New year, new term – what's new from your libraries
A new year, a new term, and whatever habits you're looking to build or break, there's one that will sustain you for life – learning.
Your network of University of Cambridge Libraries are here to support your studies, your skills, your curiosity, and your ambitions.
All University of Cambridge students and staff are automatically members of the University Library, as well as your college and faculty libraries. Many faculty and department libraries are open to all students and researchers across subjects.
You can study in a space that suits you for different tasks, different days, and different moods – with friends or alone, background noise or a quiet space.
The libraries also offer skills courses, book clubs, and exhibitions (all free).
Living Water: a new exhibition on poetry and art opens 20 March 2026
‘Without living water, we die.’
These stark words from Anglo-Irish artist Barrie Cooke reflect his alarm at the growing pollution of the Irish rivers and loughs he loved. A leading expressionist painter, Cooke drew inspiration from the natural world and friendships with major 20th-century poets, including Seamus Heaney, Ted Hughes and John Montague.
This exhibition uncovers a significant archive of letters, manuscripts and artworks that offers fresh insight into their creative dialogue across five decades. At its heart lies the shared landscape that sustained them, rivers that became both artistic touchstones and warnings of environmental decline.
Living Water brings together art and poetry to illuminate this remarkable circle and to chart the worsening pollution that reshaped the waterways of Britain, Ireland and beyond.
As part of the exhibition, you'll also be able to see works by acclaimed artist Susan Derges. Inspired by the rivers and landscape of Devon, Derges traces the presence and flow of water.
Susan Derges, Passage 2012, Digital C-type print
Susan Derges, Passage 2012, Digital C-type print
Living Water: Poetry, Art and the Fight for Clean Rivers opens 20 March 2026 at the University Library.
Our exhibitions are free and open to all. Booking not required. Open six days a week (Monday to Saturday).
Join us for the launch event
Join us for the public exhibition opening on Thursday 19 March and be one of the first to see Living Water. Tickets available from February here.
The Really Popular Book Club
Unwind at the University Library's online book club, where each month we discuss a popular fiction title.
Coming up
- Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (27 January)
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (24 February)
- The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (31 March).
Everyone is welcome to contribute their thoughts and comments, or to sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy what others have to say. The book club is free and online.
Sign up at www.lib.cam.ac.uk/bookclub
Late night at the library, with a twist
Library Late is our annual after-hours event, featuring exhibition-themed activities and a pop-up cocktail bar. It's on Thursday 18 June and tickets will be available from February here.
Don't miss upcoming events, exhibitions and book clubs, by signing up to the What's On newsletter.
By Francesa Harper
Events Coordinator, University Library
Spotlight on
The Moore Library
The Moore Library is the main STEMM library for Cambridge University, holding collections in the fields of Mathematics, Science, and Technology. However, you don’t have to be a scientist to visit – we are open to all!
We have around 300 study spaces spread across four floors, so you will always find a space at the Moore. During term time, we’re open from 9am to 9pm (9am to 1pm on Saturdays).
Our ground floor has recently been refurbished, increasing our range of study and recreation areas. The ground floor is now a Research Café-style, multi-purpose area, to be used for group work and discussions, supervisions and individual study. You can also play games, enjoy jigsaw puzzles, origami, or just relax with a snack and a hot drink from our vending machines.
Other study spaces include our bookable study rooms, a quiet and comfy Acoustic Booth for you to make online calls or hold meetings, as well as study pods, cosy corners, and our large and airy Glass Room, which can also be booked for teaching and events.
The Glass Room at the Moore Library
The Glass Room at the Moore Library
We have plenty of equipment to help you study, including standing desks, plugs and chargers for your devices, a range of study supplies and assistive equipment, and even VR Headsets for practising presentations.
We also have an excellent fiction collection, a Study Skills & Wellbeing section, and finally some cuddly 'Study Buddies' to keep you company!
Study Buddies at The Moore!
Study Buddies at The Moore!
All are welcome at The Moore Library – so come on over and make yourself at home!
By John Hennessy
Senior Library Assistant, Betty and Gordon Moore Library
Do you know about our University Library Research Institute?
The University Library Research Institute aims to create a vibrant and supportive research environment where ideas are nurtured, and individuals are empowered to carry out collections-based research in collaboration with our staff.
