Each month, one of our Subject Librarians chooses an electronic resource which they feel will be of interest to you.
November’s Resource of the Month has been selected by Jo Gardner, Bodleian Social Science Librarian and Subject Consultant for Politics and International Relations.
BBC Monitoring was founded at the start of WWII, and continues to track, translate, summarise and analyse local media sources around the world. This online archive complements our existing subscription to BBC Monitoring which provides access to current content.
The Social Science Library offers over 400 study spaces, with a variety of seating (including ergonomic options) and desks (including height adjustable and standing desks). So whether you prefer open plan seating or an individual study desk of your own, we hope you will be able to find an area that works for you. You can choose from:
Open Plan SeatingPartitioned SeatingIndividual Study DesksComputer DesksA Quiet Study Room (low-volume conversations are permitted)A Silent Study RoomStudy Carrels. The SSL has 10 soundproofed study carrels. 5 of them may sometimes be reserved (check their availability via the QR code on each door). The study carrels that are for general use operate on a first-come, first served basis. A Large and Small Discussion Room which can be booked online by Oxford University students and staff.The Information Skills Training Room which can be booked via email (conditions apply). Desks are equipped with computers. This room can be used for studying when not in use for a class or training session.Q Step Teaching Lab. 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 readersWe have 30 monitors around the library that you can connect your own device to. All have a USB-C cable attached to them. If you need a HDMI cable, one can be borrowed from our Issue Desk.Need a break from your studies? Why not spend some time in our Wellbeing Corner, which has comfortable seating and is equipped with mindful colouring books, puzzle books and a jigsaw.
Choose the volume level you prefer
Silent Zone – No Conversations
Main Seating Areas
Silent Study Room
Information Skills Training Room
Q-Step Centre Training Lab
Quiet Zone – Brief, low volume conversations permitted
Quiet Study Room
Discussion Zone – Discussions, presentations, group work & conversations are permitted
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.
November’s Book of the Month has been selected by Jo Gardner, Bodleian Social Science Librarian and Subject Consultant for Politics and International Relations.
It was chosen because the author investigates the largely overlooked role of silence in democratic politics.
Book Overview
The author challenges the long-standing tradition of political theory as constituted by speech, drawing on a wide range of sources and disciplines. She provides a nuanced, and insightful account of political and democratic life that explores the spaces for both speech and silence.
Reviews
“An audacious and curious thinker, Brito Vieira goes off the beaten track and combines exemplary scholarship with refreshing insights into the unexpected political mechanics of silence.” Mihaela Mihai, author of Political Memory and the Aesthetics of Care: The Art of Complicity and Resistance
“This illuminating contribution to the performative and normative aspects of silence will grace the bourgeoning sphere of silence studies and be required reading for political theorists, historians, cultural sociologists, and ethicists intent on enriching their fields of scholarship.” Michael Freeden, author of Ideology Studies: New Advances and Interpretations
How can I access it?
We have one lending copy of this book, which is located on our New Books Display Area (around the corner from our Issue Desk). Its shelfmark is JC423.BRI 2025.
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.
We are pleased to announce that the Bodleian Libraries are now offering extending lending on items housed at Bodleian offsite storage. Eligible items will be able to be taken out of the library by Oxford University students and staff members.
An additional 1.4 million books housed in Bodleian offsite storage are now available to borrow for University members, bringing the total to 2 million.
Items published after 2000 will be available to borrow unless they fall into excluded categories.
Older offsite items that can already be borrowed will stay that way.
All Bodleian card holders can reserve books that are currently on loan. Items will have a one-week loan period, so they should be unavailable for no longer than 7 days.
Why this matters
This creates a more inclusive service for readers who face challenges in accessing collections during available opening hours.
It offers more flexibility for readers who find library spaces difficult to use, allowing them to choose environments that suit their study preferences or needs.
It responds to feedback from 2024 University consultations and repeated concerns from reader surveys.
Review and feedback
The Bodleian Libraries will closely monitor extended lending for items held offsite. A formal review will take place in 2027.
In an era of clickbait headlines and algorithm-driven feeds, critical thinking is essential. Sign up for the free Bodleian iSkills workshops below, which will help you to assess the credibility of information you encounter.
