The Special Collections Division is available for anyone to use, regardless of whether they are attached to an academic institution.
Access to the Archives and Manuscripts and Rare Books searchroom, however, is by prior appointment. Proof of identification must be supplied by all researchers on their first visit to the Archives and Manuscripts each calendar year. For further information see: Access
Proof of identification must be supplied by all researchers on their first visit to the Archives and Manuscripts each calendar year.
The Open Access Special Collections is accessible to anyone using the Library, without an appointment. Photograph identification might be required to gain access to the Hartley Library building.
The Archives and Manuscripts and Rare Books searchroom is currently open Tuesday-Thursday by prior appointment.
The Open Access Special Collections is open the same hours as the Hartley Library
No private photography of documents and books is permitted. A reprographics service is offered.
For curatorial reasons, special library regulations apply to the use of the collections:
The regulations are set out here.
The Special Collections Division is situated on Level 4 of the Hartley Library, which is on the University's Highfield campus.
You can search our collections using our Archive Catalogue, Epexio: https://archives.soton.ac.uk/
On our Visiting Us webpage: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/archives/about/access.page