Introduction
Welcome to the Department's homepage. Cambridge University Library holds a wide and rich variety of manuscript material. All items not restricted either on the grounds of condition or confidentiality may be consulted by holders of full Library reader's tickets in the Manuscripts Reading Room. We hope you will explore some of the links on our pages and become acquainted with the scope of our collections. The Library always welcomes new material that either builds on our existing holdings, or which is of relevance to the history of the University.
Manuscripts are consulted in the Manuscripts Reading Room under the conditions for the use of that room. Although manuscripts may be ordered and fetched during fetching hours, readers are strongly advised to let us know in advance when they are coming and what they wish to see, so that the material can be reserved for them.Those without reader's tickets should, when they first come to the Library, ask for the Admissions Office, where they should state that they wish to see manuscripts; they must bring with them the forms of documentation required for access to manuscripts as set out on the Admissions Office web pages. The Admissions Office is open from 09.30-12.30 and 14.00-17.00 Monday-Thursday, 09.30-12.30 and 14.00-16.45 Friday, and 09.30-12.45 on Saturday. Please note that some manuscript collections have further admissions requirements: please consult the web pages relating to individual collections. Persons who are not members of the University, visiting the Library for the first time in order to request admittance, must arrive during these hours. They are advised to come as early in the day as possible, as queues can build up at certain times of the year.
Undergraduates are not normally allowed to consult manuscripts without special permission. This must be sought on their behalf by their Tutor, Supervisor or Director of Studies, writing in advance to the Keeper of Manuscripts and University Archives. Further information on individual collections and collecting areas is available from the names supplied on individual pages.
Important Notice
New Manuscripts Reading Room Procedures
In the interests of security, we have introduced new procedures for readers using the Manuscripts Reading Room:
- All readers will be required to complete a signing-in sheet with a signature and library card number before entering the Reading Room.
- All prohibited items will have to be deposited in lockers either on the landing outside the Reading Room or at the Library entrance.
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:- any items of food or drink
- pens
- bags of any kind, including transparent bags, pencil cases, handbags, large wallets
- files, folders, envelopes, document wallets, ring-binders, bound notebooks
- outdoor clothing, including coats, hats, scarves, gloves
- blades of any kind, including pencil sharpeners
- cameras
Due to the nature of the material we handle in this room, security is of paramount importance. We hope that our readers understand the need for the introduction of these new measures.