If you would like to hear about research events and opportunities the libraries network has to offer, as well as read inspiring news from our portfolio of projects, sign up to the University Library Research Institute’s mailing list.
By Eleanor Parmenter
University Library Research Institute Coordinator
New resources
Pragda STREAM
Pragda STREAM provides access to over 550 Latin American, Spanish, and Latinx documentaries and feature films, all in their original language with English captions or subtitles.
Building Types Online
Cambridge University now has access to the database Building Types Online, a resource for the study and practice of architectural design.
Covidence
You can use Covidence to manage and support the review steps of title and abstract screening, full-text screening, data extraction and quality assessment.
National Theatre Collection 4
New collection of English-language fiction in translation
The Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics Library's new collection of English-language fiction in translation is now available.
The collection features English-language classics and popular young adult fiction, all translated from English into languages studied in the MMLL Faculty.
It currently includes Pride and Prejudice in French, Twilight in Polish, The Hunger Games in Italian, Heartstopper in Ukrainian, His Dark Materials in Spanish, and Little Women in Portuguese, alongside many other titles and languages.
The collection allows students to approach their languages through texts where they may be familiar with the plot already and so can focus more on vocabulary and grammar in their target languages.
All members of the University are welcome to borrow from the collection – for international students and staff across the University it might also offer some opportunities for lighter reading in their native languages!
The collection has been curated as part of our Student Room, which houses language and culture-related board games, puzzles, books to be read for pleasure and wellbeing resources.
By Cathy Wardle
Library Assistant, Modern & Medieval Languages and Linguistics Library
Sequel to a Reminiscence
The archive of enigmatic 19th-century writer Amy Levy has a new home at Cambridge University Library.
Previously kept in private hands, and largely unavailable for academic study, it is now being opened to research.
'Born under a rhyming planet'
Archive of famed Les Misérables lyricist Herbert Kretzmer has a new home at Cambridge University Library.
Need a refresher of all the resources available to you? You can still access the Student Guide to University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives.
Fancy a night out with friends or some new clothes, for free?
Tell us what you think in our 10-minute libraries survey for a chance to win big Love Cambridge vouchers!
Love Cambridge gift cards can be spent in hundreds of shops and restaurants across Cambridge.
You'll help us improve your libraries and the resources and services we offer. The survey is quick to fill in (tick boxes / clicks) with optional text fields on each question to tell us more about your views.
We'd love to know what we're getting right, wrong, and how we can help you the most.
The survey will run throughout March. Look out for the posters, emails, and handy bookmarks. We'll also post a link back here too. Survey opens March 2nd.
Skills
All our skills courses are free for University of Cambridge students and researchers. You can choose as many as you'd like. Some are taught courses and some you can download straight away.
Academic skills courses
Courses include Critical reading: Breaking it down, Literature Searching, Note-making and even Publishing Academic Books.
Research skills courses
Courses include Managing your References, plus new courses for this year Research Data Essentials and Open Access Essentials.
One-to-One sessions
Book a one-to-one session with library staff for tailored support, from finding a book to help with a literature search. Email: reference@lib.cam.ac.uk
Academic writing help from a Royal Literary Fellow
For help with your academic writing, in any subject, at any level, book a 50-minute one-to-one meeting in person at the University Library or online, with Cambridge alumnus, Alexander Masters. Email: alexander.masters@rlfeducation.org.uk
Accessibility Service
We have a dedicated accessibility team, resources, equipment, and step-free access.
Get the guide to library accessibility services for students.
The Moore Library
The Moore Library
We're here to help
Librarians can be your guides to anything you need to know.
Visit any of the libraries or email library@lib.cam.ac.uk
"Students often approach us saying 'This is probably a silly question but...' or, worse still, they don’t ask at all thinking they’re at Cambridge so they should be able to figure it out for themselves. Please do ask us.
"That question you think is 'silly' is often the most instructive and gives us the insight we need to adapt or explain what we do more clearly to make libraries as accessible and inclusive as possible."
Jo Harcus (she/her)
Philosophy Libarian, Casimir Lewy Library, Faculty of Philosophy
If you have any feedback on this termly update or suggestions for what you'd like to see in the next one, please do let us know at stories@lib.cam.ac.uk
Follow us on social media
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news, events, and resources, as well as any service updates. You can can find Cambridge University Library on all social media channels, and many faculty and department libraries have their own social media too.
