We are pleased to announce trial access to State Papers Online Colonial: Asia, Part III: Malay States, Malaya, and Straits Settlements.

These documents record Britain’s administration and governance of countries under Britain’s colonial rule, their international relations across the period, and the changing demographics and daily life of their inhabitants.

This collection includes material focused on the Straits Settlements, the Federated Malay States, and the Federation of Malaya, and their relationships with other regions, from 1807 to 1965. Material includes: original correspondence, letter/entry books of incoming and outgoing letters, maps, and photographs.

The trial runs until 31^st July 2025

Do let us know what you think. Please send your feedback to the Libraries Collections team: collections@nottingham.ac.uk

The post On trial: State Papers Online Colonial: Asia, Part III: Malay States, Malaya, and Straits Settlements appeared first on Library Matters.

We have trial access to East View’s Donetsk and Luhansk Newspaper Collection.

This collection incorporates 10 newspapers from the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk ‘republics’ of Ukraine. Following their declaration of independence from Ukraine, the pro-Russian insurgents took over the media, both independent and formerly government-run, thereby influencing the information flow to and from territories under their control.

With sources primarily in Russian, this database allows provides access to articles and reports from these insurgent regions, with coverage including the period of military hostilities between the unrecognised states and the government of Ukraine (2013-2015).

The trial runs until 31^st July 2025

Do let us know what you think. Please send your feedback to the Libraries Collections team: collections@nottingham.ac.uk

Disclaimer: The Library acknowledges the problematic origins of the collection in this trial.

The post On trial: Donetsk and Luhansk Newspaper Collection appeared first on Library Matters.

We are pleased to announce trial access to State Papers Online: Eighteenth Century, 1714-1782 Part III: Western Europe.

These documents cover the State Papers series relating to France, Dunkirk, Portugal, Spain, Malta, the Italian States and Rome, Genoa, Tuscany, Venice, Savoy and Sardinia, Sicily and Naples, as well as supplementary records of the Levant Company in Aleppo and the Aleppo consulate. Reports and correspondence from wars and alliances across Europe, including the Quadruple Alliance against Spain (1718-20) and the Seven Years’ War (1754-1763), are covered alongside other events with wide international repercussions. The discovery of the Cellamare plot in France in 1718, the Corsican crisis of 1768-9, and detailed reports on the Jacobite Pretenders are all included within the scope of the papers.

The Royal Letters series includes mainly original letters from foreign royal personages, and drafts of letters from members of the British royal family. Not all the letters are from heads of state, some being from cardinals, bishops, towns and churches. The letters often concern a royal birth, death or marriage, or send congratulations on military success, or merely concern the credentials of an ambassador.

The Treaties series contains various diplomatic records: protocols, ratifications, and renewals of treaties; preliminary articles of treaties; declarations by Great Britain to uphold treaties and agreements between foreign powers; the appointment of British and foreign ambassadors to enter negotiations and make treaties; declarations and reports of treaties; details of conventions between Great Britain and foreign powers; and other documents subsidiary to all these.

The trial runs until 16^th July 2025

Do let us know what you think. Please send your feedback to the Libraries Collections team: collections@nottingham.ac.uk

The post On trial: State Papers Online: Eighteenth Century, 1714-1782 Part III: Western Europe appeared first on Library Matters.

We are pleased to announce trial access to 5 British Online Archives collections.

London Life, 1965-1966, The Sphere, 1900-1964, Communisms and the Cold War, 1944–1986, Kenya Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1907–1964 and Slavery, Exploitation, and Trade in the West Indies, 1759–1832.

London Life, 1965-1966:

Launched in 1965, London Life was one of several titles owned by The Illustrated London News (ILN). A reincarnation of The Tatler (1901–1965)—which, from its inception, catered primarily to a wealthy and conservative readership—London Life represented a radical departure from its predecessor. This new magazine endeavoured to “reflect all aspects of the life of London”. Throughout its brief existence, it proved adept at conveying the spirit of the “Swinging Sixties” in the world’s “capital of cool”. Encompassing nearly 5,000 images, this collection contains all 63 issues of London Life, published between October 1965 and December of the following year.

London Life covered a wide range of topics, from music and film to sexuality and the thriving nightlife of London’s West End. It likewise captured the increasingly cosmopolitan nature of British society, documenting the emergence of a more diverse media landscape and audience. Featuring interviews with cultural icons, such as Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger, as well as contributions from rising stars, such as the supermodel, Jean Shrimpton, and the popular entertainer, Anita Harris, London Life remains emblematic of 1960s counterculture. This collection contains essential material for those interested in the cultural history of the 1960s and, more specifically, in Britain’s cultural revolution and the advent of its “permissive society”.

