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UCL is one of the world’s leading research-intensive universities and the Library’s collections reflect this status.
We hold approximately two million print volumes covering the full range of subjects and disciplines taught and researched at UCL across the Arts & Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. We also provide an extensive digital library. The physical collections are located across the UCL family of 14 site libraries and in an additional off-site storage facility.
We use the term Modern Collections to refer to all our collections that contain material dated post-1850. Anything published before 1850 is kept as part of our Special Collections.
Our collections are mostly subject-focused collections that support current teaching, research and clinical practice and acquisition for these areas is mainly via reading list and academic suggestion.
However, in addition to these we hold some collections of particular strength which we refer to as Flagship (meaning collections of national or international significance). We have further work to do assessing our collections, and more information will be available in due course but we believe these to include Archaeology, Education, Slavonic & East European Studies, Hebrew & Jewish Studies, Scandinavian Studies, Pharmacy, and Neuroscience among others.
Our Flagship collections include many rare and historical items (which date from the mid-19th century onwards) and important collections of material such as pamphlets and grey literature. These collections are continuing to be actively developed beyond the immediate teaching and research needs of the university and donations of historical or other material are considered.
Links and information
- Find out more about our Collection Policies.
- For help in finding material in our collections see Finding Resources.