Searching for resources
There are two key library catalogues you may use when studying at Cambridge:
Girton Library catalogue (Heritage) – search Girton Library’s collection and see if items are available or already on loan. See our eGuide for further information.
iDiscover – to search across the University’s print and electronic collections (including books, eBooks, journals, newspapers, articles and much more, from other colleges, faculty and department libraries, and the University Library. Most, but not all, of Girton’s collection can be found here. See our Searching iDiscover eGuide for further information.
You will be able to borrow from Girton’s Main Library and the University Library. Your subject-specific library is the Seeley Historical Library. However, there may be other libraries within Cambridge that stock useful resources. For a full list of the Cambridge libraries see the directory and check each library for access guidelines.
Search Spacefinder to find places of study outside of College.
Subject-specific resources
For information on searching general databases and journals see our eGuide: Beyond books: finding articles and journals. To find links to specific databases and journals in eresources and ejournals LibGuide. Relevant resources can also be found within subject LibGuides and Newpapers LibGuide.
Seeley Historical Library provides a comprehensive list of electronic resources organised by paper. Some key resources include:
- Historical abstracts Use information from over 2300 journals, it covers world history from 1450 to the present (excluding the United States and Canada). NB. Use * to truncate search terms.
- ARTstor From the Artstor Digital Library, Institutional Collections, and Public Collections.
- Bibliography of British and Irish History The Bibliography of British and Irish History (BBIH) is the most comprehensive and accurate guide available to what's been written about British and Irish history. It's an essential resource for research and teaching.
- Cambridge Companions Complete Collection Cambridge Companions are a series of authoritative guides, written by leading experts, offering lively, accessible introductions to major writers, artists, philosophers, topics, and periods.
- Cambridge Histories Online Cambridge Histories is the essential reference collection spanning 350 volumes in 10 subject areas.
- Historical Abstracts The definitive index of literature covering world history (excluding the United States and Canada) from the 15th century to the present.
- JSTOR
Other websites
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Contains over 59,000 biographies with over 11,000 images. It allows browsing and free-text searching, as well as searches by subject, contributor, artist (for images), etc.
- Oxford Reference Online
- Web of Science
- American National Biography Contains over 18,700 entries with 2,500 illustrations and 80,000 hyperlinked cross-references, it is updated quarterly and links to selected websites. It is searchable by subject name, gender, birth and death dates, place of birth, and occupation.
- History & Policy An online collection of papers (and an associated seminar series) organised by the Centre for Contemporary British History, University of London, the Centre for History in Public Health, University of London and the Faculty of History, University of Cambridge.
For information on searching websites see eGuide: Effective internet searching.
One of the easiest ways to discover information of academic value on the internet is to use one of the many subject-related gateways. Below are some you might like to try:
- Institute of Historical Research
- British History Online (for both primary and secondary sources)
- Perseus Digital Library – a collection of ancient history source materials and secondary literature, hosted by Tufts University, and expanding to include early modern history.
Help within college
Library staff can provide support and assistance. You can book an appointment with us or ask a question via library@girton.cam.ac.uk.