The Sphere, 1900-1964:

Established in 1900 and in circulation until 1964, The Sphere remained under the ownership of The Illustrated London News (ILN) for most of its existence. Clement Shorter—a former editor of the ILN—founded the publication. From its first issue, it adopted a consciously international outlook, aiming to “hold pictures and thoughts from all lands”. Upon its release, it was praised as “a striking advance in illustrated journalism” due to the beauty and artistry of its presentation. It soon became popular. This collection includes nearly 160,000 images and almost 4,000 issues from The Sphere, published between January 1900 and June 1964.

The Sphere reflected a patriotic and staunchly pro-establishment position, expressing support for the British monarchy and for the empire. The publication reported extensively on world events, such as the rise of communism, the First and Second World Wars, and the Arab-Israeli conflict. It printed articles discussing a wide range of prominent personalities from the arts, sciences, and politics—from John Ruskin to Albert Einstein; from Franklin Delano Roosevelt to Golda Meir. It also featured contributions from well-known literary figures, such as the acclaimed children’s author, A. A. Milne, and the prolific journalist, Charles Graves. This collection contains vital material for researchers and students of British society, military history, and the legacies of colonialism.

Communisms and the Cold War, 1944–1986:

This collection contains reports and other records compiled by the Communist Party of Great Britain’s (CPGB) International Department between 1944 and 1986. This periodisation begins immediately after the dissolution of the Communist International (Comintern) and ends shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The majority of the documents cover the Sino-Soviet split and the Chinese-Indian disputes of the 1960s and 1970s. There are also materials relating to Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe, the left in Western Europe, and anti-colonial movements in the developing world. They provide a fascinating insight into the competing power blocs which arose throughout the communist world during the Cold War and how British communists reacted to the resulting, internecine disputes.

The collection is accompanied by three contextual essays written by Professor Kevin Morgan, a senior academic at the University of Manchester.

Kenya Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1907–1964:

Kenya Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1907–1964 contains papers from the British colonial government in Kenya. The documents in this collection reveal the approach that the British took to colonial rule throughout the country. British settlers exploited Kenya’s natural resources, forcing indigenous farmers onto infertile land and making them work on European-owned farms and plantations.

The government reports contained in this collection cover several important developments and events in twentieth century Kenyan history, including the period that the country was controlled by the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, the Mau Mau uprising that began in 1952, and the achievement of Kenyan independence in 1963. The documentation contained in this collection provides students and researchers with unique insights into the history of Kenya, its experience of British colonialism, and its turbulent path to independence.

Slavery, Exploitation, and Trade in the West Indies, 1759–1832:

During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Jamaica was the largest and most profitable island in Britain’s West Indian plantation economy. An estimated one million enslaved Africans were forcibly shipped there to work on the island’s plantations, from which sugar was the main export. In 1759, Nathaniel Phillips of Slebech in Pembrokeshire moved to Jamaica. In 1761, he bought half of the Pleasant Hill plantation. During his time on the island he acquired four plantations and owned hundreds of enslaved people. Phillips’ papers form part of the Slebech Estate records held at the National Library of Wales. They provide numerous, albeit unsettling, insights into the history of slavery in Jamaica.

The documents in this collection date from 1759 to 1832. They cover Phillips’ arrival in Jamaica, his purchase of Pleasant Hill, his return to England as an absentee plantation owner in 1789, his death in 1813, and the subsequent division of his assets between his family. The collection contains a wealth of information regarding his financial activities in the West Indies and, importantly, the documents shed light on the experiences of enslaved people on his plantations. You will also find financial documents, correspondence relating to the management of Phillips’ estates in Britain, legal documents, and diaries. In addition, the collection features correspondence revealing Phillips’ fears—shared by his fellow plantation owners—of potential insurrections by enslaved people. Some letters likewise find him reflecting upon the impact of the Haitian revolution which began in 1791—a successful revolt by self-liberated enslaved people against French colonial rule in St. Domingue.

Slavery, Exploitation, and Trade in the West Indies, 1759–1832, is a rich resource for students and researchers wishing to explore the history of transatlantic slavery, in the development of the British empire. It will also appeal to those interested in the broader, social history of, and relationship between, Britain and the West Indies.

