The Baykov Collection
The Baykov Library was originally established in 1963 as part of the then newly created Centre for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) and the collection consists of social sciences material relating to Russia and Eastern Europe. This is a now major collection held within the Research Reserve of the Main Library.
The Baykov Collection has become an archive of international renown serving Slavicists and economists across the world, while continuing to support the research and teaching needs of CREES and of the University of Birmingham.
The majority of the items in the collection are in Slavonic languages. Specialist areas within the collection include a unique collection of Soviet era school textbooks and – amongst the microfilm collection – a number of local and national Communist Party and State archives and statistical collections.
Holdings now total approximately 90,000 volumes. The economics, politics and social science research profile of CREES is reflected in the Baykov Collection’s holdings.
The Baykov Collection also includes over 500 Soviet era posters and over 200 maps; these are held in the Cadbury Research Library. A catalogue of the poster collection is available in the online archive catalogue, together with notes and a list of artists represented in the collection.
The Orchard Learning Resources Centre (OLRC)
The Orchard Learning Resources Centre holds the extensive collections of Russian and East European books, periodicals, microfilms, posters and maps formerly housed in the Baykov Library, together with a range of other Information Services collections, providing coverage of the whole of Europe, with a strong social sciences emphasis.
Learn more about the Orchard Learning Resources Centre
The Orchard Learning Resources Centre is located on the Selly Oak campus. You can take the Selly Oak Shuttle bus from outside the Barber Institute to reach it.