The Library welcomes recommendations from staff and students, provided they are current editions and support the learning, teaching and research interests of the University. Make your request through the Collection Recommendation Service.
The library offers over 200,000 print and electronic books. Print books are arranged by shelf number, which are found using LibrarySearch and on the book binding, the most relevant numbers are -
| Subject | Shelf Number |
| Architects: by name | 720.92 |
| Architectural drawing | 720.284 |
| Building materials | 691 |
| Designing with specific materials | 721.044 |
| Green architecture | 720.47 |
| Houses | 728 |
| Interior decoration | 747 |
| Interior structures | 729 |
| Landscape design | 729 |
| Lighting | 729.28 |
| Modern architecture | 724 |
| Professional practice | 720.23 |
| Structural elements | 721 |
| Town planning | 711.4 |
| Twenty first century architecture | 724.7 |
| Urban communities | 307.76 |
Journals provide up to date research in your area of study, they may be available in print or electronic format and can be found using LibrarySearch. A list of all current journals can be found using the Journals A-Z, the most relevant are -
Database of more than 3,000 projects from more than 30 years of DETAIL, providing inspiration to support architects.
Databases bring together specialist collections of articles, images and electronic books. A list of all current databases can be found using the Databases A-Z, the most relevant are -
Google Scholar is a freely available search tool that helps you to find academic articles and books on the web. It searches publishers’ websites, university research repositories and other kinds of scholarly sites. It provides a broad and interdisciplinary search and includes the ability to track the number of times an article has been cited by other authors as well as direct links to UCA online collections. For more information see - Using Google Scholar.
Indexes and provides the full text of journal articles on art, design, advertising, architecture, crafts, interior design, photography, textiles, television and video.
An archive of scholarly journals covering the visual arts, including architecture, film studies, fine art, art history, the performing arts, religion, folklore and language, 1884-2009.
Collection includes an index to articles in over 300 of the world's most respected architectural periodicals, details of books and audio visual materials acquired by the RIBA Library, the holdings of the RIBA Library Photographs Collection, drawings, manuscripts and archives acquired by the RIBA Library Drawings and Archives Collection, a biographical database of architects.
CIS (The Construction Information Service) provides full-text access to current regulations, standards, technical advice and related news and briefings. Also provides access to the Architects Journal.
At the ACCURIS login screen select Construction Information Service
For more information see - Using CIS.
Database of more than 3,000 projects from more than 30 years of DETAIL, providing inspiration to support architects.
Enables you to view and print Ordnance Survey, Historic, Geology, Marine, and Environment maps of any location in Great Britain. Particularly useful for Architects and Town Planners identifying different types of landscapes
ICE Virtual Library from ICE Publishing is the most comprehensive online civil engineering resource in the world. Here you can explore their archives back to 1836, browse ICE Publishing's internationally renowned journals and access over 1,500 eBooks
Online magazines covering a range of subjects. Exact Editions processes PDF files supplied by the publisher and stores images and text in a database, ensuring that the digital edition of the title looks exactly the same as the print edition.
See - Exact Editions to learn more.
PressReader provides interactive, digital access to nearly 7,000 of the world’s best newspapers and magazines.
The BFI video on-demand streaming service, showing critically acclaimed classic, cult and archive films.
To create or reactivate an account go to the Academic Subscription Page
See the FAQ for further instructions on creating an account.
Kanopy is a video streaming service with a Netflix-style interface which can be accessed via the link above or using the Kanopy mobile app for Android and iOS.
Login required off campus to watch films (log in with your UCA details to create a Kanopy login).
Images from RIBA's visual archives covering interior design, landscape, topography, planning, construction and the decorative arts. Many images are also of social documentary importance. All images on the site are the copyright of RIBA, but low resolution copies may be downloaded free of charge for personal use or teaching purposes.
Archives offer access to rare and unique insight into the work of artists and creators, and often include original letters and artwork. Details of all the collections can be found in the ArchiveSearch, the most relevant for architecture are -
Al-Kailani CollectionMaps the architectural practice of Adnan Al-Kailani through photographs, architectural plans and drawings. His designs influences include - Islamic architecture; Pattern; principles of geometry; and philosophy and religious studies.
Artists Books
Are works of art in a book, or book-like form. The appearance and production of the work is determined by the artist as a limited edition.
Digitised front covers can be viewed in ResourceBank
Canterbury School of Art CollectionCanterbury School of Art collection contains material from the School of Architecture - prospectuses, student work magazines, reports and photographs..
