Library and Knowledge Service for NHS Ambulance Services in England - Harvard System

At the end of a piece of work list references to documents cited in the text. This list may be called a Bibliography or References.

In the Harvard System, the references are listed in alphabetical order of authors’ names. If you have cited more than one item by a specific author they should be listed chronologically (earliest first), and by letter (1993a, 1993b) if more than one item has been published during a specific year.

Whenever possible, elements of a bibliographical reference should be taken from the title page of the publication.

For place of publication give the city. If more than one town/city is listed give the first one or the location of the publishers head office.

Where authorship is attributed to an organisation or corporation instead of an individual author, e.g. NHS, ascribe authorship to the smallest identifiable organisational unit. Give the author as it is written e.g. NHS Wales - Health of Wales Information Service or NWAS NHS Trust.

Each reference should use the elements and punctuation given in the following examples for the different types of published work you may have cited.

Reference to a book
Author’s Surname, INITIALS., Year of publication. Title. Edition (if not the first). Place of publication: Publisher.

e.g. Blaber, A.Y., 2008. Foundations for Paramedic Practice: a theoretical practice. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

Reference to a contribution in a book
Contributing author’s Surname, INITIALS., Year of publication. Title of contribution. Followed by In: Surname, INITIALS., of author or editor of publication followed by ed. or eds. if relevant. Title of book. Place of publication: Publisher, Page number(s) of contribution.

e.g. Harris, G. and Cowland, S., 2008. Ethics and law for the paramedic. In: Blaber, A.Y., ed. Foundations for Paramedic Practice: a theoretical practice. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 12–22.

Reference to an article in a journal
Author’s Surname, INITIALS., Year of publication. Title of article. Title of journal, Volume number and (part number), Page numbers of contribution.

e.g. Michelson, E. and Hollrah, S., 1999. Evaluation of the patient with shortness of breath: An evidence-based approach. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, 17 (1), 221-37.

Reference to a newspaper article
Author’s Surname, INITIALS., (or Newspaper Title,) Year of publication. Title of article. Title of newspaper, Day and month, Page number/s and column number.

e.g. Independent, 1992. Picking up the bills. Independent, 4 June, p.28a.

Reference to a conference paper
Contributing author’s Surname, INITIALS., Year of publication. Title of contribution. Followed by In: Surname, INITIALS., of editor of proceedings (if applicable) followed by ed or eds if relevant. Title of conference including date and place of conference. Place of publication: Publisher, Page numbers of contribution.

e.g. Dundas, S. and Lean, C.L.S., 2002. Retrospective audit of use of viral load (VL) test. In: 8 th Annual Conference of the British HIV Association, 19-21 April 2002 University of York. London: BHIVA, 20-21.

Reference to a report from a corporate author (e.g. a government department or other organisation).
Name of Issuing Body, Year of publication. Title of publication. Place of publication: Publisher, Report Number (where relevant).

e.g. Department of Health (Research and Development Directorate), 2005. Best research for best health. A new national health research strategy. London: Department of Health, 272605.

Reference to a thesis
Author’s Surname, INITIALS., Year of publication. Title of thesis. Designation, (and type). Name of institution to which submitted.

e.g. James, A.E.C., 1988, Stress in the ambulance service: An investigation into the sources of occupational stress perceived by managerial, control and operational staff of the Devon ambulance service. Thesis, (PhD). University of Bradford.

Reference to a book located in a database
Author's /Editor's Surname, INITIALS., Year. Title. (Edition). Place of publication: Publisher (if ascertainable). Available from: URL [Accessed Date].

e.g. Blaber, A.Y., 2008. Foundations for paramedic practice: a theoretical perspective. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Available from: http://www.myilibrary.com [Accessed 20 May 2009].

Reference to a journal article located in a database
Author's Surname, INITIALS., Year. Title. Journal Title, volume (issue), page numbers (if available). Available from: URL [Accessed Date].

e.g. Oultram, K., 2009. The KSF: how is it for you? Community Practitioner, 82 (5), 42. Available from: http://proquest.umi.com [Accessed 20 May 2009].

Reference to web pages and e-books
Author's /Editor's Surname, INITIALS., Year. Title. (Edition). Place of publication: Publisher (if ascertainable). Available from: URL [Accessed Date].

e.g. Health and Social care Information Centre, 2005. Ambulance services, England: 2004-05. Leeds: National Centre for Social Research. Available from: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/ambulanceserv05/Ambulance Services170605_PDF.pdf [Accessed 20 May 2009].

Reference to photographs/images on the Internet
Photographer/Artist’s Surname, INITIALS., Year of publication. Title of image [type of medium photograph/image]. Place of publication: Publisher (of online image) if ascertainable. Available from: URL [Accessed Date].

e.g. Larkin, J., 2003. Paramedics attend to a casualty near to the clock tower in Leicester at 11:37am. [photograph]. London: BBC. Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastmidlandstoday/content/images/2007/06/28/pa ramedic_416x300.jpg [Accessed 20 May 2009]

Reference to Twitter User
Name, Day Month Year. Tweet text in its entirety. [Twitter post]. Available from: Tweet address [Accessed Date].

e.g. NWASLibrary, 19 December 2011. NWAS LIS - Library & Information Services (LIS) are good for your organisation. Find out why and how. [Twitter post]. Available from: https://twitter.com/#!/NWASLibrary/status/148821678321963009 [Accessed 12 March 2012].