World War One: Special Collections library resources
Written by Claire Wooldridge, UMASCS Graduate Trainee 4 August 2014 marked the centenary of the day that Britain entered World War One. Fighting continued until 11 November 1918 and is marked today by Armistice Day. To celebrate Explore Archives week and to commemorate this year’s centenary, we’ve prepared some resources on finding WW1 material in […]
Garlands of Gold and Circles of Pearls: The Rosalind Laker Collection
Written by Claire Wooldridge, UMASCS Graduate Trainee I have recently finished cataloguing a wonderful collection of books by the historical novelist Rosalind Laker (1921-2012). Her book collection can be searched on our online catalogue and a handlist of her archival collection has been created. Laker’s inspiration for her historical romance novels was drawn from a […]
Happy #MusHalloween!
Britain in Pictures: ‘The best sort of propaganda’
Written by Claire Wooldridge, UMASCS Graduate Trainee Library Assistant The Britain in Pictures series (we’ve recently integrated our MERL and Printing Collection holdings into one collection) is a fascinating insight into British social history of the WW2 period. These attractive, slim volumes were produced to be affordable and readable, with the ultimate aim of boosting […]
Almanacs, Astrology and the Origins of Weather Forecasting
This post was written by Aoife Lintin, one of the University of Reading’s UROP students. UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme) placements provide exciting opportunities for undergraduates to work with staff on research projects across the University, contributing directly to the creation of knowledge and strengthening the link between teaching and research. Placements last six weeks over the […]
Hidden treasures from the Matthews-Shelley Collection
The Matthews-Shelley Collection is one of our rare book collections, and was created by the Shelley scholar G.M. (Geoffrey) Matthews (1920-1984), Professor of English at the University of Reading. The collection contains items relating to the life and works of the Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and is one of our lesser-known holdings but contains a number […]
The Arts of Peace : Two Rivers Press poetry readings at MERL
MERL and local publisher Two Rivers Press brought together twenty-one local poets (collectively known as a ‘rhyme of poets’ perhaps?!) on the evening of Monday 28 July to launch the publication of the new Two Rivers Press book, The Arts of Peace: An Anthology of Poems, edited by Adrian Blamires and Peter Robinson. Many thanks to Two […]
Rugby, cricket and sports – oh my!
Celebrating the hedgehog: National Hedgehog Awareness Week
It has been brought to our attention that this is National Hedgehog Awareness Week – and as we’re attached to the Museum of English Rural Life, it’s not really something we can ignore (and in any case, who would want to?)! Of course one of the earliest known bookplates is a representation of a hedgehog […]
In the spotlight: The Overstone Library
The Overstone Library was what we like to call the ‘foundation collection’ of the University Library. With nearly 8,000 printed volumes, mostly in the humanities and social sciences, it provides excellent research opportunities in economics, early pamphlets, travel, history, literature and classics, and political and religious philosophy. The emphasis is predominantly English and Scottish, and […]