Skip to content

UPDATE: SPECIAL COLLECTIONS READING ROOM NOW OPEN TO ALL RESEARCHERS

Author
fionamelhuish
Published Date
December 1, 2020

In line with the latest Government announcement that Reading will enter Tier 2 at the end of the national lockdown, the reading room will be open to all researchers from Wednesday 2 December 2020. The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) will also reopen on 2 December.

Please note that we can only accept reading room bookings in advance. If you would like to make a booking, please ensure that you read the updated guidance before contacting us as we have made a number of changes to our service. You can find out more about our collections through our Special Collections website.

Our reading room is currently operating with reduced opening hours:

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

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…

A pile of letters from the late 1950s showing colourful designs and stamps
Published Date
October 23, 2025

A pile of old letters – new research methods, vintage limitations

  Written by Amanda Knight, Graduate Trainee Archive Assistant, 2024-2025.   As the latest in a succession of Graduate Trainee Archive…

Published Date
October 10, 2025

New events inspired by the DEGW Archive

As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science, we are delighted to announce two events, hosted by Cardiff University,…

Published Date
May 19, 2025

In the Spotlight: Mid-Century Women Artists from the Charles Hasler Collection

In this post we would like to take the opportunity to spotlight and celebrate the work of three women artists…

Published Date
February 21, 2025

New exhibition – Charles Hasler: A Mid-Century Graphic Designer and Collector

Our new exhibition invites you to explore the work and interests of Charles Hasler (1908-1992), typographer and graphic designer. Hasler’s…