Special Collections
.
Founded in 1833 and occupying listed buildings within the Durham World Heritage site, Durham University's Palace Green Library houses archives, early printed books and other special collections. These include:
- Over 70,000 books printed before 1850 including 300 incunables
- Over 100 medieval manuscripts
- 3,400 metres of archives and artefacts
- Over 30,000 maps and prints and 100,000 photographs
We are open to anyone needing to consult our collections once they have registered with us. Registration here involves completing a form, providing proofs of identity and agreeing to abide by the Library's rules (please contact us if you require further information on this)
Two of the University Library's special collections were awarded Designated status in 2005 in the first round of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Designation Scheme.
Bodies of Evidence: How science unearthed Durham’s dark secret
Thursday 16th August 2018 - Saturday 15th September 2018, 12:00am - 11:59pm, Palace Green Library
The DLI Collection Gallery: Courage, Comrades, Community
Thursday 16th August 2018 , 12:00am, Palace Green Library (DLI Collection Gallery)
Living on the Hills: 10,000 years of Durham
, Palace Green Library (Wolfson Gallery)
Hands-On Leather Stamping
Saturday 18th August 2018, 10:00am - 4:00pm, Palace Green Library (Learning Centre)
Lucet Weaving
Saturday 18th August 2018 - Sunday 19th August 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library
Ask an Archaeologist
Saturday 18th August 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library
Discovering Durham’s dark secret: photography walk
Monday 20th August 2018, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Palace Green Library
Little Bookworms
Monday 20th August 2018, 10:30am - 11:30am, Palace Green Library
Evening Exhibition Tour
Monday 20th August 2018, 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Palace Green Library
Ethical considerations for archaeological human remains
Tuesday 21st August 2018, 1:00pm - 2:00pm, Palace Green Library (Learning Centre)
When skeletons meet 21st century 3D technologies
Tuesday 21st August 2018, 2:30pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library (Learning Centre)
Leathercraft: full day pouch making workshop
Thursday 23rd August 2018, 10:00am - 4:00pm, Palace Green Library
Family Talk: Skeleton Science
Thursday 23rd August 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library (Wolfson Gallery)
All about Anatomy!
Saturday 25th August 2018, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Palace Green Library (Learning Centre)
Incredible Cures
Saturday 25th August 2018 - Sunday 26th August 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library
Ask an Archaeologist
Saturday 25th August 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library
Survivors: the remarkable story of the Dunbar prisoners who lived to tell the tale
Tuesday 28th August 2018, 1:00pm - 2:00pm, Palace Green Library (Learning Centre)
Researching your family history
Tuesday 28th August 2018, 2:30pm - 3:30pm, Palace Green Library (Learning Centre)
Family Talk: Skeleton Science
Thursday 30th August 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library (Wolfson Gallery)
Bodies of Evidence Castle Tour
Friday 31st August 2018, 11:15am - 12:15pm, Palace Green Library & Durham Castle
Bodies of Evidence Castle Tour
Friday 31st August 2018, 1:45pm - 2:45pm, Palace Green Library & Durham Castle
Get hands on with archaeological artefacts!
Saturday 1st September 2018, 10:00am - 4:00pm, Palace Green Library (Wolfson Gallery)
Cracking Crowns
Saturday 1st September 2018 - Sunday 2nd September 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library
Ask an Archaeologist
Saturday 1st September 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library
Little Bookworms
Monday 3rd September 2018, 10:30am - 11:30am, Palace Green Library
“Essential Agony”: the soldier’s experience of the Battle of Dunbar
Monday 3rd September 2018, 6:00pm - 7:30pm, Palace Green Library (Learning Centre)
Reading the human body: wounds, bones and medical knowledge in the 17th century
Tuesday 4th September 2018, 3:30pm - 4:30pm, Palace Green Library (Learning Centre)
Thistle and Rose
Saturday 8th September 2018 - Sunday 9th September 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library
Ask an Archaeologist
Saturday 8th September 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library
Discovering Durham’s dark secret: photography walk
Monday 10th September 2018, 10:00am - 12:00pm, Palace Green Library
Little Bookworms
Monday 10th September 2018, 10:30am - 11:30am, Palace Green Library
Evening Exhibition Tour
Monday 10th September 2018, 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Palace Green Library
Brilliant Books
Saturday 15th September 2018, 1:00pm - 11:59pm, Palace Green Library
Ask an Archaeologist
Saturday 15th September 2018, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Palace Green Library
Subscribe to this events listingThe Mohamed Ali Foundation Fellowship programme
The 9-year Mohamed Ali Foundation Fellowship programme was inaugurated on 29 June with the donation to the university of £114,000 by the Foundation. Fellows will research the Abbas Hilmi II Papers and produce lectures and ultimately an edited volume in 2027.
(13 Jul 2018) » Find out more about: Mohamed Ali Foundation Fellowship
News Feed: Library News
- Queen’s Campus Library Book Moves (31 Jul 2018)
- Library remodelling 2018 (1 Jun 2018)
Quick Links
Contact details
Special Collections
Palace Green Library
Palace Green
DURHAM
DH1 3RN
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)191 334 2972
Email: pg.library@durham.ac.uk
Palace Green Library
Palace Green
DURHAM
DH1 3RN
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)191 334 2972
Email: pg.library@durham.ac.uk