Enhance your critical thinking and research skills in this practical workshop designed for undergraduate students. Learn to question assumptions, analyse sources critically, and develop information discovery and search strategies that will set you apart in your academic studies. By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Describe what critical thinking is
Understand a critical thinking method
Apply the method to your academic work
Explain the fundamentals of conducting research, including how to evaluate information sources in SOLO
In a world of clickbait headlines and algorithm-driven feeds, thinking critically about the information we consume is more vital than ever. This interactive workshop aimed at undergraduates will help you to evaluate the credibility and bias in today’s news and social media. Through hands-on activities and real-world examples, you’ll learn how to assess sources, identify misinformation, and trace claims and quotes to their original context. By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Describe what critical thinking means in the context of news articles and social media sources
Identify different forms of bias in news and social media
Recognise misinformation and ‘fake news’
Understand and apply the SIFT Method to evaluate claims in news and social media sources
Both courses are free but booking is essential, sign up via the workshop titles above.
If you’ve forgotten to bring some equipment with you, the SSL has a whole range of items available to borrow (for library use only), so it is always worth checking with us before you head back home. We have:
Android & Apple Charging Cables
Blue light blocking glasses
Calculators
DVD Player
Footrests
Headphones
Travel Adaptors
USB Mains Charger
USB Memory Sticks
Whiteboard (A3 size)
We lend the following reading aids.
Book Snakes
Book Stands
Coloured Acetate Sheets
Desk Lamps
Foam Book Supports
Magnifiers
We lend computer equipment and peripherals:
Dell Mouse
Ergonomic Keyboard
Extension Lead
Laptop Locks
“Light-Touch” Keyboard
Mouse Mat
We have 30 monitors in the library that you can connect your devices to. These are located as follows. All have a USB-C cable already attached or we can lend you a HDMI cable.
Photo by Pat Freling of Paint Strategies https://paintstrategies.com/
We lend whiteboard pens for use with the whiteboards in our Discussion and Study Rooms.
Want to store things securely? We loan padlocks, for use with the lockers situated behind the main building reception desk. This is the only item of our equipment that you can take out of the library and borrow for longer than a day.
We have a Lumie Daylight Desk Lamp you can borrow. Using this desk lamp will provide you with the bright light your body needs during the dark winter months. It can help boost your energy levels, put you in a better mood and make you feel more awake. It is particularly beneficial for those that suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
We also have a prayer mat. Staff can advise on the best area in the library to go to use it.
Build your confidence with the Bodleian iSkills programme, a series of free workshops that empower students, researchers, and staff at the University of Oxford to develop essential skills in discovering, critically evaluating, managing, presenting and sharing information in an evolving digital and physical world.
Workshops taking place in 2nd Week Michaelmas Term
Tuesday 21 October
Data sources for research – discovery, access and use 🕘 14:00-16:00 | 📍Social Science Library Explore Oxford’s data sources — from archives to business data — and learn how your work can become part of the research discourse.
REF open access policy briefing 🕘 10:00-11:00 | 💻 Online Make sure your research meets the new REF open access requirements. Get up to speed on what’s changed and where you can find help at Oxford.
Friday 24 October
Choosing and using software for referencing 🕘 09:30-12:30 | 📍IT Services Learn to format citations, footnotes and bibliographies with ease. Try RefWorks, EndNote, Zotero and Mendeley to find the best reference management tool for you.
Find out more and book your place via the workshop titles above.
If your a new undergraduate and missed attending your Bodleian Libraries Welcome webinar, you can find a recording of the session on the Getting started: Undergraduates and Taught Postgraduates webpage. A transcript of the recording and slides from the presentation are also available via the link above.
Take a look to find out about the services we offer and learn how to find items on your reading list.
If you missed coming on a tour of the Social Science Library please feel free to take a look at our Welcome Video, staff in the library will also be happy to assist you on your first visit.
Still have questions? Need some help? Talk to our friendly library staff, who will be happy to help with any queries you may have. Speak to us in person at our Issue Desk or you can contact us via phone (01865 2-71093) or email.
If you are a new social sciences Postgraduate student and have missed attending your library welcome session, the slides from all the sessions are now available on our Training Archive.
Take a look to find out about the services we provide and how to find resources for your subject area.
Still have questions? Need some help? Talk to our friendly library staff, who will be happy to help with any queries you may have. Speak to us in person at our Issue Desk or you can contact us via phone (01865 2-71093) or email.
You can also book a research appointment with your subject librarian. They give expert help on how to use particular resources or on locating difficult to find material. Discuss your research topic and literature searching needs with your subject librarian to make the most of researching at Oxford. Find out their contact details via the Subject Librarians webpage.
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