MMU Special Collections
Reading Room and Gallery
Opening times
| Monday - Friday | 10.00 - 16.00 |
|---|---|
| Thursday | 10.00 - 19.00 (term time only) |
| Saturday | 12.00 - 16.00 (term time only) |
The collections
The collections are central to the artistic culture and teaching of the faculty and have been since its foundation as the Manchester School of Art in 1853.
The collections include:
- Artists' Books: a great range of creative experimentations with the book form
- 20th century international poster collections
- The Manchester School of Art Collection including fine and decorative art and the work of past and present students and staff
- The Schmoller Collection of Decorated Papers
- Children's Book Collection: featuring 19th and 20th century children's book illustration
- Book collections exploring aspects of the book as an artifact
- Archive collections including artists' working drawings and correspondence
- Manchester Society of Architects Library
- Victorian ephemera featuring 19th century albums and scrapbooks
How do I access the collections?
MMU Special Collections is free and open to all.
The Book Design and Children's collections can be accessed without an appointment. Search the Book Design and Children's Book collections on the Library catalogue.
Please contact us in advance to make arrangements to view other material in the collections or if you are not a student or member of staff at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Exhibitions
The Special Collections Gallery has a programme of exhibitions relating to the collections and also showcases the art and design practice and research of staff and students. Exhibition catalogues and collection publications are available to purchase. To hear about future events and exhibitions join our mailing list by visiting the Special Collections website.
Keeping up to date
Get news of future exhibitions and site updates via e-mail, by joining our mailing list.
Other ways of keeping up to date with news of future exhibitions and site updates:
Gallery hire
The creative atmosphere of the gallery provides an ideal location for events and can be hired with the optional use of the Lecture Theatre. To hire the gallery email lib-spec-coll@mmu.ac.uk or phone 0161 247 6107
Digital images
Start browsing the images or use a keyword to search all the images.
Study facilities
- Browse and research these unique collections in the quiet Reading Room, with specialist staff available to help with your research.
- The Education Room can be used for teaching groups of up to 20 and the space can be hired for private functions. For more information please contact 0161 247 6107 or email lib-spec-coll@mmu.ac.uk
News and events
Paolozzi at New Worlds: art and science fiction in the sixties
12/4/2012 - 2/6/2012
Keeping up to date
Other ways of keeping up to date with news of future exhibitions and site updates:
Current Exhibition
Paolozzi at New Worlds: Art & science fiction in the sixties
12th April 2012 - 2nd June 2012
There's also an archive of previous exhibitions and information about future exhibitions.
Full screen image viewer
All the images on the collections pages can also be viewed at your full screen size.
We'd recommend a screen resolution of at least 800x600.
Study
Want to use the collections for study? How to get access to the Collections.
Where are we?
Maps of our locations and contact details for Staff in the Special Collections.