New online resource: Social History Archive historical records: read more...
Limited fetching of 'Tower' collections: read more...
The Rare Book collections of Cambridge University Library cover all subjects of study and include material from the first European printing presses in the fifteenth century up to the present day, and publications from all parts of the world. The Department is responsible for most of the older printed material in the Library, as well as more recent publications which require special care. Information on particular rare book collections can be found in the Collections Directory.
The collections are read in the Special Collections Reading Room, on the north west corner of the first floor of the Library.
Selected other printed collections within the Library are also consulted in the Special Collections Reading Room:
- Books from the Near and Middle Eastern, and South Asian, Tibetan and Southeast Asian collections printed before 1900
- Printed books from the library of the Bible Society
- Books, pamphlets and periodicals from the Royal Commonwealth Society
- Official Publications material
- Printed music published before 1900.
Working with groups
We welcome enquiries from college and university teachers wishing to use our print collections with student groups. There is teaching space available where groups can work, with capacity for up to 15. Members of the curatorial team are happy to assist if required with handling advice or technical information. If you are interested, please email specialcollections@lib.cam.ac.uk giving at least a week's notice before your preferred date.
Limited fetching of secondary material: Owing to essential maintenance work on the lift into the 17-storey Library tower, fetching of material from this area may be delayed. This affects printed material with a classmark in the form 1800.7.123, where the first element is a year up to 1977. If you would like to consult these collections, please email us at specialcollections@lib.cam.ac.uk with the classmarks of the items, and we will let you know when they are ready. Alternatively, speak to a member of the Special Collections Reading Room team.