Study spaces and facilities
We have a range of study spaces all with IT facilities. The areas are zoned using a 'traffic lights' scheme indicating noise levels and behaviours appropriate for each area.
Area for groups to utilise, meet up and study in. Mobiles can be used and cold food can be eaten. Please still be considerate to the people around you, who are using the space to work.
The quiet study area's are for small groups or individual study. No mobiles allowed. Please refrain from eating in this area. Please keep talk to a low considerate level.
Silent study
The silent study area is for individual study only. No mobiles to be used. No food in this area. No group work or talking amongst individuals in this area.
Postgraduate research study
Within the Library we have a dedicated space which is only accessible to our postgraduate research community. the space is fully equipped to support personal and group work, has lockers, soft seating and desktop pcs. The PGR room is located at the back of the Library, and is open the same hours as the Library.
Go to the Library catalogue and enter your University of Suffolk student or staff number in the box on the right-hand side of the screen:
From here you can check what you have on loan, make reservations, renew items and look at your loan history.
If you are working in a designated quiet or silent study area, and someone near you is not behaving appropriately, help us to keep your spaces quiet and please tell a member of staff on the helpdesk or text us anonymously on:
07921 234256
The classmark or shelfmark will tell you where to find a book on the shelves. You can find out an items shelf mark by looking on the library catalogue.
We use the Dewey system which looks like this:
Books are shelved numerically digit by digit according to the number on the spine label:
636.1 is shelved before 636.2 which is shelved before 636.209
Within each subject books are shelved alphabetically according to the author or first word of the title:
591.1 DOB [Author is Dobson] is shelved before 591.1 SMI [Author is Smith].
Dewey breaks down subjects into broad areas known as classes
These are:
100 Philosophy and psychology
200 Religion
300 Social science
400 Language
500 Science
600 Technology
700 Arts and recreation
800 Literature
900 History (by country and Geography)
Because of the way Dewey treats subjects it doesn’t follow that all books that have a historical slant are placed in the 900s, the way that our classification treats them is to put them with the subject.
The 300 section is an area where many history books end up, mainly because this class deals with social science – that is, people, education, society, economics, law, crime, politics and political systems etc.
For example,
A book about women in the nineteenth century will be found with the books about women, this number is in the Social Science section (300s); so the number for women is 305.4
A book about Darwin would be placed in the Science section (the 500s); while a book about the history of education would be placed in the Education section (the 370s)
Common factors
There are some things that you can look out for:
If a number ends or contains 09 it means that the book has an historical treatment.
e.g. The class for women workers is 331.4
331.409 would be women workers – historical aspects
If the number contains 941 or 942 then the book will be about Great Britain or England. 941 is British Isles and 942 is England.
e.g. 305.5230942 is about the history of landed gentry in England
If you have misplaced something while you have been in the library, please check with the Library Helpdesk whether it has been handed in to the Library Lost Property.
You can also call: 01473 338700 or email.
All images included in this guide are available through Creative Commons licensing CC-BY-2.0