Library Facilities

LibraryThe Robinson Library

The Robinson Library is the University's main library and is within five minutes' walking distance of the School. The Library:

  • is open seven days a week, with 24 hour opening during exam periods
  • has over 1,500 study spaces, including areas for group discussion and silent research
  • provides access to 360 computers connected to the campus network
  • contains over 1,000,000 print books; the largest collection of ebooks in the country; 14,000 journals, and a wide range of specialist online resources, including newspapers from 1600 to the present day; and research databases such as Historical Abstracts, Electronic Enlightenment, and Slavery, Abolition and Social Justice.
  • has over 100 Special Collections of material, which range from rare books and archives to woodblocks and illustrations, and span from the mid 15th century to the 21st century. We also house the special Shefton Collection of books in Greek, Roman and Etruscan archaeology.

For an overview of the library's resources for Historical Studies, information about access to libraries and resources elsewhere, advice on getting the best out of the library, and regularly updated news, please visit our library subject guide at http://libguides.ncl.ac.uk/shis

Cowen Library

The School's Cowen Library contains books and journals on archaeology and ancient history. John Cowen donated his library to the university in 1976. The collection has grown considerably since then, with particular strengths in areas including Roman frontiers, late Roman and Byzantine studies and the archaeology of North East England. The Cowen library is housed along with the Society of Antiquities of Newcastle upon Tyne and the Natural History Society of Northumbria library in the new Great North Museum: Hancock Library. At well over 50,000 volumes, the library forms a unique resource for research.

Classics Library

The Classics Library is in the Armstrong Building and is a good place to work - you're in close proximity to your lectures too! You may borrow books from this library. Some module leaders provide photocopies of important secondary reading (articles etc) in this library - in case there is trouble obtaining the information from other sources.

Other libraries

As a student of Newcastle, you may also consult books and periodicals in the libraries of the Universities of Durham and Northumbria, but you cannot borrow any item. You could also join Newcastle Central Library, which is particularly good for local and regional history. Finally, there is the Library of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne available on a subscription basis.