LibGuides: Architecture resources: Home

Architecture library move

During the summer of 2023 the contents of the Architecture Library based in the Department of Architecture moved across into the Andersonian Library. These books and journals are now being added into the main library. Whilst the project takes place the books will be held in a store but can be requested by all members of the library.

All books and journals can now be discovered by searching the library catalogue
Search the library catalogue to find your book then choose 'Request from Store'. Library staff will collect it from store for you. We fetch items from store on weekdays only. Requests submitted before 10.30am are usually available at 11.30am. You can collect the item from the Reservations Pick Up Point in the Short Loan Collection, and issue it to yourself at the self service kiosks.
When the book is returned to the library it will be catalogued and added to the normal library shelves to make subsequent use easier.
The project to catalogue, classify and process these books has an expected end date of December 2024
Some key journal titles are still available in the department. (Architects Journal, Architectural Review, El Croquis and Banister Fletcher)

Key databases: Architecture

AJ Buildings Library
A database of more than 1,900 exemplar projects, most from the last twenty years but includes major projects back to 1900.

For online access to Architects' Journal, access via the SUPrimo record for this journal.
Registration required to access this resource. Please follow these instructions to register your account before accessing the resource for the first time. EMAP's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy can be viewed via links in the user registration form. Once you have registered an account use this to log in to both AJ Buildings Library and Architects' Journal. (Please note that users must register a separate account for access to Architectural Review.)
Art, Design & Architecture Collection‎
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Art, Design & Architecture Collection from ProQuest contains specialist abstract and indexing databases in the fields of visual and applied arts, plus full-text access to a selection of Arts & Humanities journals.
Featured databases include ARTbibliographies Modern (modern and contemporary art), Design and Applied Arts Index (design and crafts) and the International Bibliography of Art (Western art history).
Dates of coverage: 1973 - current.
Subject coverage includes: fine art, art history, architecture, design and applied arts
Strathclyde users must sign in to access many library eResources. Please follow any on-screen instructions and enter University email address and password with multifactor authentication where prompted.
Bloomsbury Architecture Library
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This collection contains a wide range of resources supporting the study of architecture, urbanism, interior design as well as studio design and professional practice. It gives access to the important title 'Sir Banister Fletcher's Global History of Architecture (21st edition)'.
Strathclyde users must sign in to access many library eResources. Please follow any on-screen instructions and enter University email address and password with multifactor authentication where prompted.
Building Types Online
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Building Types Online is a resource for the study and practice of architectural design. The database offers highly flexible and detailed search and browse access to the contents of the Birkhäuser program on building types. The database contains a large international collection of contemporary buildings, from housing and offices to museums, schools and other building types, floor plans and other architectural drawings. A large part of the drawings are vector-based.
Strathclyde has access to all content on Building Types Online, up to and including 2021 content.
Off campus? Select 'SIGN IN/SIGN/UP', choose 'Access through your institution', search for and select University of Strathclyde, then enter your University email address and password with multifactor authentication where prompted.
Compendex [Engineering Village]
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Compendex database via the Engineering Village database platform.
Compendex is the most comprehensive interdisciplinary engineering database in the world with over 9 million records referencing 5,000 engineering journals and conference materials dating from 1884. Subject coverage includes nuclear technology, bioengineering, transportation, chemical and process engineering, light and optical technology, agricultural engineering and food technology, computers and data processing, applied physics, electronics and communications, control, civil, mechanical, materials, petroleum, aerospace and automotive engineering.
Strathclyde users must sign in to access many library eResources. Please follow any on-screen instructions and enter University email address and password with multifactor authentication where prompted.
Construction Information Service
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The Construction Information Service Online (CIS Online) provides electronic access to technical information including an index to a selection of standards, regulatory and advisory documents, guidance and other material for the UK construction industry. The online service provides bibliographic data such as document titles and summaries plus full text images, either Adobe pdf format or scanned facsimiles.
Users cannot sign in to this eResource using University credentials. Users must register and log in using an individual account. Please follow our Construction Information Service, OHSIS and Specify-It registration and login instructions to access this eResource. You must register using your University of Strathclyde email address. For security reasons, please do not reuse your University password when registering your account. Links to the Accuris Privacy Policy and Terms of Use are available on the login/registration page.
DETAIL Inspiration
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DETAIL inspiration is designed to be a high-quality research and inspiration source for architects and structural engineers. It contains detailed building project descriptions, drawings, generous pictures and offers information on architects and manufacturers.
Strathclyde users must sign in to access many library eResources. Please follow any on-screen instructions and enter University email address and password with multifactor authentication where prompted.
Ordnance Survey Digimap
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Digimap is an online map and data delivery service, offering a number of data collections. Ordnance Survey Digimap contains contemporary Ordnance Survey maps and map data. Scottish Improvement Service data collection is also included but not as a Roam overlay only as downloaded GIS data.

