Institute of Latin American Studies Library: Reference Collection

Title: Institute of Latin American Studies Library: Reference Collection

Description: This collection comprises a wide range of printed secondary reference materials on the nations of Latin America and also includes selected works on the Commonwealth Caribbean (particularly items not available within the holdings of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London Library and other London libraries). Most works are bibliographies, encyclopaedias, guides to research and other reference works on Latin America and the Caribbean. Most material is written in English, Spanish and Portuguese, but relevant material is also collected in other (mainly Western) languages (e.g. French, Dutch, German, Italian, Swedish, etc.).

Items are arranged using Dewey Decimal classification (modified) within country groupings.The collection also includes monographic items and bibliographic serials.

Strengths: The main focus is on bibliographic works.

Size: c.500 volumes on and from the Caribbean, out of a total of c.7000 volumes.

Catalogue: Innopac, School of Advanced Study, University of London

Catalogue URL: http://lib.sas.ac.uk/

Main URL: http://www.sas.ac.uk/ilas/library.htm

Access: The Library is open for reference purposes to all academic staff and postgraduate students of the University of London, and to all other bona fide researchers from outside the University. Undergraduate students are asked to provide a letter of introduction.

Acquisition dates: 1966 - present day, with some older material dating from the 19th century.

Note: Older material, superseded editions, national bibliographies and back issues of bibliographic serials, are shelved in a separate room in Institute's main building (Old Library, 31 Tavistock Square, London); access by arrangement. Bibliographic works provide partial subject access to the British Union Catalogue of Latin Americana (BUCLA), an author card catalogue of Latin American and Caribbean holdings of important UK libraries in the field, including retrospective holdings. Closed to new accessions September 1988. 204,000 titles, 374,000 locations.

Interest: Caribbean

Complete: Complete

Subjects

Bibliographic journals

Secondary documents

Personal/Corporate names

British Union Catalogue of Latin Americana (BUCLA)

Places

Latin America

Caribbean