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University Collections

Collections Research Room

Collections Research Room

The University Collections Centre is located on the lower ground floor of the Sir Duncan Rice Library. Our Research Room is open to all researchers. If you are not currently a member of staff or a student at the University of Aberdeen you can apply for a Research Room access pass by emailing in advance of your visit. We particularly advise you to contact us in advance if you will be travelling from outwith Aberdeen - this way we can help you to prepare for your visit and can arrange for materials to be ready for you, so that you can make the most of your research time. 

You can watch a short video introduction to the Research Room here:

Further information about visiting the library and a campus map for Old Aberdeen are also available.

Please email us for further information about an access pass.

By Car

Parking on site is for staff and students only; however, blue badge holders can use the disabled bays in the parking lot. Alternative parking can be found on the Chanonry and Bedford Road (both are pay and display). For further information on disabled access please see AccessAble.

By Bus

Several buses & coaches pass near the Collections centre.

First Bus no. 19 is the most direct, stopping just outside the library. Numbers 1, 1B, 2 and 20 also stop on campus, approximately a five-minute walk from the library gallery. Service 17 & 18 stop at Burnett Place which is about a 10 minute walk from the library gallery. You can find more information on the First Bus website.

Stagecoach buses no. 50, X60, X63. X67, X68 & 291 also stop on King Street a short walk away from the library gallery. Service 727 stops at Burnett Place which is about a 10 minute walk from the library gallery. For more information on times and to plan your journey please visit the Stagecoach website.

Both companies accept cash and card.

By Bike

A number of bike stands are available at the front of the library. Visitors must bring their own bike locks, as bikes left unattended are at the visitor’s own risk and are not the responsibility of the University.

By Foot

The library is within a ten minutes walk from Old Aberdeen high street and all aforementioned bus stops.

Research Room guidelines

Please help us to care for our collections by following our guidelines:

  • Please leave all bags - including laptop and camera cases - in the lockers provided.  Please leave all coats and outdoor clothing in your locker or hang them on the adjacent coat rail.   Locker tokens are available from Research Room staff
  • The Research Room is a quiet research area.  Please consider other researchers by keeping your phone on silent and moving into the foyer to talk or use your phone
  • Please do not bring any food or drink, into the Research Room
  • Please ensure your hands are clean and dry before handling materials. Bathrooms with handwashing facilities are located adjacent to the Research Room
  • Please work in pencil only. You may use your laptop, but please leave your laptop case in your locker.  
  • Please handle materials and turn pages carefully. Acid free slips of paper are available if you wish to mark your place 
  • Please use the supports and weights provided to support and hold down items. Do not lean on materials or press the pages.


Copying and image reproduction

  • Please feel free to take photos using a hand held compact camera, tablet or phone to help your research. You will be advised in advance if there are any access or condition restrictions
  • Please let staff know if you need high resolution images or wish to publish images 

Please note that for security of all, CCTV is in operation in the University Collections Centre.

Facilities

Lockers

All visitors are asked to leave coats and bags in the lockers provided.  The lockers are operated by returnable tokens and are located on the lower ground floor adjacent to the Research Room.

The Research Room provides:

  • Researcher spaces for consultation of materials, with individual power points for laptop use and internet access. USB chargers are available.
  • Map and plan consultation table 
  • Microfilm room with digital microfilm reader
  • An Online Public Access Catalogue, for searching University Collections
Requesting materials

Materials from closed access collections

Requestable collections

The Research Room is the main venue for the study of items from across the archive, rare book and museum collections. 

  • Please search the online catalogues on the Study the Collections page to identify items you would like to request then email your requests to specialcollections@abdn.ac.uk or museums@abdn.ac.uk as appropriate. 
  • Please do not finalise your visit plans until you have received confirmation of the availability of material. 
  • While we aim to make material available within 24 hours, some material is particularly fragile, complex or large and may not be available or may require specific arrangements to be made for its study. Research Room staff will be advise.

Browsable collections

The Research Room has selected material available for browsing and reference.  Materials in these collections are for consultation only and are not borrowable: 

  • Local Collection – A varied collection of publications relating to the history and identify of the North-East of Scotland, including the University and City
  • Collections Research Resource – A selection of publications complementing the archive, rare book and museum collections, including catalogues, periodicals, facsimiles and reference works
  • Periodicals – Including historical society publications, journals and serial titles, dating mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries. 

 

Please note that research and consultation enquiries relating to NHS Grampian Archives should be sent directly to the NHS Archivist. Contact and further information about NHS Grampian Archives is available here.

 

 

Research enquiries

How and where to send an enquiry

We welcome all research enquiries relating to University Collections. 

Please send your enquiry to specialcollections@abdn.ac.uk 

University Collections Research Room
The Sir Duncan Rice Library
Bedford Road
Aberdeen
AB24 3AA

What to include in your enquiry

Please provide as much information that you can, to assist us to search the collections on your behalf. Please note though that we are unable to carry out extensive research. To help us answer your enquiry, please advise us of any deadlines you may have.

We are able to offer a limited research copy service for remote researchers but we are not able to carry out extensive image research.

What happens after you contact us

If you e-mail us you will receive an automated e-mail response to let you know that your request has reached us safely and we will respond to your request within 20 working days.

Please note that all enquiries relating to NHS Grampian Archives should be addressed directly to the NHS Archivist. Further information about NHS Grampian Archives is available here.

It may be helpful to consult these resources before contacting us

Our online catalogues and collections contain much information that may answer your enquiry.

Information about our collections

These links will connect you to some of our key, and frequently accessed, sources of information:

Information about past staff and students

Digitised and searchable copies of the published rolls of graduates of the University of Aberdeen from 1860-1970 and its antecedent institutions, King’s College (1495-1860) and Marischal College (1593-1860)


Factsheets
Images for research

Self-copying

Self-copying is encouraged, and you can take images of most items in the collection. Staff will advise if there are any conservation or copyright restrictions.

Imaging by staff

If self-copying is not possible because you are unable to visit Aberdeen, or the material requires special handling, staff may make small quantities of images (normally up to 5 images) available at no charge.

Specialist digitisation

A charge will apply for digitisation:

  • Of larger quantities of material
  • That involves specialist imaging techniques

 For more details, please see Image Requests.