Collections @ ECU Library

Online Collections

Print/Multimedia Collections

Special Collections

About the Collections

The University Library acquires a range of resources in support of the teaching and research programmes of the University. Location of print collections reflect courses taught at the particular campus. ECU has campus libraries at Joondalup, Mt Lawley and Bunbury.

The Library has expanded it's collection of online resources in recent years, with an increase in the number of online journals, databases and e-book collections. Increased availability of resources published electronically, has enabled the Library to develop collections to meet the demand for easy access to library resources for external, online and offshore students, as well as students and staff on campus.

Although the primary aim is to provide collections in support of undergraduate courses, the Library is also further developing research collections, in particular online databases and research journals. In addition to these collections, higher degree students and staff also have access to the document delivery service, for materials not held at ECU.

Online Collections

Databases

The Library databases enable you to search for journal articles, statistics, case law, conference papers, newspapers, standards, reports and more. There is some full text within the databases and you can link to other full text journal articles available at ECU by clicking on the Find It icon, listed against each reference in the results.

Access the databases from the Library homepage

If not sure which database to search, there is a list of databases by subject. For a description and coverage of the database, click on the 'i' button. There is also an alphabetical list of databases by title.

E-Books

Electronic books available at ECU can be found by searching the Library catalogue. You can link from the catalogue screen to the e-book.

The Library purchases e-books from various publishers and e-book suppliers. The largest collection is from EBL.

To search the catalogue for all online publications on a topic limit a keyword search to "Online",
using the drop down menu. This will search for e-books, e-journals and e-reserve items on a topic.

To search for e-books in the various collections:

EBL Ebook Library Collection: To search for e-books in the EBL collection combine ebook with topic in a keyword search. e.g. sport and ebook. Search by ebook library collection in title to see the whole collection.

Gale Virtual Reference Library: To view the titles available in this collection, search Gale Virtual Reference Library by title

James Bennett Etitle: search topic and etitle. e.g. health and etitle. To see all e-books in this series search James Bennett etitle by Title. This series has some Australian titles that are not readily available online elsewhere.

Safari books online: search safari books online by title to see the whole collection or combine with a keyword.

Wiley Interscience OnlineBooks: search wiley interscience onlinebooks by title to see the whole collection or combine wiley onlinebooks with topic in a keyword search. e.g. sport and wiley onlinebooks

Books@Ovid: Search title books@ovid to see all titles in this collection. A small collection of e-books in health, nursing and medicine.

E-Journals

The library subscribes to a range of electronic journals either by individual title, publisher's journal collections or purchased as part of the journal databases. Where to search for journal articles depends on whether you have a reference to look up, a journal you wish to browse or whether you need to find some journal articles on a topic.

If you have a specific reference and want to know if the library holds a paricular journal (and years held), you can check the library catalogue. There is a link from the catalogue to the e-journal if held electronically.

If you need to find some journal articles on a topic, then the best way is to search the library databases.

Search for e-journal titles in the catalogue:

Search by Journal Title to check whether the library holds a specific journal title. The catalogue screen will show years held and for electronic journals a link to the online. Click on link "connect to e-journal".

Search by Keyword to find out what journal titles the library holds for a subject, using the drop down menu "journals". Alternatively if you just want to find e-journals held by the library, search keyword and periodicals, then limit to "online" using the drop down menu. e.g. health and periodicals

To check whether a specific journal article is available online, you can use the "article locator" and just enter the details. This will only search online holdings.

Search for electronic journal articles in the journal databases. You can link to individual databases from the catalogue. Alternatively, if you log into MetaQuest you can either search specific databases via "Find Database" or to search 2 or more databases simultaneously select MetaSearch, then subject listings to select databases. The Quick Search option also allows you to search across several databases, from a preselected group of databases.

E-Reserve

E-Reserve includes journal articles, chapters/sections of books, conference papers etc. that have been scanned from the print, to supplement high use collections and are made available online for the current academic year. E-Reserve also includes links to items that are contained within the Library’s online resources.

E-Reserve items are listed in the catalogue, with the print reserve, by unit code or by lecturer. Items can also be searched by keyword, title etc. in the catalogue. Click here to check Reserve items for your unit.

For E-Reserve guidelines for academic staff, please refer to the E-Reserve page.

Newspapers online

The Factiva database is a joint venture between Dow Jones and Reuters - two of the world's leading business and news providers. It provides comprehensive coverage of newspapers, industry journals, company reports, and business publications.

Resources Listed by Subject and Faculty

Find the key resources for your subject area and for related courses in your faculty.

Library Subject Guides or "pathfinders" provide a starting point for library research and outline the key resources for each subject area, how to find relevant information and referencing assistance. Some of the subject guides are in the form of web pages and others are pdf documents.

