Today, I just wanted to jump in while you might still be working on your coursework assignments to point out some less well-known places to go for information. In addition to the Discovery Service and all the subject-specific resources available through your subject page, you might not realise that there are also several special collections that might be useful to you but that you might not have thought of.

We recently had a request from a MA Illustration student to view books from the University of Portsmouth Special Collections that highlighted lino prints and wood block prints. We found some really remarkable examples such as English As She Is …

From the Special Collections – Lino and wood prints Read more »

A book of historical newspaper cuttings from the University Archive.

A lesser-known fact about the Library is that we house several “special” collections. Special collections has to be a phrase dreamt up by a librarian. It translates broadly to “fun and interesting, often specialised stuff that doesn’t fit on the …

Some collections are just special Read more »

What makes something special? Reaching for the Oxford English Dictionary, one promising definition it offers is: “Distinctive in some way; distinguished from others of the kind by a particular quality or feature; particular, specific.” Oxford English Dictionary Online (n.d.) From …

Introducing the library’s special collections Read more »

If you haven’t done so already, check out the first floor atrium of the Library where we have on display amazing art from the MA Illustration students and from the Library’s Special Collections we have some beautiful Ordnance Survey maps. …

MA students’ art work and maps from our Special Collections on display Read more »

You might well have noticed the sweeping arc of glass cabinets flanking the book sorter in the Atrium, where our Glass Cupboard Collection of fragile and pop-up books are housed.  Did you know that you can borrow these items (including …

Our top 4 library collections: how many can you name? Read more »

Have you ever spotted on the catalogue that some of our books are kept in the Rare Books Collection? Did you wonder why?  Or imagine what else is in there? Here at the library, staff treat all our books with …

Realms of Gold – Exploring Our Rare and Special Collections. Read more »

The University Library held an event on 25th July showcasing our Special Collections.  We invited members of the public to come into the library and discover for themselves what we had on offer. They seemed impressed and had no idea they …

Review of the Special Collections Summer Event on 25th July Read more »

Places are still left for an introduction to the Library’s Special Collections open event on Tuesday, 13 December 2016.  Discover how our rare books and collections ranging from art and architecture to literature, history and science can take your studies …

Places still left for the Special Collections introduction Read more »