The trial runs until 31st June 2025

Do let us know what you think. Please send your feedback to the Libraries Collections team: collections@nottingham.ac.uk

The post On trial: London Life, 1965-1966, The Sphere, 1900-1964, Communisms and the Cold War, 1944–1986, Kenya Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1907–1964 and Slavery, Exploitation, and Trade in the West Indies, 1759–1832. appeared first on Library Matters.

We are pleased to announce trial access to India under Colonial Rule, 1752-1933 from British Online Archives.

Power and Preachers comprises 6 diverse primary source collections which detail the political, economic, and spiritual realities of British colonial rule in India. The featured collections include records from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, from the establishment of the East India Company and the India Act to the emergence of Gandhi and the independence movement. Drawn from a diverse range of sources, the materials show the Raj through the eyes of commercial, military, and bureaucratic elites, as well as missionaries, labourers, and Indians themselves.

This series therefore provides students and researchers with a nuanced synopsis of British colonialism in India and India’s role in shaping modern Britain.

Dates Covered

1752-1933

Contributors

• Bodleian Library
• India Office Library (c/o British Library)
• National Library of Scotland
• National Library of Wales
• People’s History Museum

The trial runs until 31st May 2025

Do let us know what you think. Please send your feedback to the Libraries Collections team: collections@nottingham.ac.uk

The post On trial: India under Colonial Rule, 1752-1933 appeared first on Library Matters.

We are pleased to bring you trial access to the ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Communist Historical Newspaper Collection.

This collection of the Communist Party USA includes news articles, photos, advertisements, classified ads, obituaries, cartoons, and more, from 1919 to 2013.

Topics include:

• Workers’ rights
• Social issues
• National and international politics
• Culture
• Party activity

These publications were not only used by Party members to share news and exchange ideas. A large number of subscribers in the late 1950s-1960s were CIA agents or front companies linked to the CIA, according to ex-agent Philip Agee.

Newspapers included:

• The Daily Worker (1924-1958)
• Daily World (1968-1986)
• The Ohio Socialist (1917-1919)
• People’s Daily World (1986-1990)
• People’s Weekly World (1990-2013)
• Sunday Worker (1936-1958)
• The Toiler (1919-1922)
• The Worker (1922-1924 and 1958-1963)

The trial runs until 10th May 2025

Do let us know what you think. Please send your feedback to the Libraries Collections team: collections@nottingham.ac.uk

The post On trial: Communist Historical Newspaper Collection appeared first on Library Matters.

University life is an exciting journey and the library is your central hub for academic success. We understand that navigating a large library can sometimes be challenging, especially if you require specific support or assistive technology. That’s why we’re highlighting our tours and support services, designed to make your library experience inclusive and empowering.

Discover Our Library Spaces, Including Enhanced Support & Assistive Tech Rooms

You might already know about our general library tours during early term time (September 23rd to November 15th). But did you know we offer tailored support and tours focusing on our enhanced support rooms and assistive technology resources available year-round?

Personalised In-Person Tours:

If you need a tour specifically focused on our Assistive Technology Rooms or enhanced support spaces, or if you require a tour outside of our standard dates, you can contact library staff or just visit your nearest library to them directly at the reception desk. We’re here to provide personalised guidance.

We understand that some students may benefit from a quieter and more tailored introduction to our spaces so please let us know your needs and we’ll ensure your tour is comfortable and informative.

Virtual Tours: Explore Assistive Tech Rooms Before You Visit:

To familiarise yourself with our Assistive Technology Rooms in George Green and Hallward Libraries, we offer virtual tours for some of our spaces! This allows you to explore the spaces and understand the available resources before your in-person visit.

George Green Library – Assistive Technology Room walkthrough

Hallward Library – Assistive Technology Room walkthrough

These virtual tours are a great way to help reduce anxiety for students that may be worried about visiting a new space.

For Our Staff: Supporting Students with Enhanced Needs

If you’re a member of staff arranging tours for students who may require enhanced support, please email us at Library-Helpline@nottingham.ac.uk.

We can coordinate tours that meet specific needs and ensure students receive the appropriate guidance.

One-on-One Support: Tailored Assistance for Your Success

Our library staff are dedicated to providing personalised support. Whether you need help with assistive software, specialised equipment or research skills, we’re here to assist you. Don’t hesitate to ask for one-on-one support.

