The Mitchell Library's Special Collections Department looks after a wide variety of collections which are deemed to be ‘special’ because of their content, their date of publication or their rarity.
These include:
medieval manuscripts, including Books of Hours
Incunabula (books printed before 1500)
17th and 18th Century printing and manuscripts
rare books and manuscripts from the 19th Century
Robert Burns Collection
Scottish Poetry Collection
early Glasgow printing
chapbooks and broadsides
modern limited edition Artists’ Books
late 20th Century literary manuscripts
Edwin Morgan’s Working Library
Other collections (very often named for the donor) cover a wide range of subjects such as Scottish Literature, Music, Architecture, Railways and Shipping, Maps, Photography, Prints and Illustrations, Children’s Books and Private Press items.
Proof of identification is required to access material from any of our Special Collections, showing name, address and signature e.g. driving licence or electoral registration plus credit/debit card. Items can be viewed at the following times:
Monday - Friday 9.00am-4.45pm
Tuesday 9.00am-7.45pm
Access on Saturday may be permitted by prior arrangement.
Where possible, anyone wishing to access material from any of the Library's Special Collections should contact us in advance, particularly if travelling from a distance.