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The University Library

Library Home Page | Searchable catalogues | Book suggestions

In the Student Reference Collection (SRC) you will find copies of the most useful textbooks for undergraduate study, with very restricted borrowing to make sure that they are available to the largest possible number of people.

In the main part of the University Library is an excellent wider collection of mathematics books. Get into the habit of browsing - books contain all sorts of interesting things! If you don't understand part of a module, try to find the material in a book. Learn how to track down books on a particular topic by browsing, using the library online catalogues and the review journals, guessing, and, when all else fails, searching physically through large numbers of books. You can't be a serious academic or scientist without detective work in libraries, and although resources available on the Internet are easier to locate there is still no substitute for browsing books.

During your first week at Warwick you should make yourself familiar with the Central Campus Library, there are excellent resources on their website to introduce you to the facilities available. If you need further help during your course, ask at the Enquiry Desk on Floor 1 during office hours, consult the printed guides and leaflets available on each floor or contact the Library's Science Team. Chris Vernon is the Subject Librarian for Mathematics and the departmental library representative is Sheetal Sharma. Contact either of them about any books which you feel ought to be in the Library, or if there are not enough copies of key texts. (Library matters can also be raised at SSLC meetings.)

You can also find books in the University bookshop as well as well-known online retailers! We do not expect you to buy your own copies of textbooks, but for some modules you may find it useful to do so, especially modules that you may find yourself struggling on. Standard maths textbooks will typically be around 40 pounds to buy from new, but cheaper copies can be found online second-hand (Amazon is good for this), or sometimes you can find students from higher years selling their old copies through the Student Union. Warwick has an arrangement with Blackwell's that includes a price match guarantee.

The Mathematics Society: WMS

The Maths Society (WMS) offers opportunities for involvement in both academic and social activities. Although officially a society of the Students Union it also has close links to the department.

They publish guides to the more difficult and important modules for the benefit of first year students. They also arrange extra informal tuition by second and third year students, in addition to official supervisions. They also hope to provide an introductory course and guide to LaTeX, the popular computer typesetting package for maths, which is invaluable for writing essays and projects.