Visit Your Nearest Library for Personalised Guidance

We encourage all students, especially those who may benefit from enhanced services, to explore our library resources. Whether you choose a personalised tour or one-on-one support, we’re committed to ensuring your library experience is positive and productive.

The post Your Library, Your Way: Tailored Tours & Support for Enhanced Learning appeared first on Library Matters.

We are pleased to bring you trial access to the Mass Observation Project 1981-2009 from Adam Matthew.

This collection consists of the directives (questionnaires) sent out by Mass Observation between 1980 and 2010 and the thousands of responses to them from the hundreds of Mass Observers.

Addressing topics such as the Falklands War, clothing, attitudes to the USA, reading and television habits, morality and religion, and Britain’s relations with Europe, the directives and responses are an essential resource for anyone interested in late-twentieth and early twenty-first-century British social history.

Broad themes covered include:

• current events
• friends and family
• the home
• leisure
• politics
• society
• culture and the media
• work
• finance and the economy
• new technology

The trial runs until 5th April 2025

Do let us know what you think. Please send your feedback to the Libraries Collections team: collections@nottingham.ac.uk

The post On trial: Mass Observation Project appeared first on Library Matters.

We are pleased to announce trial access to two newspaper collections:

Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Burney Newspapers Part II and British Library Newspapers: Part VI.

Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Burney Newspapers represents the largest single collection of early modern English news media available from the British Library and includes more than 1,000 pamphlets, proclamations, newsbooks and newspapers from the period.

Part II consists of entirely new full-colour scans of the original volumes in the British Library. Items in this new collection include:

• ‘Missing’ Burney: items from within the Burney collection which were not included in the original microfilm when the digital collection was created, comprising more than 9,000 pages. With Part II, these lost pages are now available to explore.
• ‘Additional Burney’: items outside of the original ‘core’ Burney collection, more seventeenth- and eighteenth-century century newspaper titles and issues, that were marked by the British Library as “Add.Burney”. It adds more than 100 new titles, including the Public Hue and Cry, and 130 expansions to titles in Part I of Burney.

British Library Newspapers: Part VI: Ireland, 1783-1950 has been selected to represent a range of perspectives, both national and provincial; some aiming for objective coverage, some as publications directly tied to certain perspectives or allegiances. Many of the newspapers in this archive have not been digitized before, allowing researchers to construct new and original analysis by offering voices that have been marginalized in previous discourse.

Researchers can track:

• Protestantism and Catholicism in Ireland,  including the ‘Protestant Ascendency’, the ‘hidden Ireland’, Unionism, and Catholic emancipation
• Social and economic issues, such as the experience and consequences of famines, the ramifications of the Land Wars, and the Irish National Land League
• Political developments and divides, including the emergence of movements such as Nationalism, Fenians, Parnellism; the debates around Home Rule and the ‘Irish Question’; and emergent ideologies like Redmondism
• Cultural shifts and identity building, such as the Irish Diaspora and the issues resulting from mass emigration, and the Irish Literary Revival
• Conflicts and their consequences, including the 1916 Easter Rising, Irish Independence, partition, the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Civil War, and the impact of the First World War

The greatest overlap is with Parts I-V of the British Library Newspapers  of the British Library Newspapers series, expanding the views beyond the English press, and offering a counterpoint to them. It also complements the existing Irish newspapers that appear in Parts I, III, and IV. Beyond this archive, it complements the Nineteenth Century U.K. Periodicals series, giving the press perspective compared to the general and specialist publications available there.

The trials run until 31st March 2025

Do let us know what you think. Please send your feedback to the Libraries Collections team: collections@nottingham.ac.uk

The post On trial: Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century Burney Newspapers Part II & British Library Newspapers: Part VI appeared first on Library Matters.

We are pleased to bring you trial access to Environmental Science and History from the Wiley Digital Archives.

This collection supports tracing the impact of human activity on the natural world and enable these impacts to be researched and analysed through documents, images, data, maps, and photographs. The archive consists of primary sources from the Royal Geographical Society, Royal Anthropological Institute, New York Academy of Sciences, British Association for the Advancement of Science, and Royal College of Physicians.

Subjects covered include:

• Climate Change
• Ecology
• Botany
• Biodiversity
• Deforestation
• Wetlands
• Agriculture
• Livestock
• Fisheries
• Water sources

The trial runs until 31st March 2025

Do let us know what you think. Please send your feedback to the Libraries Collections team: collections@nottingham.ac.uk

The post On trial: Environmental Science and History appeared first on Library Matters.