To find out if a specific book is in the Library you just need to check the Enterprise catalogue (search box below). This will show you where the book is located (which floor and its location number - known as the 'Call Number'). Enter the author's surname and one or two words from the title:
For example: price LGBT education
You can also search Enterprise for a topic, to find related books.
Finding printed books and e-books
Search the Enterprise catalogue to find specific books or books on a topic.
Finding online book chapters
To find online book chapters on a topic search the Summon discovery service:
eBook platforms
The Library subscribes to a wide range of ebook platforms, here are just a few:
Full-text of over 4500 titles in the humanities. Most titles are listed on Enterprise.
Full-text access to books and journals published by Cambridge University Press, covered by our subscriptions.
A collection of e-books and related digital content in all subjects.
If the link above doesn't work, please use this alternative link.
A growing collection of books published by Taylor & Francis in all subject areas.
FileOpen Acrobat Reader plug-in needed. The first time a user attempts to read a DRM-protected book, they will be automatically sent to the FileOpen website to install the plug-in. It may take a few minutes to download and open an e-book.
Examples of relevant e-books we hold in the Library. Many are available in print as well. If you would like to know more about making effective use of our e-books, see our guide:
A Practical Guide to Searching LGBTQIA Historical Records by 
Introduction to Transgender Studies by If you are unable to view these videos on YouTube they are also available on YuJa via the links below (University login required):
The Library uses the Library of Congress and the Dewey Decimal classification schemes to catalogue and classify its stock and we are bound by the rules and subject headings outlined in these. However, we acknowledge that some of the terminology used in these schemes may not always accurately reflect current cultural references.
Just as the field of LGBTQIA+ research is evolving, library classification schemes are beginning to as well, though there is more work to be done. If you would like to know more about this topic, you might find the following articles of interest:
Adler, M. A. (2015). "Let's not homosexualize the library stacks": Liberating gays in the library catalog. Journal of the History of Sexuality, 24(3), 478-507. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7560/JHS24306
Drabinski, Emily. (2013) “Queering the Catalog: Queer Theory and the Politics of Correction.” The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy, vol. 83, no. 2, pp. 94–111 https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/669547
Bisexuality 301.424
Civil unions - Law and legislation 347.122
Gay culture / Gay artists / Transgender artists 704.949301424
Gay men in motion pictures 791.436526642
Gay parents 301.42
Gay rights – Law and legislation 340.16
Gay rights 323.4
Gays – Literature – History and criticism 809.93352664
Gays’ writings - History and criticism 809.8920664
Gender 396
Homosexuality – English literature – History and criticism 820.9353
Homosexuality – Literature – History and criticism 809.93353
Homosexuality 301.424
Homosexuality and art 704.949301424
Homosexuality in motion pictures 791.436526642
Homosexuality in motion pictures 791.4308664
Homosexuality Law and legislation 347.111
Lesbian feminism 301.424 or 396
Lesbianism 301.424
Lesbianism in motion pictures 791.436526643
Lesbians – Literature – History and criticism 809.933526643
Lesbians’ writings 808.80353
Misogyny 301.424 or 396
Queer theory 301.424
Same-sex marriage - Law and legislation 347.122
Same-sex marriage 301.424
Sappho 884.2
Sexual ethics 171.1
Sexual orientation – Literature – History and criticism 809.93353
Sexual orientation and gender 301.424
Sexuality in the classical world 301.4240938
Sociolinguistics / language 401
Transgender artists 704.949301424
Transgender people – Literature – History and criticism 809.9335267
Transphobia 301.424
Women 396
As well as these specific call numbers, there are also books shelved at a more general number. For example, homosexuality in Italian cinema will be shelved at the number for Italian films e.g. 791.430945
Homosexuality in a specific country will be shelved at 301.424 (followed by the classification code for that country) e.g. 301.424095
Homosexuality in literature may be shelved at the author specific number, e.g. Radclyffe Hall 823.912-HAL
Homosexuality in American literature may be shelved in a general American literature number e.g. James Baldwin 813.54-BAL
Our Inter-Library Loans service can get books not held at Reading from other libraries (usually from the British Library).
For more information see our webpages:
The following subject headings provide links to just some of the titles held in the Library catalogue relating to these specific areas:
British Colonialism and the Criminalization of Homosexuality by 
Representing the Rainbow in Young Adult Literature by 
New Queer Horror Film and Television by Help the Library to diversify ts collections. If there are LGBTQIA+ related titles you would like to see in the Library collection to help support your research, please complete our online suggestion form:
