Please email specialcollections@reading.ac.uk with any Reading Room/archive enquiries.
This in-box is routinely monitored during the Reading Room opening hours, Tuesday-Friday 9:30-4:30.
THE READING ROOM
The Museum of English Rural Life library, archive and Special Collections can be examined in the Reading Room.
Visiting the MERL Open Access Library does not require pre-booking; however, if you require desk space for extended research, booking is advisable.
To avoid disappointment, please book archive and Special Collections visits a week in advance – collections from the off-site store are made once a week.
Priority is given to visitors accessing the collections – if you only require quiet study space, please ask on the day about availability.
Please read below for information to assist with the use of the Reading Room
READING ROOM OPENING TIMES
Please be aware, the Reading Room follows the University calendar and closes set dates during the year – please see here for Key dates
By appointment, Tuesday to Friday 9.30am-4.30pm.
We remain open over lunchtime, however, we cannot retrieve extra material from the stores 1-2pm.
We close promptly at the end of each session – please allow time to pack up.
HOW TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
All visitors accessing material from the collections need to register pre-first visit and produce photo ID on arrival (pre-existing researchers may be required to re-register).
Research desk space is limited – please book your visit to the Reading Room a minimum of a week in advance.
To reserve space, email specialcollections@reading.ac.uk, providing:
- The preferred date and time you would like to visit – please wait for confirmation before making plans to travel
- Specific material requests, using the reference code, as detailed on the entry in our on-line Enterprise catalogue – please also see the section below entitled ‘How to pre-order material’.
- Prior to your visit, we will send you a registration form* – each attendee should please complete and return a form prior to your arrival
- On arrival of your first visit, please present a form of photographic ID
* New researchers, and those registered prior to September 2020, are required to sign to confirm their agreement to comply with the Copyright and Data Protection Acts. On receipt of your registration form, we automatically register you for the Virtual Reading Room (VRR); this will provide online access to many documents – please check your spam/junk folders for an email with your login details.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON ARRIVAL
We are located behind the London Road campus on Redlands Road, opposite the Royal Berkshire Hospital Getting Here – How to find The Museum of English Rural Life
For information regarding accessibility, please see here
The Museum front of house team can direct you to the Reading Room.
The staff on duty in the Reading Room will allocate you a desk and locker.
The room is staffed throughout the day, however, belongings are left in the room at your own risk.
Any pre-ordered material will be on your allocated desk. Multiple items will be replaced through the day. Please book a repeat visit if you need to – unless advised otherwise, the material will be returned to the store.
The open access library is available to browse – reference maps are available from staff. There is no need to return your books to the shelf – please ask the staff where to stack your used books.
UNABLE TO MAKE IT?
We know plans change. If for any reason you are unable to attend, please notify us with as much notice as possible. We have limited space available and by advising us you won’t be visiting, we can release your desk to another reader. Thank you.
HOW TO PRE-ORDER MATERIAL
Which collection are you looking for?
The A-Z provides an extensive list of all the Special Collections held at MERL and may assist you in narrowing down your search.
ENTERPRISE
Enterprise is the University collections catalogue. Use it to search across many collections held by the University – see the Information link below for more detail. It includes printed books, e-books, printed journals, most of our e-journals, archives, rare books, atlases, maps, many other types of printed and multimedia material, objects and specimens.
Please note, Enterprise provides details of holdings across all of the University of Reading libraries and campuses, eg. ‘Main Library’ refers to Whiteknights Campus – use the drop-down list (next to the Home icon) if you wish to limit your search.
Material identified as within the MERL Library or Special Collections can be accessed in the Reading Room and cannot be transferred through the inter-library loan system.
We will assess your requests and advise you on availability – please only visit the Reading Room if we have confirmed your visit.
Open Access items (identified in the status or location field) do not need to be pre-ordered; however, pre-booking of desk space is advisable. Reference codes provided on the library catalogue system will identify location and we can provide an Open Access map if you require guidance.
WHY DO WE ASK YOU TO PRE-ORDER MATERIAL?
Please provide specific reference codes of the material you wish to examine:
- MERL Library and Special Collections are housed in multiple store rooms, on 3.5km of roller racking, and in 2 buildings, one of which is off-site
- Some collections are stored in hundreds of boxes, containing thousands of documents
- Please provide your reference codes a minimum of a week before your booking – we collect off-site material only once a week
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COPYING SERVICES
We do not have a photocopier available for researcher use.
Photocopies or PDF scans of material can be ordered through our copying service. Please provide the reference codes of the specific material of interest. This service can take up to 20 working days but is often completed much faster.
Digital photography using your own equipment is permitted subject to conditions – please request permission before taking photographs.
Photographs or scanned images may not be reproduced or published in any format without prior agreement, including on-line/social media.
Terms & conditions and prices for scanning/self-photography can be found on our copying services page.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What can I bring into the Reading Room?
Where can I leave my belongings?
On arrival, we will inform you of your assigned numbered locker and desk.
Do I need to wear gloves when handling collections?
Unless directed otherwise, clean, dry hands are sufficient for handling collections.
If the collection you are examining requires special handling, we will advise you and supply any materials required.
Handling guides are available in the Reading Room and as PDF files below:
Handling loose documents and files
Handling books and bound volumes
MERL Handling photographic material
MERL Handling rolled maps and plans
Is there Wi-Fi?
Eduroam is available in the Reading Room. Short term access to The Cloud is available to visitors without access to Eduroam.
Where can I eat lunch?
The MERL Cafe is located near the Museum entrance, we have outside seating if the weather allows – feel free to bring your own lunch.
There are additional cafés on the University of Reading London Road Campus, just a few steps away.