Digital access
There are many ways that you can access our collections online: from our collections websites and databases, to digital engagement platforms.
Explore our holdings
You can search and browse via our A-Z list, which aggregates collections from across the University of Reading’s different museums and collections websites.
Please note: not all of our catalogues and finding aids are online. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact us.
We also supply details of our collections to general and specialist databases, which allow you to search across lots of different museums, libraries and archives. Learn more in our digital access FAQs.
Online content
Though only a small proportion of our holdings have been digitised, this still means that tens of thousands of items can be viewed online.
Low-resolution images of many of our objects, archives and artworks can be viewed on our catalogue and our Virtual Reading Room. You can view this content at higher resolutions by registering for the Virtual Reading Room.
Some content is available in our online exhibitions, or via the following online portals:
- ArtUK (selected items from Art Collections and The MERL)
- Google Arts and Culture (selected items from Special Collections)
- Visual Arts Data Service (Victorian music sheet covers from Special Collections)
- Modernist Archives Publishing Project (selected items from Special Collections)
- Staging Beckett (selected items from Special Collections)
- Beckett Digital Manuscript Project (subscription)
We also operate copying services, so we can supply copies if you can’t visit in person. Please note that many of our holdings remain in copyright and can only be accessed on-site or for very specific purposes.
Digital teaching with collections
For a range of options for University teaching using collections, both online and on-site, please see our guide.