Archives & Special Collections

Consulting our collections: September 2021

As Covid-19 restrictions ease, we are working hard to improve our service availability. We are pleased that we are now able to offer pre-booked in-person and virtual access appointments for both of our locations. 

Find out about our Virtual Reading Room and in-person consultations below.

Virtual Reading Room

Our Virtual Reading Room appointments are 1-hour video calls allowing you to consult ASC items.

• University of Glasgow students and staff can book through the Appointments Booking System.
• Appointment bookings can be made no later than 5 days before the start time of the slot, to allow us time to prepare. We are unable to offer same-day appointments.
• Requests from users outside the University of Glasgow with pressing research needs will be considered (email library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk).

• Level 12: Appointments are available on Thursdays and Fridays for consultations of our collections held on Level 12 of the University Library (Rare Books & Manuscripts, and Scottish Theatre Archive).
• Thurso St: Appointments are available on Mondays for consultations of our collections held at 13 Thurso St (University Archive, Scottish Business Archive).

• Please specify the items you would like to consult, up to a maximum of 3 items per appointment.
  
• We will e-mail you to confirm your booking.

• At the appointment start time we will email you a Zoom meeting link. (If you would prefer to use MS Teams for the call, please let us know when making your booking).
• During the session we will endeavour to answer any basic questions about the items you are consulting, but we are unable to undertake detailed research on your behalf. 

In-person consultations

Our in-person consultations provide a 3-hour slot for consulting our collections in one of our two reading rooms. 

In order to maintain appropriate physical distancing we have reduced capacity for readers, and so access is by appointment only.

• University of Glasgow students and staff can book through the Appointments Booking System.
• Bookings can be made no later than 5 days before the start time of the slot, to allow us time to prepare. We are unable to offer same-day appointments. 
• If you are not a University of Glasgow student or staff member, please get in touch (library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk) being as specific as possible about what you would like to see and the timetable to which you are working, and we will accommodate you if possible, contacting you if a slot becomes available.
• We do not anticipate being able to accommodate extended research visits in July and August. We are currently working out what our service will look like during the first semester (mid-September onwards).

• Level 12: Appointments are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays for consultation of our collections held on Level 12 of the University Library (Rare Books & Manuscripts, and Scottish Theatre Archive). 
  
• Thurso St: Appointments are available on Wednesdays for consultation of our collections held at 13 Thurso Street (University Archives & Scottish Business Archive).
  
• If you're interested in collections kept at 13 Thurso St but need stair-free access, please contact us on library-asc@glasgow.ac.uk to discuss whether a virtual appointment at Thurso St or transport of the items to the L12 reading room is the best option in this instance.

• When booking, please specify the items you would like to consult.
• We will e-mail you to confirm your booking. 
• Your appointment is for one person only - you must not bring anyone else with you to the building. 
• Toilets and hand-washing facilities are available.
  

• Please bring only what you need into the reading room: pencils, notebooks, laptops/tablets, phones; strictly no food or drink. Please hang up coats/outer garments in the designated area and use the lockers provided.
• Please let us know if you have any additional access requirements.
• Please consult our Reading Room regulations in advance of your visit.
  
• Please cancel your appointment if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of COVID-19, as detailed on the NHS Inform website.