Mass Observation Online

Mass Observation Online can now be accessed from StarPlus, the Library catalogue. Use the University Collections tab to search for 'Mass Observation Online' and follow the link to 'View Online'. You may be prompted to log into MUSE if you are not already logged in. 

Mass Observation Online is a database that provides access to digital images of materials kept at the Mass Observation Archive, which is located at the University of Sussex. The archive holds all of the materials produced by Mass Observation, a social research group that was established in 1937.  Mass Observation aimed to understand the popular views of the British general public towards everyday activities and topics as well as national events.  The information was generated from and by volunteers who were observed, interviewed and asked to record their everyday experiences.

The material in the collection dates from between 1937 and 1949, although there is some additional material dating from the 1950s and 1960s.  The archive has also preserved other collections that relate closely to the Mass Observation materials, such as personal diaries and letters from the same period.  Users can choose to search the entire collection or only the materials that have been digitised and are available online.  The types of material available include:

File reports , which summarise the studies conducted by the group

Mass Observation publications

The raw material collected by the investigators, including survey papers and questionnaire replies

Material submitted by volunteers including diaries

Photographs

Latest Library News for Social Sciences

Our latest newsletter features the new webpages for the Learning & Research Services Team, a new database Business Source Premier, StarPlus tips, and links to some of the ebooks we've bought recently.

Day lockers available at Western Bank Library

Day lockers are available to use as temporary storage while visiting Western Bank Library. 

To use a locker ask at the Welcome Desk and if one is available a key can be issued to your Library account. 

The lockers are free to use but if you do not return the key 15 minutes before the end of staffed hours a charge of £10.00 will be added to your Library account.

Tell us what you think!

It was really good to meet some of your student reps at recent student-staff committees I've attended, and it's very helpful for us to hear your feedback and answer your questions. Examples of queries which have come up recently include ebooks and how to use them, where to find guidance on referencing, and how you can let us know about books you'd like us to buy for the library.

Check out our new information literacy pages, use our information skills tutorials for guidance on referencing and avoiding plagiarism and use our online recommendation form to tell us about books you'd like to see in the library.

We want to hear from you, whether that's to tell us things we might improve on or to let us know other ways we might help support you in your course work. If there's nobody from the library at your student-staff meetings - invite us!

Brenda
Liaison Librarian

Spotlight on Business Source Premier

Business Source Premier is a new resource for global business literature and data, such as country and industry reports. It also provides company profiles, which will be useful for any student preparing for job applications or interviews.

The database has text to speech functionality (in English) for documents in html format. The search interface can be translated into a number of different languages, and articles in html format can also be translated.
If you create a personalised account within the database, you can organise your search results in folders and add notes to documents that you save. You can also save searches, create alerts and RSS feeds.
Apps for iPhone and Android devices are available.This database will be of interest to students and researchers in a range of disciplines across the University. To get access, open StarPlus from the library tab in MUSE and click the Log in link in the top right corner. Type Business Source Premier into the University Collections search box.