Searching modern collections
- Use iDiscover to search all Cambridge libraries in one search. Holdings of individual libraries are indicated in the catalogue records. If you need help using iDiscover, please ask a member of staff or have a look at this helpful LibGuide.
- You can also browse some Queens' special collections on iDiscover collections.
- Most of our books are held in the Queens' College—War Memorial Library location, indicating the library's main collection. However, some borrowable books have different locations:
- WML General Collection: accessible to all on the ground floor of the library
- WML Display: on the display shelves in the library entrance area
- Armitage Room: only accessible to graduate students, who can borrow using the PC in the room. If you are an undergraduate and wish to borrow from this collection, please contact us to fetch the book for you
- Armitage Room Special Collections, Librarian's Office (E1), Munro Room, OL Office, Owlstone Store, WML Office, WML Reserve Collection: ask a staff member or fill out our online form to request the book be fetched for you
- DVDs can be found on the first floor of the library.
- Games are kept in the WML entrance area and by the General Collection.
- The Reference section, Oversize section and the Teaching & Learning Collection are on the ground floor by the General Collection.
- Dictionaries are on the second floor.
Searching Queens' Old Library collections (early printed books & manuscripts) and College archives
Queens' Old Library is currently in the process of being catalogued online (available records can be found on iDiscover). Further items are being added gradually.
- Collections of catalogued books by former owner can by browsed on iDiscover collections.
- Pre-1827 printed and manuscript holdings can be searched using Thomas Hartwell Horne's 3 vol. Catalogue of the Library of St. Margaret and St. Bernard, commonly called Queens' College in the University of Cambridge (London, 1827). Copies are held in Queens' and many other research libraries.A digitised copy of Horne's Queens' Library catalogue (in 2 vols.) can be browsed and searched online via the internet Archive: Volume I ; Volume II ; Subject index ; Name Index.
Most Queens' incunables are listed on ISTC and around 800 items are listed on ESTC (further relevant Queens' books are reported to ESTC as time permits).
- Queens' college Western Manuscripts are catalogued in M.R. James A descriptive catalogue of the Western manuscripts in the library of Queen's college, Cambridge (Cambridge, 1905). A digitised copy can be accessed via the Internet Archive, and physical copies are in both the WML office and the Old Library office (ask a member of staff to retrieve these for you).
- Manuscripts (including non-western) that were owned by Queens' in the early 19th century were catalogued at the end of Volume II (pp. 997-9) of Thomas Hartwell Horne's Catalogue of the Library of St. Margaret and St. Bernard, commonly called Queens' College in the University of Cambridge (London, 1827). The Descriptions and an Index are available online via the digitised copy on the Internet Archive.
The College archives are both kept on site and in the Department of Manuscripts and University Archives of Cambridge University Library.
- Records relating to the College’s history and estates prior to 1800 are kept in the Department of Manuscripts and University Archives of Cambridge University Library. A list detailing the records can be consulted here. The collection is of considerable historical value, not only for the charters and other documents relating to the history of Queens', since many items pre-date the College's foundation (also included, for example, are a long series of accounts and other records relating to the medieval abbey of Crowland). Pre-1800 archival material can be viewed by appointment with the University Library.
- Requests for information about post-1800 Queens' archive material should be addressed to archive@queens.cam.ac.uk.