February) Pop-up Book Display

The SSL are proud to support Green Action Week!

This week (19 to 23 March) the University’s Environmental Sustainability team is hosting the 2024 Green Action Week – a week full of exciting events that empower and celebrate environmental action.

The week aims to enhance networking and exchange of ideas, engage students and staff with research, promote environmental action, raise awareness, encourage wellbeing and celebrate with colleagues.

Green Action Week offers a full and exciting programme of environmental events and opportunities delivered by over 30 partners across the University. From departments and colleges to SU, students’ societies, volunteer groups and suppliers.

Want some tips on how to be Green?

Take a look at our pop-up book display around the corner from our Issue Desk.

Here are a few of the titles on display:

Go lightly : how to travel without hurting the planet / Nina Karnikowski. 2021

 

 

 

 

 

Things you can do : how to fight climate change and reduce waste / Eduardo Garcia. 2022

 

 

 

Living plantfully : your guide to growing, cooking and living a healthy, happy & sustainable plant-based lifeLindsey Harrad. 2022

 

 

Further reading from our collection:

No one is too small to make a difference / Greta Thunberg.  2019.  SSL shelfmark: GE195.7.THU 2019

 

 

How bad are bananas? : the carbon footprint of everything / Mike Berners-Lee. 2010.  SSL shelfmark: GE196.BER 2010

 

 

Less is more : how degrowth will save the world / Jason Hickel.  2020.  SSL shelfmark: HC79.E5.HIC 2020

 

 

Wilding : the return of nature to a British farm / Isabella Tree.  2019.  SSL shelfmark: QL83.4.TRE 2019

 

 

Our Resource of the Month for February: Sociology Collection

Each month, one of our Subject Librarians chooses an electronic resource which they feel will be of interest to you.

John Southall sat next to a computer in the Social Science Library.

February’s Resource of the Month has been selected by John Southall, Bodleian Data Librarian and Subject Consultant for Economics and Sociology.

An open laptop on a desk. On the screen are the words 'Sociology Collection.' To the left is a notepad and pen and to the right a cup of coffee.

John’s choice is Sociology Collection. It was chosen as it has extensive historical coverage and provides regularly updated indexing of core sociological journals based upon the “Thesaurus of Sociological Indexing Terms.”

Overview

The Sociology Collection is provided by Proquest; an information database platform vendor specialising in full text, abstracts and indexes.

It provides a single entry point to ‘Sociological Abstracts’, ‘Sociology Database’ and ‘Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts’ (ASSIA). Each database may be searched together or individually and offers coverage of the international literature in sociology and social services. It provides abstracts, indexing and full-text coverage of journal articles, books, book chapters, dissertations and working papers, including full-text from hundreds of leading sociology journals.

Where can you access the resource

Sociology Collection is available to access via SOLO. A Single-Sign-On (SSO) is required to access this database, as it is restricted to Oxford University students and staff members.

 

Our Book of the Month choice for February

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.

John Southall in the Social Science Library selecting a book from the shelves.

February’s Book of the Month was selected by John Southall Bodleian Data Librarian and Subject Consultant for Economics and Sociology.

Front cover image of the book 'The arrow impossibility theorem' On the top is a rosette with 'SSL Book of the Month' on it.

 

The arrow impossibility theorem

Eric Maskin and Amartya Sen

Columbia University Press, 2014

JF1001.MAS 2014

 

 

 

 

It was chosen because of the way it assesses a ground breaking innovation in the history of welfare economics, voting theory, and collective choice.

Book Overview

Kenneth J. Arrow’s “impossibility theorem” was a watershed moment in the development of the Social Sciences, demonstrating that there is no voting rule that satisfies the four desirable axioms of decisiveness, consensus, non-dictatorship, and independence.

In this book Eric Maskin and Amartya Sen explore the implications of Arrow’s theorem. Sen considers its ongoing utility, exploring the theorem’s value and limitations in relation to recent research on social reasoning, and Maskin discusses how to design a voting rule that gets us closer to the ideal – given the impossibility of achieving the ideal. The volume also contains a contextual introduction by social choice scholar Prasanta K. Pattanaik and commentaries from Joseph E. Stiglitz and Kenneth J. Arrow himself, as well as essays by Maskin, Dasgupta, and Sen outlining the mathematical proof and framework behind their assertions.

Reviews

The pioneers of social choice theory give us lively, enjoyable, and stimulating lectures and exchanges of ideas. Their views, more than sixty years after the publication of Kenneth J. Arrow’s theorem, are of paramount interest to anyone aware of the difficulties of collective decisions.”

Marc Fleurbaey, Princeton University

“How vital it is to understand the ideas behind Kenneth J. Arrow’s impossibility theorem if we want to design reasonably fair ways of coming to consensus decisions that take equitable account of individual preferences. This book is a marvelous introduction to the theorem, a keystone in the theory of social choice.”

Barry Mazur, Harvard University, author of Imagining Numbers

How can I access it?

We have two lending copies and one library use only copy of this book. One of our copies is currently located in our New Books Display Area (around the corner from our Issue Desk). Its shelfmark is JF1001.MAS 2014 It is also available as an eBook. For the eBook, access it from a Bodleian Library computer or use it remotely, by logging on to SOLO with your SSO.

Image of an open book with the pages curled to form a love heartWhat 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.