Open University Library

Title: Open University Library

Description: The Open University Library collection supports teaching and course production, course presentation, student learning, and research. Historically it has developed primarily as a resource supporting course production and academic staff research interests. The interdisciplinary nature of teaching and research in the University means that materials of relevance to Caribbean studies and to the history of Black and Asian people in Britain may be found throughout the library; there is no one identifiable Caribbean and Black and Asian Studies collection. In addition to books there are substantial collections of videos, audio cassettes and vinyl records, which are chiefly Open University course materials, and a small slide collection. There is also collection of 2000 print journals and 5000 electronic journals which contain some relevant titles.
All materials are arranged using the Dewey Decimal Classification.
The English Literature collection is particularly strong in the area of Post-colonial studies, including Indo-Anglian fiction, Caribbean and black British poetry. The History collections cover the history of African countries and the history of colonisation and slavery. Collections in Religious Studies cover religious diversity in Britain since 1945 and religious movements in African countries. Music collections relate to the development of jazz and black popular music. Social sciences covers multiculturalism and racism, and education contains material on equality, inequality and diversity within the British education system.

Strengths: Colonial and Post-colonial literatures in English, including resources on Indo-Anglian fiction, Caribbean and black British poetry.

Size: c.1000 items (not including journals) of relevance to Caribbean studies; c.1000 items and 47 journals pertinent to the history of Black and Asian people in Britain.

Catalogue: Voyager

Catalogue URL: http://voyager.open.ac.uk/

Main URL: http://oulib1.open.ac.uk/

Access: Members of the public are welcome to use the Library for reference purposes, on application to the Director of Library Services.
Borrowing rights are extended to: Staff of the Open University; O.U. full-time postgraduate research students; Any O.U. students (Undergraduate and Postgraduate) who can visit the Library regularly; Staff of BBC Production at Milton Keynes; Staff of Open University Worldwide; Visiting academics working with Open University faculties; Members of the Open University Council; Open University consultants; Retired Open University staff; Staff at De Montfort University; Local external higher education students. Please visit the web page http://oulib1.open.ac.uk/wh/general/newusers.htm for further information.

Acquisition dates: 1970-present with c.70% of resources acquired after1980.

Note:

Interest: Asian, Black, Caribbean

Complete: Complete

Subjects

Religions

Multiculturalism

Music

Interethnic relations

Literature

Education

Personal/Corporate names

Places