Accessing Archives and Special Collections

Archives and special collections are available for viewings Monday to Friday, 9:30am-1pm and 2pm-4:30pm.

To view items from our archives and special collections you must make an appointment for a viewing by filling out our request form at least 14 days in advance of your intended visit.

This includes all items listed on the catalogue as being in the following locations: the Rare Books Store, Archives and Special Collections, the Muniments Room, and the Robinson Room.

The Reading Rooms team will then be in touch to arrange your viewing.

Please contact us to make your appointment as far in advance of your proposed visit as possible so that you can definitely book a space as we can be very busy and occasionally the Reading Rooms close for special events and collections care.

To avoid disappointment, make sure your appointment has been confirmed before you book your accommodation and travel.

To view archives and special collections you need to be a Resident at the Library, a registered Reader, or you can sign up as a Researcher for the day.

You will need to bring photographic ID and proof of your address.

Access to some of the items in our archives are restricted under data protection legislation. In these cases, they may only be viewed by individuals completing historical, scientific, or statistical research and with a view to publish some journalistic, academic, artistic, or literary material that is in the public interest. This applies to many of the records we hold that were created in the last 100 years. If any of the material that you have requested does contain personal data, you will be sent an application form that enables us to check that your request is lawful.

Please note that items will be given to you in the order that you request them, and a maximum of ten files or volumes will be retrieved on any one day.

Some items are too fragile to be photographed, so please take this into consideration when planning your trip to the library.

All archives and special collections are viewed at a supervised invigilation desk in our silent Reading Rooms.

As is standard practice in libraries while consulting archives and special collections, you are not allowed coats, bags, food, or liquids, including bottles of water and pens, at the table with you. Lockers are available for you to leave your belongings in.

To take notes, please use a pencil and paper, and/or a laptop/tablet.

For more information about working with our archives and special collections, please see our Archives and Special Collections Regulations and Handling Guidelines.

You can find out more about the archives that we hold here and the special collections that we hold here.

If you have any questions about our archives and special collections, please email [email protected].