Searching for resources
When studying at Cambridge, your starting points for finding the material you need will be Heritage (Girton Library's catalogue) and iDiscover (the University-wide catalogue). For more information on how to get the most out of these tools, see our Library skills guides.
The libraries you are most likely to use regularly are Girton Library, the University Library, the Haddon Library, and the Seeley Library (currently located in the University Library). Within Girton Library, most of our HSPS resources can be found in the Lower Library. If you need something for your studies that we don't have, please feel free to recommend it for purchase.
You may also find it helpful to visit and use the Classics Faculty Library, the FAMES Library, and the Marshall Library. There may be other libraries within Cambridge which stock useful resources: for a full list, see the libraries directory, where you can also check each library for access guidelines. Search Spacefinder to find places to study outside of College.
Subject LibGuides
Subject-specific resources
The LibGuides above contain many links to subject-related information and assistance, including guides to referencing. You can also find and search for databases that might help you on the Databases A-Z LibGuide (please note that you will need to be logged in to your University account to access many of these). Some helpful online resources for your subject include:
- Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts. Material relevant to the caring professions, including researchers in social services and education. Coverage of around five hundred journals dates back to 1987.
- International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS). Contains over three million bibliographical references dating back to 1951, covering all parts of HSPS and including material from over 100 languages and countries.
- International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Expansive source of reference material, with nearly four thousand articles discussing history, trends and future directions, as well as including bibliographical references.
- Oxford Bibliographies in Anthropology. Guide to all areas of anthropology with expert commentary, bibliographical references, and an easily searchable index of subjects.
- Oxford Bibliographies in Political Science. Guide to political science which aims to reflect current trends within the field, as well as covering the impact that real-world political developments have on the subject.
- Oxford Bibliographies in Sociology. Guide to sociology which provides an authoritative source of information along with bibliographical references in order to assist its users in carrying out their research efficiently.
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.
Page last updated: August 2026.