University Teaching and Learning
The University of Reading’s archive and library collections are an amazing, diverse and often surprising resource, cutting across many disciplines and subjects in their themes and strengths. We encourage their use in university teaching and learning, and work to enable this across the University of Reading and beyond.
This page outlines the variety of ways The Museum of English Rural Life and University of Reading Special Collections can support teaching with collections.
I enjoyed learning the new ways of being able to research and how I can apply that to my course.
Why teach with collections?
Teaching with collections offers many benefits:
- Students develop key study skills such as critical reading, research, and analysis
- Spark curiosity through hands-on engagement
- Diversify your teaching with unique opportunities for your students
- Inspire students to take on original research in the future
- Support student wellbeing
It was brilliant to witness students outside the lecture room engaging with the museum space, and archival materials set up for handling. This change in location and getting hands-on with materials encouraged a different kind of conversation and connection to the topic of sustainability. Students were able to share ideas and make connections. This really helped bring them out of their shells as they transition towards more independent learning.
Professor Hilary Geohegan, Geography and Environmental Science
Our offer
We offer hands-on group sessions for all disciplines using archive and library collections at the Special Collections site on Redlands Road, as well as a wide range of digital remote teaching options. We tailor sessions to all study levels from foundation year to PhD.
In 2025-26, we supported a range of University of Reading subjects, including:
| Archaeology | Art | Built Environment | Classics | English Literature |
| Geography | History | Languages | Law | Typography |
These sessions are available for University of Reading staff and to other Higher Education institutions across the UK and around the world, on-site or virtually. For groups external to the University of Reading, we charge a small room hire fee.
What does a session look like?
Sessions typically fall into two categories: the first is academic led with an introduction by collections staff as well as supervision throughout; the second is led by collection staff with an academic present.
If your students have not attended a session before, we provide an induction which includes a collections handling demonstration (10 mins). We can also offer and introduction to the collections and a demonstration of how to access collections independently.
Throughout, collections staff will be on-hand to answer questions. This gives you the chance to take the lead and teach the content of the session.
What do our students say?
Students often tell us they have never experienced learning like this before.
98% of students agreed or strongly agreed that their collections-based session was interesting.
94% of students agreed or strongly agreed that engaging with collections gave them a better understanding of their subject
2024-2025 student feedback, from 300 responses.
Resources
We understand that students who have not worked with collections before sometimes need support to feel confident learning in a new way. That is why we have produced a host of guide videos and documents to help them navigate and access the collections.
Some of our collections can be accessed digitally. Our Virtual Reading Room (VRR) allows exploration of high-quality digital versions of books and documents by registered users, as well as providing galleries of images for all to explore. Digital scholarship is an increasingly important factor in our work with students and we have a host of resources on offer.
Enquiries and bookings
We are able to work with you to develop an idea and recommend relevant collections, but are equally happy to help you deliver a session you have already planned.
To enquire about a session with the Special Collections or The MERL, please email us on specialcollections@reading.ac.uk.
To book a teaching session using the Art Collections, please click here.
Please note that central timetabling does not have access to our booking system. Our spaces are used for corporate hire groups and other groups we host at the Museum. Timetabling may allocate a room for your teaching at The MERL and Special Collections, but you can only finalise a booking with us.