The Special Collections Museum is open, by appointment, to staff and students of Manchester Metropolitan University. Please visit the University’s Library website for more information. We will be closed from Saturday 19 December 2020 – Sunday 3 January 2021. We will re-open for staff and students at Manchester Metropolitan University on Monday 4 January 2021. We hope to welcome back external visitors later in the year.

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
• Mary Butcher collection of Baxter prints

How do I access the collections?

The Book Design, Artists' Books and Children's Books collections can be searched on the Library catalogue.
The Manchester School of Art Collection, the archive collections, the Schmoller Collection of Decorated Papers and the poster collections can be searched on the Special Collections catalogue.

Staff and students of Manchester Metropolitan University should contact us in advance to make an appointment to view material from any of these collections and archives in our Reading Room. Please contact us at lib-spec-coll@mmu.ac.uk to make an appointment or for any other enquiries.

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.

• Current exhibition

Keeping up to date

Sign up for news about future exhibitions, events and talks via our email newsletter:

Other ways of keeping up to date:

• Subscribe to our RSS feed
• Follow us on Twitter

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