Please note - downloading data for use in GIS or CAD applications requires specialised software which is NOT available on PCs in the Library.
Strathclyde users must sign in to access many library eResources. Please follow any on-screen instructions and enter University email address and password with multifactor authentication where prompted.

All users must register an account with EDINA upon accessing the Digimap service for the first time. EDINA's Privacy Notice can be accessed via a link in the registration form. All users must agree to the end user licence for the relevant Digimap Collection(s) they wish to access.
SBCC Online
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This service provides contractual documentation for building and construction work in Scotland. SBCC contracts are modified JCT contracts produced to be compliant with Scottish law and practice. An SBCC Education subscription allows students and staff, at educational institutions, access to view (but not complete) copies of all SBCC building contracts and guides that are available online.

Access to SBCC contracts is restricted to staff and students on relevant academic courses and is for educational use only.See 'More...' for details on how to access this resource.
This eResource cannot be accessed by using University of Strathclyde email address and password. To request a username and password for this resource, please submit an SBCC Online Access Request and Library staff will contact you with instructions on how to access this resource.
Specify-It
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Specify-It contains product and supplier information for a wide range of engineering areas including building, civil engineering, process and electronic and electrical. It provides up to date product catalogues. The service allows users to search for and identify products and suppliers to meet their exact project requirements - and to have immediate access to full-text, full-colour catalogues, data sheets, selector guides and brochures from the relevant suppliers listed. It includes over 175,000 documents from more than 10,000 manufacturers and suppliers.
Users cannot sign in to this eResource using University credentials. Users must register and log in using an individual account. Please follow our Construction Information Service, OHSIS and Specify-It registration and login instructions to access this eResource. You must register using your University of Strathclyde email address. For security reasons, please do not reuse your University password when registering your account. Links to the Accuris Privacy Policy and Terms of Use are available on the login/registration page.

Presentations

Architecture 4th year presentation
Covering literature searching, specialist resources, further training
Architecture 1st year presentation
Introduction to the library

Useful templates

Literature search planning template
This a word template which will help you design your search strategy.
Literature search management
It is always a good idea to record your literature search strategy with the date, resource searched and the results. This is an example spreadsheet.
Synthesis Matrix
A synthesis matrix helps you bring together articles/research on the same theme.

Faculty Librarian

Alasdair Stewart

Email Me

Subjects: Advanced Forming Research Centre, AFRC, Architecture, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Process Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Design, Manufacture & Engineering Management, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Engineering, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering, Prosthetics & Orthotics

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Useful shelf numbers

Library books are arranged by the Dewey Decimal classification scheme whereby each subject is represented by a number.

You wil find books on the same subject will have the same number. The shelfmark is preceded by the letter D and will be followed by 3 letters, which are usually the first 3 letters of the author's name.

Here are some useful shelfmarks.

D 624.1 Structural engineering and underground construction

D 691 Building materials

D 720 Architecture (general)

D 721 Architectural structure

D 729 Design and decoration