A History of Cambridge University's Science Libraries
The Central Science Library (until 1 August 2004 known as the Scientific Periodicals Library) and Betty and Gordon Moore Library stand in direct lineage from the first science library in Cambridge - the library of the Cambridge Philosophical Society established in the early nineteenth century. Philosophical in this context should be understood as historically referring to natural philosophy.
The early history of the Society is recorded in The Cambridge Philosophical Society: A History 1819-1969 by A. Rupert Hall (1969). The establishment of a library for the fellows of the Society was quickly seen as a priority. Lists of library acquisitions appear in the Transactions of the Cambridge Philosophical Society as early as the 1820 volume. In 1821 the Society formally agreed to establish a reading room, initially in rooms in Sidney Street and then in the purpose built premises in All Saints Passage.
Throughout the nineteenth century as science became increasingly important in the University the importance of the Society's library also grew and, informally at least, it began to be acknowledged as an invaluable resource to the University as a whole.
The Cambridge Philosophical Society's house was put up for sale in 1865.This posed a problem for the "Philosophical Library", which was by then of sufficient importance to the scientific departments for the University to be concerned that it should not be dispersed. By a Grace of 8 June 1865 the use of a room on the New Museums site was granted to the Society to house the Library.
By 1880 this space had become too cramped for the Society's 5,000 volumes and the Society lacked means to administer and staff the Library adequately, room for expansion was needed, the lack of official status made planning for the future difficult.
A need for a Central Scientific Library (a recurring theme in this history) was expressed in the correspondence between the Society and the University that concluded with a formal agreement in 1881 (Grace of 7 June 1881). By this agreement between the University and the Society, the University undertook the responsibility of housing and staffing the Library in return for its use being extended to all members of the University, irrespective of whether they joined the Society. The Library was to be administered by a joint committee of the University and the Society in equal proportions.
In 1935 the Philosophical Library moved into the Arts School Building. Despite its unique status the Library continued to be the focus of successive but ultimately unsuccessful campaigns to establish a "University Science Library" along the lines of the Radcliffe Science Library at Oxford. Despite this the Library was clearly seen as a co-ordinating hub for departmental science libraries. The precursor of today's Newton online catalogue providing comprehensive information of the University's holdings was the original Union Catalogue project undertaken by staff based at the Library.
The Philosophical Library had from an early stage restricted as far as possible its acquisitions to periodicals rather than monographs and in so doing established numerous journal exchanges with other learned societies around the world. This focus was acknowledged when the library was renamed the Scientific Periodicals Library (SPL) in 1967.
In 1976 the SPL became a dependent library (branch) of Cambridge University Library but the SPL maintained important links with the Cambridge Philosophical Society, not the least of which is the active exchange programme involving the Society's two journals: Mathematical Proceedings and Biological Reviews and the Society's representation on the Library's Sub-syndicate (management committee). This provided essential stability and the opportunity to call directly on the expertise of staff within the University Library. Shortage of space within the Arts School building, however, continued to be a major concern. Proposals that the Library expand into the ground floor of the Arts School building had been made in the First Report of the General Board's Committee on Libraries (Reporter, 28 March 1969) but this and subsequent recommendations to date have been frustrated.
In the 1990's negotiations began regarding the establishment of a library at the proposed Centre for Mathematical Sciences (CMS) at Clarkson Road that would include material from the SPL. In response to this possibility in 1995 the Library Syndicate approved plans for a completely new approach to the distribution of the UL's collections and services. The physical sciences, mathematics and technology would be served from what came to be the Betty and Gordon Moore Library on the CMS site close to the West Cambridge development while biological, chemical, earth and environmental subjects were to be catered for in central Cambridge, initially at least, through the existing SPL.
The opening of the Betty and Gordon Moore Library in October 2001 therefore marked a new stage in the development of central library services. The Moore Library drew print collections from the SPL, the University Library at West Road and completely absorbed two mathematics department collections.
Following the "splitting" of its journal collections with the Moore Library in 2001 the SPL has improved access to its collections as far as possible within the constraints of its accommodation and has continued to take a lead in fostering greater co-operation between scientific libraries.
The Library currently takes over 1500 current serial titles and holds many print journal back-files unique to Cambridge. In addition to a historic collection of 2,200 19th and early 20th century scientific monographs the Library presently has a circulating monographic book stock of over 7,000 volumes. When the Library begins accepting relevant material acquired under Legal Deposit legislation it is expected that at least 2,000 volumes would be added to this collection each year.
In 1989 the SPL absorbed the collections of the former Department of Applied Biology. This collection remains one of the most complete archive collections of literature on agriculture and related topics in the country. With the exception of the books, which are now incorporated in the main collection, these collections are chiefly housed in closed access accommodation in the Austin and Balfour buildings adjacent to the Arts School.
In recognition of the SPL's collection profile the Library Syndicate, in January 2004, requested the General Board's approval of the re-naming of the library as Cambridge University Library, Central Science Library.
Despite two changes in name over 180 years the Central Science Library and its sister the Betty and Gordon Moore Library maintain strong links with the Cambridge Philosophical Society. The last ten years have seen rapid changes in the ways modern libraries deliver services to their users. Managing change and adaptability have become essential but it is also salutary to note the continuity of what is the Library's mission. Fulfilling the need of scientists for information has continued uninterrupted since 1819.
Administration
The management of the library is supervised by the Science Sub-syndicate of the Library Syndicate. The Sub-syndicate normally meets three times each year.