Services for academics

As well as supporting academic research with our extensive knowledge of the collections and advice on other sources of relevant archives, we also provide more structured assistance with teaching and research.

Group teaching and research

Special Collections is experienced in working with course leaders at the University of Birmingham to help deliver group teaching and research sessions based on the collections. We are able to work with course leaders to develop a programme of teaching and group sessions based around the collections which directly ties into a specialised subject and gives students a first hand opportunity to work with primary source material. We are also able in consultation with a course leader to assist by making material available for sessions where the session is led solely by the course leader.

The seminar room

Our Seminar Room can accomodate a group of up to 10 people, plus a tutor, for sessions working with rare books, archives, and manuscript collections with our staff.  It provides an ideal environment for working with rare books and archives with assistance from Special Collections staff.  If your group is larger than ten, we have capacity to use the searchroom outside core opening hours.

Sixth Form groups

We also regularly work with Sixth Form groups and history teachers from secondary schools in liaison with the History Department.

Discussing your requirements

To discuss your requirements with us please email special-collections@contacts.bham.ac.uk. Please do bear in mind when considering your planning that it can take time to develop an effective group session using rare books, archives and manuscripts.