• The iDiscover catalogue can be used to search all print and online content available to you as a member of the University

• Ensure that you login with your Raven password first to see all subscribed online content available to you

• When searching for books (print or online) use the radial button on the search bar and select "Cambridge Libraries Collections"

• Search using author last name and keywords from the title

• Don't be alarmed by the number of results, you can use the filter bar on the right hand side of the page to bring up the concise title needed!

• Books and journals will show as "Available in the Library" (print) or "Full-text online" (see detailed information below on eBooks) in the filter bar, and below this you can identify which libraries hold the item needed

• Make sure to click on the required record for further details, i.e. location, classmark, availability, number of copies

• For help using iDiscover please see the iDiscover LibGuide for advanced search methods and account management advice

• Visit the eresources website to help you find journals, articles, databases, and ebooks online

• Example: using the keyword "Africa" as a keyword search term in the "journals and articles" search box whilst selecting the "Journals" radial button, produces over 500 results for journal titles, click to see this basic list 

• Once you have found the title that you are looking for you can click directly through to the full text that is available to you as a University member (Raven login will be required, especially if off-campus)

• Wikipedia also has a list of international academic journals for you to peruse: list of African Studies journals on Wikipedia you can check access using the eresources & ejournals LibGuide

• Advice on how to find print journals at the African Studies Library (journals are reference only)
• View a list of the print journals held at the Library (some may need to be fetched from the Archive Store)

The eresources team have put together excellent guidance for using browser extensions and plugins to help you with your search. 

Browser extensions and plugins can help you by enabling seamless authenticated searching, or by sourcing you an Open Access version of book chapters or articles.

Visit their page to find out more about how these tools can help you, and how to install them:

• CORE Discovery
• Google Scholar Button
• Kopernio
• Lean Library (Recommended)
• Open Access Button
• Unpaywall

Still struggling to get access to print or online resources?

​If you still come away empty-handed, you may be able to get access by using the Inter-Library Loan (ILL) service. 

Please see their pages for more information regarding what is available via the ILL Department (UL) and how they can help you. 

Please note there is a small fee for this service.

The ebooks@cambridge team have created a comprehensive LibGuide which includes the following information:

• How to find ebooks

• How to access ebooks

• How to use ebooks

• How to cite ebooks

• Copyright & licensing

• Free & Open Access ebook collections

Please note: this SMS video is not accessible with keyboard only access and some screen readers. Please use the YouTube version below if you experience any issues.

Texts to which Cambridge libraries have access through electronic legal deposit (eLD), also known as non-print legal deposit (NPLD), can be identified in iDiscover by the appearance of the phrase

“Online access restricted to designated PCs in the UL and most Faculty and Departmental libraries”.

For more information on how to access, cite, and use these texts (books and journals) please see the comprehensive Electronic Legal Deposit LibGuide