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Library Guides

Art History

Plymouth Public Library is situated at the top of Armada Way opposite Wilko's. Students are encouraged to join the library – there is no charge and no proof of residence is required. On receipt of your library card you will be able to access online a whole range of reference works including the OED and ODNB from Plymouth library’s cyberLibrary.

If you belong to a public library at home you may already be able to access these resources through their website or using their library card.

If you are providing a definition you need to use an authoritative dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language. As a historical dictionary, the OED is very different from those of current English, in which the focus is on present-day meanings. You’ll still find these in the OED, but you’ll also find the history of individual words, and of the language.

The university library holds the printed edition of the OED (which runs to twenty volumes plus supplements) in the Oversize Books on level 2 of the library at 423 OXF. 

The electronic version can be accessed free if you belong to a public library.

If you have a public library card simply go to the OED website and type in your card number when prompted.

Oxford DNB home page

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography is the national record of men and women who have shaped British history and culture, worldwide, from the Romans to the 21st century. The Dictionary offers concise, up-to-date biographies written by named, specialist authors. 

The university library holds the printed edition of the DNB (which runs to sixty volumes plus supplements) at 920.042 OXF on Level 0 of the library.

The electronic version can be accessed free if you belong to a public library.

If you have a public library card simply go to the ODNB website and type in your card number when prompted.

Comprehensive online classical music collection.

Includes:

  • Access to over 130,000 tracks (8,800 CDs)
  • Classical music
  • Six other genres including Jazz, Blues, World and Chinese music
  • New releases added monthly
  • Ability to listen to whole albums or individual tracks

The electronic version can be accessed free if you belong to Plymouth public library.

If you have a Plymouth public library card simply go to the Naxos website and type in your card number when prompted.