Introducing Special Collections for Medieval and Early Modern Studies:
A short guide to finding, using and analysing Special Collections material at the University of Manchester Library
Introduction
This resource will help you to navigate the wonderful world of Special Collections at the University of Manchester (UoM). Special collections are valuable primary sources and using them effectively will enhance your research skills and and develop a critical approach to learning.
Contents
Special Collections as primary sources — key concepts and characteristics
It isn’t easy to define ‘Special Collections’. It is a general term which usually refers to items which are unique or rare but also includes items which have a particular association to people, places or events. Special Collections are not necessarily old. We do have clay tablets which date back to 2500 BCE but we also hold examples of modern fine printing, maps and email archives.
The Special Collections at The University of Manchester comprise rare books, manuscripts, archives, maps and visual materials. To discover the characteristics of each of these and what makes them special read the post below:
challenges of using Special Collection
There is no single place you can find all Special Collections conveniently listed. Cataloguing conventions have historically been shaped by format and profession-specific methodology. For example, libraries (books), archives (documents), galleries & museums (visual collections and objects).
Catalogue records reflect the complexity and uniqueness of such material making it difficult for search engines and retrieval systems to combine all the elements of each format. Furthermore, not all our collections are catalogued! It can be challenging to research a particular subject or theme, as you have to search across several types of collection.
Much Special Collections material is unique or rare and can be extremely fragile. Items are usually stored in secure, temperature and humidity controlled storage areas. Items must be retrieved by specialist staff and handled with care.
Access to some archives may be limited due to the 2018 Data Protection Act and there may be embargos on using some material. Special permission may be required to consult some items.
These issues can provide barriers to access. It can be difficult to navigate catalogues and items need to be ordered in advance so that the condition of the material can be checked and any special access permissions can be arranged. The items must also be consulted in secure reading rooms and special care may be required when handling them.
But don’t be deterred! The good news is that these barriers can be overcome and we will provide further guidance on this later on.
Archives, memory, absence and power
There are also more complex issues to consider when using Special Collections. Cultural institutions such as libraries, archives, museums and galleries act as society’s memory. It is therefore important to consider who compiled the archive or collection, what is included or absent, whose viewpoint it represents, and whose history is told. These concepts are explored in a little more depth in the resource below:
The University of Manchester Library is committed to diversifying collections and practices and has recently published a statement which provides an example of ways in which cultural institutions are recognising and acting upon these issues.
A series of blog posts ‘Rylands Reflects’ explores the history of the John Rylands Library, our collections, and our current practice as heritage professionals in the context of racism, colonisation and representation of marginalised groups.
How to search UML Special Collections
There are a lot of different types of material included in Special Collections which vary in format. Different formats have different cataloguing requirements and standards, which make it difficult to search for them in one place. This means that you may have to consult several different types of catalogue to search across collections.
Our catalogues
Our catalogues can be accessed from this page. The search bar at the top of the page is the best place to start, and is particularly strong for printed materials (including rare books and maps). Our archives catalogues are found here.
There is also a list of our published manuscript catalogues. However, it is worth noting that not all our manuscript catalogues are published, the Guide to Special Collections gives a good indication of where unpublished hand lists exist. The main exception to the rule is the English Manuscript collection, which is a mix of individual codices and collections, these items are also listed in the archives catalogue ELGAR.
Other ways to search
Our Guide to Special Collections provides an overview of our collections and the A-Z of our collections is a very useful resource, with each collection including a list of its finding aids. You can also find our collections grouped by subject here.
Ask for help
Curators are happy to help with your enquiries and support you with your dissertation topic. Julianne Simpson and Anne Anderton are the leads for the History of the Book and Reading the Middle Ages. You can contact us via the Special Collections email: uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk
Digital Collections at UoM
Many of our Special Collections are available to view online. The Library has two platforms for viewing these images:
Manchester Digital Collections is our newest platform and presents collections by research theme. It allows enhanced viewing and manipulation of images, and rich descriptive content.
Library Digitised Collections is our established image viewer, which hosts all of our digitised images on LUNA. This is more like an image bank which you can browse by collection or keyword.
Using our images in your work
The University of Manchester digitised Special Collections material is made available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY-NC 4.0) wherever possible. This license allows non-commercial reuse of the image, provided credit is given and other conditions are met. Clicking on the Creative Commons logo will clarify the terms under which the image can be reused.
Using Special Collections at UoM
Service Update
Researchers can book appointments to access material in the Special Collections Reading Rooms at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library and the Main Library.
Appointments will be available:
- For collections held at Rylands: Mondays- Fridays between 10am and 4pm.
- For collections held at the Main Library: Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 4pm.
- Limited spaces are available, and you must give a minimum of one week’s notice when booking an appointment.
Digital Appointments
You can book a digital appointment to view a small amount of Special Collections material held at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library or the Main Library via a Zoom call.
Appointments are available:
- For collections held at the Rylands: Mondays — Fridays between 10am and 4pm
- For collections held at Main Library: Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10am and 4pm
To book an appointment please email Reader Services uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk. You must give a minimum of one week’s notice when booking an appointment.
Once you have identified the material you wish to consult you will need to contact us to make an appointment to come and see it in person.
Membership
Students of the University of Manchester are automatically registered as Special Collections readers. However, you will need to complete an online form here before your first visit and bring your ID card with you to any appointments.
Locations
The University of Manchester’s Special Collections are primarily stored on two sites: The John Rylands Library in the city centre and the Main Library on the Oxford Road campus.
Most Special Collections are held at The John Rylands Library. Collections held at the Main Library include the archives of the University of Manchester, Christian Brethren Archives, the Map Collection, many scientific and medical archives and post-1800 medical books.
Readers can also access material at the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre, based at Manchester Central Library.
Booking an appointment
We offer a closed-access reader service which means that items must be pre-ordered and can only be viewed in our reading rooms; you cannot request material on the day.
It is essential to contact us at least 72 hours in advance of any visit*. This allows us to check an item’s condition, arrange any permissions for access with its archivist or curator, and have it ready on your arrival.
*Due to limited access to collections at present, please give us as much notice as possible regarding your visit as it may take up to a week to retrieve materials for you. The Reading Room is open on five days a week at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library (Monday — Friday), and two days a week at Main Library (Tuesday and Thursday).
Our Special Collections Reading Rooms are dispersed across sites but our Reader Services team will let you know which site to go to.
When you arrive at your appointment, our friendly Reader Services staff will show you how to handle material and explain our Reading Room regulations. You may take photographs of most material for your work but please check with a member of staff beforehand.
If you are interested in using any material from Special Collections please get in contact with our Reading Room staff : uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk
Checklist:
Plan ahead and book in advance
Complete an online registration form prior to your first visit
Bring the following:
Your ID card
Pencils
Camera phone
Laptop
Additional Resources:
Made in Manchester tells the story of Manchester using items from our Special Collections
How do I find out more about Special Collections?
Introducing Special Collections
Our Catalogues:
How to Search Special Collections
How to find Special Collections in Library Search
Digital Collections:
Images reproduced with the permission of The John Rylands University Librarian and Director of the University of Manchester Library. All images used on this page are licenced via CC-BY-NC-SA, for further information about each image, please follow the link in the caption description.
If you are interested in using any material from Special Collections please get in contact with our Reading Room staff: uml.special-collections@manchester.ac.uk