Theses online

ADT: Australian Digital Theses program. The purpose of this program is to create a national database making Australasian research theses widely available online. An important feature is that the complete full text of the thesis will be available for you to view in PDF (but not to download or print). ECU began to add theses to this program from mid 2006.

Print/Multimedia Collections

Books

Books located in the "Main Collection" are available for loan and include all books not located in specific collections such as Reference, Reserve, etc.

Books in the Q (quarto) collection, a separate sequence of oversized books, are also available for loan.

The following education collections are also separate collections and available for loan as main collection items:

Australian Literature
This collection is found in the main collection and has an "A" prefix to the shelf number

Curriculum
A collection of resources at the primary and secondary level produced by the WA Education Department. To locate items in this collection, search the Library's Catalogue by title or keyword.  The location will state "curriculum".  You can also just browse the shelves in the Curriculum Collection.

Teaching Collection
A collection of early childhood, primary and secondary prac materials which includes children's literature and subject resources. Items in this collection have a T in front of the shelf number and a TQ for large size items.

Reference books (encyclopedias, dictionaries, law reports, etc.), are not available for loan. Books in the Reserve collection (i.e. in high demand) are generally for use in the Library (some are available on overnight loan). See Reference collections below.

The Library catalogue lists all books held in the ECU campus libraries. Specific books can be found by searching by title and the keyword search option can be used to find books on a topic. For each book in the print collections, the catalogue will show campus location, collection, shelf (call) number, number of copies and status (i.e. if on loan or on the shelf). Books are arranged on the shelf using the Dewey Decimal Classification numbers.

It is also possible to place a hold or recall a book via the "Request" option. Books can be requested from any of the campus libraries and a choice of pick up location is available.

DVD/Video Collection, CD-ROMs, Computer Software etc.

DVDs and videos are available for loan by ECU staff and students. There are also facilities for viewing within the library. Normally loans are a maximum of 2 items for 3 or 7 days.

Please note that loan of DVDs and videos from Mt Lawley's Feature Film collection are restricted to students enrolled in specific courses.

You may book a DVD or video from any campus through staff at the Loans/Enquiry desk.

To search for DVDs and videos in the catalogue, go to the Advanced Search option. Type in a keyword search, then select Film/Video from the Material Type drop down menu.

CD-ROMs, Kits (multiple media formats), Computer software, Audio cassettes, etc. are normally shelved in the Main Collection.To search for these formats in the catalogue, either search by a specific title or use the advanced keyword search option. There are Material Type limits for Computer Software and Kit. You can also search cd-rom with a keyword, to search for items that contain a cd-rom.

Journals

Print journals are not available for loan and are located in the serials collection (prefix S in front of the call number). Whilst the Library does have some current print subscriptions, many of the journal titles in print are back issues, with the current issues online. Back issues are usually bound into volumes/years, with single issues in an adjacent journals box.

Photocopy facilities are available if you wish to take a copy of an article for study and research.

Newspapers

Some of the campus libraries receive current print copies of the major Australian newspapers. Check the catalogue to find out where particular newspapers are held. Newspapers are located in the newspaper display area and normally kept for up to 6 months. In addition, newspapers are also available online through databases such as Factiva.

Newspapers held include the West Australian, The Age (Melbourne), Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian and The Australian Financial Review.

Print Reserve

Materials considered in high demand are placed in the Reserve collection of each library. The collection mostly includes books (texts, recommended readings etc.), but may also include other materials such as DVDs/videos, CD roms, etc. Reserve items can be identified in the catalogue by "Reserve Collection" next to the campus. e.g. Joo - Reserve collection.

Reserve items can be consulted in the library, either in the Reserve area or borrowed from Reserve to use in the library (books 2 hours). Overnight loans are available for most books (these can be borrowed 2 hours before closing time).

Reference Collections

The Reference collection contains materials such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, handbooks, legislation and law reports, that are for use in the library only (i.e. not available for loan). In general, the library policy for reference works is to either obtain the online version, if available, or to keep the latest edition only in the Reference collection. The requirement for law courses is that both complete print and online collections be available for consultation.

Reference materials are listed in the catalogue as "Reference" and have an R prefix in front of the call number.

Reports Collections

Company Annual Report Collection
The library has a print collection of Australian Company Annual Reports (current 5 years only). . This collection is shelved at the Mt.Lawley Libraryin the Reference area.

Local Government Reports
The library has a collection of Local Government Reports from all around Australia. This collection is shelved at the Joondalup Library at S 352.094

Theses

ECU theses can be found by searching the catalogue (keyword: edith cowan dissertations). This search can be limited further by combining with a keyword (e.g. subject keyword or ph.d, m.bus, hons, etc.).

