Collections
Introduction
The Moore Library holds the University Library's working collections in mathematics, physics, astronomy, computer science, materials science, and engineering, including relevant material received under Legal Deposit legislation.
Books
The main book collection is located on the second floor (classmarks A-QA433) and first floor (classmarks QA440-Z) of the Library. Reference books (handbooks, dictionaries, etc.) and abstracts and indexes are shelved on the ground floor: such volumes are not normally borrowable.
Books (in both the main and reference collections) are shelved by the Library of Congress (LC) classification scheme, an alphanumeric system in which the major subject divisions are allocated a single or double letter code between A and Z.
The main subject divisions of the classification used in the Moore Library are:
| Q | General Science | 2nd Floor |
| QA | Mathematics & Computer Science | 2nd & 1st Floors |
| QB | Astronomy & Astrophysics | 1st Floor |
| QC | Physics, Geophysics & Meteorology | 1st Floor |
| QD | Chemical Sciences | 1st Floor |
| QE | Earth Sciences | 1st Floor |
| QH-S | Biological & Medical Sciences | 1st Floor |
| T-TS | Technology & Engineering | 1st Floor |
The thesis collection is to be found on the first floor, immediately after the end of the main book sequence.
The Library maintains a reserve collection containing one copy of each book on the mathematics undergraduate and Part III reading lists. Please ask at the Service Desk to borrow any of these books. Reserve collection loans are for 24 hours at a time. A full list of the books in this collection is available.
Journals
Journals are arranged alphabetically by title within their main single- or two-letter LC classification. The alphabetic sequence is word-by-word excluding both initial and internal stop words (e.g. of, for, and, the, und, die, et, la, etc.)
Current issues are displayed on the ground floor of the Library, whilst older volumes are located on the lower-ground floor.
Many journals are shelved in mobile shelving units. Library users are asked to follow the instructions on the safe use of these units at all times - in particular always to check that no-one is using an aisle before closing it.
Major journal classmarks used in the Moore Library are:
| GC | Oceanography |
| HA | Statistics (see also QA) |
| Q | General science |
| QA | Mathematics |
| QA75 | Computer Science |
| QB | Astronomy & Astrophysics |
| QC | Physics, Geophysics & Meteorology |
| QD | Chemical Sciences |
| QE | Earth Sciences |
| QH-S | Biological & Medical Sciences |
| T | General Technology |
| TA | General & General Civil Engineering |
| TC | Hydraulic & Ocean Engineering |
| TD | Environmental Technology & Sanitary Engineering |
| TE | Highway Engineering |
| TG | Bridge Engineering |
| TJ | Mechanical Engineering |
| TK | Electrical, Electronic & Nuclear Engineering |
| TL | Aeronautical, Astronautical & Automotive Engineering |
| TN | Mining Engineering & Metallurgy |
| TP | Chemical Technology |
| TS | Manufacturing Engineering |
Offprint display
Members of the Faculty of Mathematics have deposited printed copies of their recent and/or seminal papers with the Moore Library, so that students and colleagues are able to browse through them in comfort. The display is located on the first floor of the Moore Library, following on from the Thesis collection. A list of the papers currently on display is available.
Electronic resources
Most electronic resources are available from any University of Cambridge networked PC. Within the Library, access is provided via the catalogue terminals (located on each floor, with the main cluster on the ground floor) and desktop services machines (on second, first, and lower-ground floors).
The Moore Library provides training and support for users of the University's networked electronic resources. Subject specialist staff are available to advise on the selection and use of electronic journals, databases, and reference works.
The Moore Library houses a Desktop Services (DS) cluster managed in collaboration with the University Computing Service to provide a full range of computing services to users. These machines provide a choice of either a Windows or a LINUX user interface. Use of these workstations requires a DS account, which is administered by the Computing Service. Copies of the application form are available online.
Collection development policy
The collection development policy statement for the University Library contains that of the Moore Library. Section 31 is particularly relevant.