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The UCL Special Collections team manages an outstanding collection of over 10,000 metres of rare books, archives and manuscripts, dating from the 4th century to the present day.
- Subject Areas
The main subject areas covered by our collections are the histories of science, medicine, law, art, archaeology, architecture, education, languages, literature, social history (particularly of London) and political science.
- Our work
As a department, we:
- Collect archives, records and rare books to support the research and teaching of UCL and to reflect the history of the organisation.
- Preserve those rare materials for the future by maintaining monitored storage conditions, undertaking preservation activities and carrying out conservation on damaged items.
- Engage UCL staff and students and external audiences through academic teaching sessions, exhibitions and special events, community and school links and social media.
- Provide access to rare materials through specialised cataloguing, on-line access to catalogues and guides, dedicated enquiry services, invigilated reading rooms, digitisation services and publication advice.
- Provide a records management service across UCL.
- Provide support across all 18 UCL library sites in these areas.
- Collection Care
Learn more about how we look after our collections and make them accessible to users through our conservation work and digitisation programme.
- Strategy and Policy
Learn more about UCL Special Collections' departmental strategy and policies.
