Update: Bookings now open for the Special Collections Reading Room

Author
fionamelhuish
Published Date
August 24, 2020

 

We are very pleased to announce that we are now able to take bookings for readers to access our archive and library materials in the Special Collections Service reading room from Tuesday 8 September 2020.

If you would like to make a booking, please ensure that you read the updated reading room guidance before contacting us as we have made a number of changes to our service.

Please note that we can only accept bookings in advance and that our reading room will be operating with reduced opening hours:

Tuesday-Thursday: 9.30am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-4.00pm (we will close for an hour at lunch)
(Closed Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

We look forward to welcoming you back to explore and research our rich and varied archive and library collections! Find out more on our new Special Collections website.

Published Date
February 23, 2026

Challenging our view of rigid Victorian gender boundaries through music covers

In the first of two blog posts showcasing the research potential of our Spellman Collection of Victorian music covers, we…

Published Date
February 13, 2026

Mills & Boon: The Surprise Archive 

Having long been a lover of a good romance novel, it was a dream come true to be granted permission…

Published Date
February 2, 2026

Festivals of the Imagination: early editions of novels and poetry by James Joyce 

In 2020, Stephen James Joyce, Joyce’s grandson, bequeathed the Solange and Stephen James Joyce Collection to the University of Reading Special…

James Joyce is sitting on a chair. His young son has his arm around his father's neck and they are holding hands.
Published Date
December 9, 2025

Family photos from the personal archive of James Joyce

The Solange and Stephen James Joyce Collection The University of Reading has acquired a major collection of books, documents and…

Published Date
November 24, 2025

A Century in Print: Exploring Student Life Through University of Reading’s Magazines (Part 2)

We continue our journey through the extensive range of periodical publications housed in the University History collection, also known as…

Published Date
November 14, 2025

A Century in Print: Exploring Student Life Through University of Reading’s Magazines (Part 1)

As part of the Special Collections library team, I am responsible for cataloguing and making available the printed and published…

All news and views