Directory of Rare Book and Special Collections in the UK and Republic of Ireland

The new paperback edition of the Directory of Rare Book and Special Collections in the UK and Republic of Ireland, 3rd edition features an additional 72 libraries not represented in previous editions. These libraries span England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, encapsulating the diverse range of libraries in the Directory, from academic to public, subscription to ecclesiastical, and more.

The Directory is the only publication to unite rare book and special collections across all kinds of libraries throughout the British Isles, making it an essential research tool for researchers and librarians worldwide. Fully updated since its second edition in 1997, this comprehensive guide encompasses collections in national, academic, public, subscription, clergy, and school libraries; company libraries; London clubs; museums and archives; and libraries in stately homes.

Consulting the Directory is an essential first step in any research project. It can answer questions such as, “Where can I best research the reception of Jane Austen’s novels?”; “Can I find Civil War tracts in a library near me?”; “Is Thomas Carlyle’s library intact and in the public sphere?”; “Does Britain have the resources to study Nazi school textbooks?”; and “How do I arrange my research trip to study Tauchnitz publications?”

• Provides a national, cross-sectoral overview of rare book and special collections.
• Offers a quick and easy summary of individual libraries’ holdings.
• Directs researchers to the most relevant libraries for them.
• Assists libraries in evaluating their special collections using a ‘unique and distinctive’ model.
• Enables libraries to make informed decisions about special collections acquisition and collaboration.
• Aids booksellers and donors in targeting offers.
• Entries in the Directory provide full contact details and descriptions of rare book and named special collections, including quantities, subject and language strengths, and information about salient features such as provenance.

Readership: Researchers, book historians, book collectors, special collections librarians, reference librarians, academic liaison librarians, library managers, booksellers, and other heritage professionals.