How to decode your curriculum list – and actually find the texts
Once you know what to look for, finding your readings becomes much easier. Learn how to decode book chapters and journal articles and get straight to the texts you need for class.
You have a stack of readings for your next class. Some are journal articles, others are chapters in books. But how do you find them?
Let’s walk through it together, so you know exactly where to search and what to look for.
Spotting what kind of text it is
Your curriculum list often includes a mix of book chapters and journal articles. You find them in different ways, so the first step is to decode what you are looking at.
Example: A chapter in a book
Ørnstrup, H. (2000), Simmel, In H. Andersen & L.B. Kaspersen (eds.), Classical and Modern Social Theory, Blackwell, pp. 96-107
This reference is a chapter in a book.
How do you know?
The word In in the middle of the reference is the clue. It tells you that:
- Andersen and Kaspersen edited a book called Classical and Modern Social Theory
- Ørnstrup contributed the chapter Simmel
To find the chapter, you need to search for the book, not the chapter title, because chapter titles are not always searchable in Libsearch.
What to do:
- Go to Libsearch
- Search for Classical and Modern Social Theory
- Add kaspersen to narrow the results
- When you find the book, note the location number
- Go to the library at Solbjerg Plads and find it on the shelf.
Example: A journal article
Borch, C. (2005). Urban Imitations: Tarde’s Sociology Revisited. Theory, Culture & Society, 22(3), pp. 81–100
This is a journal article.
How can you tell?
- There is no “In” in the reference
- The numbers after the journal title show the volume and issue. That means it is part of a continuously published journal.
There are two ways to find journal articles:
- Go to Libsearch
- Search the article title Urban Imitations Tarde's Sociology Revisited
- Not all articles appear directly in Libsearch. If you are wondering why, come talk to us – it’s a longer explanation.
Luckily, there is another way.
- In Libsearch, use the Find journals menu
- Paste the journal title Theory Culture and Society
- Follow the link to the journal platform
- Click through the years and volumes until you reach the article you need
Where to find your curriculum lists
The library does not keep reading lists for individual programmes. Log in to CBS Canvas and check your course pages.
If you don’t have access yet, Academic Books has a list on academicbooks.dk/pensumlister, but it mainly covers books and compendia.
Curriculum books at the library
Most curriculum books are available in the Course Collection at Solbjerg Plads. That means there’s usually a copy you can read while you are at the library.
Search for the book in Libsearch to get the location number.
Journal articles are not part of the Course Collection.
Ask us
If you are unsure where to start, we are here to help.
Drop by Solbjerg Plads or reach us by mail or phone: Contact the library
Want to become a reference expert?
Sign up for a Mendeley course. Mendeley helps you organise your readings and keep track of your sources. Once you start using it, you will decode reference lists much faster and find your readings with ease.