RASCAL

Research and Special Collections Available Locally (Ireland)

19th and 20th Century Books	Queen's University Belfast
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Collection
Identifier	x/
Description	General collection of valuable, limited, fine or rare material from the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection relates to a disparate range of subject areas with items selected for their evidential and/or bibliographic value. Included can be found modern reproductions of some of the world’s most treasured manuscripts alongside first and limited editions of works by Irish and other authors with many autographed copies included throughout. Works of 19th and 20th century literature and history are particularly well represented as are selections from all the major private presses of the time, including the Cuala, Nonesuch, Shakespeare Head, Riccardi and Dun Emer Presses.
Strengths	The collection is notable for its extensive holdings of items published by the Cuala Press and for material of, and concerning, Victorian fiction, including that of GPR James, Mayne Reid and Fenimore Cooper.
Physical Characteristics	Approx. 2330 items comprising folios, pamphlets, quartos and volumes.
Languages	English;French;German;Latin
Collection Temporal Date Range	-
Accumulation Date Range	-
Contents Date Range	1801 - 2001
Collection Type	Collection.Library.Text.Special
Accrual	Policy: Passive Method: Purchase/Deposit Periodicity: Irregular
Access	The collection is available for reference only under supervised access in the Special Collections Reading Room at The McClay Library. Further information is available here: http://libguides.qub.ac.uk/specialcollections Information for visitor access to The McClay Library is available here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/InformationServices/TheLibrary/AccesstotheLibrary/Accessformembersofthepublicandothervisitors/
Description or Catalogue	Details of the 19th and 20th Century Collection can be found on the QUB on-line catalogue (QCAT) within the Special Collections sub-division, prefix "x," accessible on: http://www.qub.ac.uk/lib
Publications Note	To be confirmed

Collector
Name	The Library
Organisation	Queen's University Belfast
Role	Academic Institution
History	The Library at Queen’s was established in 1849 following the foundation of the original college in 1845. Based initially in the Great Hall, and, from 1869, in its own separate accomodation, the Library catered to the needs of all students enrolled in the college before future growth and expansion dictated otherwise. Today the Library is dispersed across a number of departmental libraries throughout Northern Ireland each providing access to what has become one of the largest collections of books, periodicals and pamphlets in the province with over one million items noted in the official library catalogue. Principal centres include the Main Library (with additional 1960s tower block) situated on the main campus site, the Medical Library at RVH, the Science Library in Chlorine Gardens (opened 1969), the Agriculture and Food Science Library at Newforge Lane (1970s), the Biomedical libraries in the City Hospital and in the Medical Biology Centre (Lisburn Rd), the Veterinary Research Library, the Seamus Heaney Library (1997) and the Campus Libraries at Armagh and Altnagelvin. Although largely adminstered as a separate unit for most of its history, the Library was recently amalgamated with the University’s Computer Services and Audio-Visual departments to form a new Information Services department in the year 2000.

Owner
Organisation	Queen's University Belfast
Role	Academic Institution
Telephone	+44 (0)28 9024 5133
Fax	+44 (0)28 9024 7895
History	Queen's University Belfast was formerly established as 'Queen's College, Belfast' by Queen Victoria in 1845 as one of a network of three Queen's Colleges in Ireland alongside Cork and Galway. It was raised to the status of a full university in 1908 with its own Charter and Statutes. When Queen's College first opened its doors in 1849, there were 20 professors and 90 matriculated students all based in the main Lanyon building off University Road, Belfast. Since then, the University has grown considerably both in reputation and stature reflecting its status as one of the oldest universities in the UK. Now catering to some 1,300 academics and 17,000 full and part-time students, the University offers courses and research opportunities in Agriculture & Food Science, Arts, Economics & Social Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Science, Engineering, Education, Law and Theology based in centres within several miles of the original site, as well as a Marine Laboratory at Portaferry, a campus at Armagh City and outreach centres in Omagh and Newcastle and a nursing campus at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. Notable persons to have come through Queen’s doors include Seamus Heaney, a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Mary McAleese, the current President of Ireland and a former senior officer at Queen's, David Trimble, a former member of teaching staff and a joint recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace and superstar actor Liam Neeson.

Location
Name	Queen's University Belfast
Address	The McClay Library 10 College Park Belfast United Kingdom BT7 1LP
County	Antrim
Website	http://www.qub.ac.uk/lib
Access Control	The McClay Library operates a controlled entry system. Members are required to use their Queen’s staff, student or library card to obtain admission. Information for visitor access to The McClay Library is available from the Library website.
Role	Librarian
Phone	00442890976333
Email	rascal@qub.ac.uk