Hard copies of theses are held at the students' home campus and shelved in the Main Collection at: 378.242, 378.243, 378.244( i.e. Honours (1st class), Masters, PhD). Microfiche copies are made available at the other campuses.

Online theses are available through the ADT: Australian Digital Theses program - see Theses Online above.

Special Collections


Music Collections

A separate collection of sound recordings, music scores, music books and journals is located at Mount Lawley Campus. 

It includes mainly classical music,  jazz and musical theatre. Music scores are arranged by British Catalogue of  Music (BCM)  number. Music sound recordings are arranged numerically by an X sequence of numbers (for LP records) or a Y sequence (for CDs and cassettes). Listening facilities are provided adjacent to the music collection.


Research Collections

Goodall Collection
Selected material from Dr. David Goodall's collection of ecology and botany research can be located in the ECU Library's Collection at the Joondalup Campus.

Items are listed in the ECU Library catalogue and the Libraries Australia catalogue. To locate specific items, search by individual author or title. Print journals are also identified as Goodall collection on the boxes.

To locate the collection, search the ECU catalogue using the author search: 'Goodall Collection' as each entry for material in this colection has been allocated an alternate author entry 'Goodall Collection'.

A keyword search 'Goodall' will also locate items in the collection.

History of Nursing: Microfiche Collection
The History of Nursing chronicles the development of nursing education and the profession of nursing. ECU holds Part 1: The Adelaide Nutting Historical Nursing Collection The Nutting Collection contains more than 1,500 monographs and documents about the history of medicine, nursing, and hospitals, from the 15th century through the early 20th century. Particularly valuable are documents from French hospitals of the 17th and 18th centuries, plus articles, books, and correspondence by Florence Nightingale.

May O'Brien Collection
A special collection of material donated by May O'Brien, which covers significant developments in aboriginal education in Western Australia and other aspects of indigenous issues. It includes reports, journals, conference papers, curriculum materials and books. 

To access this collection, you need to ask for assistance from the Information Service staff at Mount Lawley Campus Library, and present your ID card. Materials in this collection are not for loan.

NCJRS [microfiche collection]
The NCJRS Abstracts Database is an online database which indexes research, policy, and practice related to criminal and juvenile justice, and drug control. It contains summaries of over 180,000 U.S. and international publications, including federal, state, local government reports . The database also provide the fulltext to over 7,000 publications through this database. NCJRS documents in microfiche contain the full text of documents which pre-date the online fulltext collection. Joondalup campus library has document numbers: NCJ 105199–NCJ 135995 (1987-1995) and is shelved at MF 364.973 NCJ

Opie Collection [Microfiche collection]
A microfiche collection at Mt Lawley of material from the Opie collection of children's literature.  The original collection comprises approximately 20,000 items of children's literature,  collected by Lona and Peter Opie, and is housed at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford.

Test Collection
Educational tests are held at the Joondalup campus library in the Reserve area on level 2.

Western Australian Teaching and Curriculum Collection
A collection of historical resources, mainly books, curricula, syllabuses and documents used in Western Australian education. Also includes Claremont Teachers College student research projects collection. Held in the special research collection of the Mount Lawley campus library. The location will state MTL - WATCC.

Western Books on Asia: Japan [Microfiche Collection]
This comprehensive collection of over 3000 volumes of both primary and secondary materials, covers Japan between the 16th century & World War II, as witnessed by missionaries, traders, government workers, travelers etc.  Titles were selected by Kenneth E. Carpenter from several bibliographies & titles are available mainly in English although there are some written in French, German & Italian. This microfiche collection is shelved at MF 952 WES at L4 of the Mt.Lawley library.

Selection of Materials

Librarians in the faculty teams with responsibility for collection development in specific subject areas, work with academic staff in selection of materials for the Library. The ECU Bookshop lists and course outlines are also regularly checked by library staff, to ensure that key texts are purchased for the library. The budget for each school/faculty and for the library as a whole, is monitored to ensure that spending remains within the budget allocations.

Normally new journal titles are selected by academic staff, who are also asked to review current subsciptions if courses and requirements change. Journal subscriptions and expensive items, may also require approval from the Head of School.

Library staff are also responsible for weeding the collection. Materials are withdrawn if the information is out of date or misleading , multiple copies of older editions no longer used, etc.

Suggestions for purchase are accepted from all library users. See Suggest a Purchase page.

New library resources added to the collections over the past week can be viewed in the library catalogue at New Items. You can also set up preferred searches in the catalogue and an email alert for new items under your personal login. Click here for details.