Information Services

Search & Explore the Collections

Learn more about the collections we care for.

Search the Collections

This page provides links to the relevant catalogues for each collection.

Research Resources

Image of letters written by Lady Grange detailing her kidnapping
A selection of thematic resources for the University's collections.

Printed Books

Edinburgh University Library’s rare book collections are internationally important and include many books found nowhere else. The Centre for Research Collections (CRC) is an ideal place to conduct research on rare books.

Archives and Manuscripts

The University of Edinburgh holds some of the world’s most important archives and manuscript collections, providing unique resources for the study of a wide range of disciplines, cultures, technologies, people, and places.

Art Collection

Discover over 8,000 works of art collected over 400 years in the University Art Collection.

Musical Instrument Collection

Information about how to explore the collections including access to the online catalogue and instrument images.

Lothian Health Services Archive

Lothian Health Services Archive holds the historically important local records of NHS hospitals and other health-related material.

Recent Acquisitions

A Pocket Ruzname (Almanac) of Şeyh Vefa
Details of recent acquisitions to support teaching and research.

Meeting backgrounds from the Collection

Black and white photograph of the Natural Philosophy Junior Laboratory at the University of Edinburgh
Digital images to liven up your Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings

Collection Images

Photograph of Medieval manuscript
Over 40,000 items in the collections have been photographed by the Digital Imaging Unit.