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Media Studies Library Guide: Looking for Books

A guide to resources for Media Studies

Finding Books

Material in the library is arranged according to the Dewey Classification system.  Material on media is generally found in the 070 and 302.23 range.    Books on mass media and specific subjects are shelved with the specific subject.    

PRIMO is accessible through any of the PCs in the library as well as from your office, school or home via the library web page.  Go to http://www.lib.uct.ac.za/.

You are able to search for books (by author, title, subject or keyword) or journal titles.   

The location gives the shelf number.  Prefixes indicate in which library the books will be found.  The prefixes DS and WH have been discontinued, but they will still be found on older material in the catalogue and on the spines of books.  Ignore these prefixes  -  only the shelf number is important.   However, where the prefix is WHJ or WHT, these are discrete collections of education material for the Classroom Collection (WHJ), and School Textbooks (WHT) which are shelved separately.

The prefix R means the book is reference and cannot be taken out.  BA indicates Special Collections and can only be consulted or photocopied.  Government Publications Library keeps all official government documents.  Their holdings are indicated by the prefix G.  Some of their materials are available for loan.    

Useful Shelf Numbers

     002       Books

004.678  Web Design

070.172  Newspapers

070.18    Motion pictures, including documentaries

070.194   Radio

070.195   Television

070.4     Journalism

070.41    Editing

070.43    Reporting and news gathering

070.44    Features and special topics

070.49    Pictorial Journalism

079.68   Journalism in South Africa

174.9097  Media Ethics

302.2    Communication 

302.2244  Written communication

302.23   Media

302.231  Digital Media

302.232  Print Media

302.234  Motion pictures, radio and television

302.24    Content

320.014  Political Communication

343.099  Media Law

362.1014  Media and Public Health

363       Censorship

384       Communications and Telecommunications

659       Advertising and Public Relations

686       Printing and related activities (Technology)

770       Photography

785       Cinematography, video production and related activities

791.4     Radio/Television

808.06607  Style Guides and writing for journalists

      910.4     Travel writing