The Rare Books team welcomes enquiries in person, by phone, or by email. We are always interested to know more about the work being done on our collections so please let us know about your research and discoveries.
Enquiries
Enquiries relating to visiting the library to consult collections should be sent to specialcollections@lib.cam.ac.uk. More specialist enquiries relating to collections for the attention of curators can be sent to: rarebooks@lib.cam.ac.uk
Curatorial staff
The curatorial team of rare book specialists is based in offices next to the Special Collections Reading Room. We share responsibility for selecting, purchasing, cataloguing and promoting our collections to all Library users and the wider academic and public communities. Members of the team also run reader education sessions and would be happy to hear from academic staff within the University who are interested in creating teaching sessions using rare books. We host external visitors to the Library and welcome enquiries from school, community and educational groups who would like to visit the Department.
Dr Suzanne Paul
Keeper of Rare Books and Early Manuscripts
Telephone: +44 (0)1223 333149
Email: sp510@cam.ac.uk
Dr Emily Dourish
Deputy Keeper of Rare Books and Early Manuscripts
Telephone: +44 (0)1223 747434
Email: ejm25@cam.ac.uk
Dr Liam Sims
Rare Books Specialist
Telephone: +44 (0)1223 333123
Email: ls457@cam.ac.uk
Postal address:
Department of Rare Books
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge
CB3 9DR
Unfortunately the Department is not able to provide valuations of books: for this you should contact an antiquarian bookseller or auction house. You can search for UK and overseas booksellers on the website of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association, or the website of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America. There is also a useful section on Your Old Books on the website of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries (American Library Association).