About the Library

A brief introduction...

Harris Manchester College is proud of its Library, which owns approximately 70,000 items. These range from standard Undergraduate textbooks to an interesting range of artefacts, an antiquarian book collection, and a large collection of manuscripts mainly relating to the history of the College and to the history of the Dissenting movement in England.

The Library is divided into several distinct collections. You can find out more about these collections by following the links at the library website:

  • The Tate Library
  • The Dissenting Collection
  • The Carpenter Library
  • The Manuscript collection
  • The Antiquarian collection

Admission

The College welcomes all researchers with a need to use the special collections. Please bring along with some proof of identity, such as a passport or a driving licence, or a letter of recommendation on headed paper if you are from another University. It is important that you contact us in advance to make sure that the items you need to see are available, and that we will be available to assist you in your research.

Opening hours

Monday – Friday 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 4.30pm during term time. During vacation periods the Library may be closed to researchers because of College holidays, stock checks, etc. To avoid disappointment, we ask that researchers do not visit without a prior appointment.

Loans

Loans are not normally made to external readers. Pre–1800 material and manuscripts are never loaned. The College Library belongs to the British Library Inter-Library loans scheme, through which requests can be made.

Donations

The Library is always happy to receive donations, both of books and money. Please contact the Fellow Librarian if you are interested in contributing to the Library in this way.