Subject Support

Architecture

Printed Resources

Architecture journals
Searching for journal articles
Maps
RIBA Collection

Electronic Resources

Digimap
RIBA online catalogue
UEL databases and electronic journals
Internet links to the UEL Library School of ADI and Architecture blog

Additional Information

Libraries which UEL students can visit throughout the year
Other libraries that admit UEL students during Christmas, Easter and Summer vacations
How do I find out which library holds what?
British Library
Architectural Association and RIBA

Contact Subject Librarian

Printed Resources

Architecture journals

Journal articles are an excellent source of information, particularly if your subject is quite specific or current (e.g. a recent building or contemporary architect).

The Library and Learning Centre subscribes to over 50 architecture journals. Journals from 2003 onwards are kept in an alphabetical sequence at the near end of the Library (just before the books start). There is also a current journal display on the right by the window, where the latest issues of most architectural titles can be found. Pre-2003 journals are kept on the third floor in room 3004.

Searching for journal articles

Although it is possible to use the UEL catalogue to check whether the Library subscribes to a particular journal, you cannot use it to to find out what articles have been written about the subject you are interested in.

Instead, the best way to do this is to carry out a literature search on the RIBA website. Their online catalogue indexes articles from over 300 architectural journals and is free to use.

RIBA online catalogue

If you need to view a journal that is not taken by UEL you have two options:

We can try to obtain a copy of the article for you. This is called an inter-library loan. It is a free service but it usually takes at least 10 working days for orders to arrive.
You can visit another library. Information about which libraries you can use and how to find out about their collections can be found below.

Note: RIBA's catalogue only indexes journal articles back to the early 1980's. If you are looking for contemporaneous articles about older buildings or architects you should use the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals or the Architectural Periodicals Index , a series of printed volumes shelved with the older journals in room 3004 on the third floor.

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Maps

A set of Ordnance Survey maps dating from the mid-1960's and covering areas of London at scales 1:10,000, 1:2500 and 1:1250 can be found in the two cabinets adjacent to the Issue Desk.

However, up-to-date OS maps and mapping data are now available from Digimap which is free to use for UEL students and staff.

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RIBA Collection

The RIBA Collection, set apart from the main run of architecture books at the start of the book sequence, includes product catalogues from building and design manufacturers.

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Electronic Resources

Jstor

Database providing full text scholarly articles. Includes older material. If off campus, an Athens account is needed for access.

Ebsco Academic Search Complete

A database offering full text for nearly 5,990 scholarly journals. It covers virtually every area of academic study offering full text information dating as far back as 1985. If off campus, an Athens account is needed for access.

Nexis

Full text of most UK newspapers is now available via Nexis UK . If off campus, an Athens account is needed for access.

Digimap

Up-to-date OS maps and mapping data are available online from Digimap. You will need to sent up an Athens account and then register with Digimap

Registering for Digimap

First register for Athens account – (Go Library Homepage, and under Quick Links, click on Athensand follow instructions)

After you have your Athens Account, go to the Library Homepage, click on Ejournals and Databases from the Quick Links list on the right.

Scroll down to Database A to Z List

Click on D

Click on Digimap Ordnance Survey Collection

Click on Log on

Enter Athens account

Choose University of East London from dropdown menu

Click on Digimap Ordnance Survey Collection

Scroll down the next screen and click on Continue

Fill out form completely- your UEL email address is u0000000@uel.ac.uk (instead of 0000000 insert your student number)

Click on Proceed with Registration

Your account will be activated in two days. You will receive an email at your university email address and you will be able to access Digimap with your Athens Account.

Maps for any part of the UK can be generated at different scales and with different features. These can be printed or saved as EPS or PDF files. It is also possible to export map data in NTF file format for use in CAD applications.

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RIBA catalogue

The RIBA's online catalogue indexes articles from over 300 architectural journals and is free to use. It is the best way of finding out what journal articles have been written about a building or architect.

RIBA catalogue

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UEL databases and electronic journals

UEL subscribes to a large number of electronic journals, grouped together in packages known as "databases". These databases can be searched for articles on a particular subject. Many of the articles are "full-text", meaning they can be read or printed online. Others just give a summary of their content and you must try to obtain them either from the Library (if we subscribe to the journal in question), by inter-library loan or from another library.

Most databases can be accessed both on and off campus, although for off campus access a special ATHENS username and password are required.

Details about how to obtain an ATHENS account

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Internet links the UEL Library School of ADI and Architecture blog

You can view, search and sign up for email or rss updates to the UEL Library School of AVA blog.

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Additional Information: other libraries for architecture students

Further information is available from the Access to Other Libraries page.

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Libraries which UEL students can visit throughout the year

UEL is part of a scheme called Sconul Access which means that architecture students will be admitted to most other university libraries throughout the year for reference only use. You must pick up a special Sconul Access card from the Library before travelling.

Libraries in this category which have architecture collections include:

University of the Arts London
University of Greenwich
Kingston University
London Metropolitan University
London South Bank University
Middlesex University
University of Reading
University of Sussex
University of Westminster

They can be accessed from the Search25 website.

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Libraries which will only admit UEL students during Christmas, Easter and Summer vacations

Not all university libraries are part of the UK Libraries Plus scheme and those that are not may charge a fee for access during term-time.

However, all university libraries will allow students from other universities access free of charge during their Christmas, Easter and summer vacations.

Libraries in this category which have architecture collections include:

UCL Environmental Studies Library (Bartlett School)

UCL charges £7 a day for access during term-time.

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How do I find out which library holds what?

Union List of Serials
This allows you to search all the university library catalogues in London and the South-east simultaneously in order to find out where a journal is held. Select Union List of Serials in the Search box at the top of the screen.

M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries
This allows you to search the same university library catalogues simultaneously for books.

COPAC
This site allows you to search the catalogues of twenty-four of the largest university libraries in the UK and Ireland (plus the British Library) simultaneously.

British Library catalogue

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British Library

Architecture students wishing to use the British Library no longer need to obtain authorisation from the Library before making a visit.

However, they reserve the right to refuse admission and you will be expected to demonstrate that you have identified material held there which is unavailable elsewhere. In particular, undergraduates will generally be expected to use other university libraries (see above) before the British Library.

Contact the Subject Librarian if you need advice about this.

British Library Reader Services page

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