British & European Collections: Antiquity to 1800

Our Doctoral Open Days are designed for current and prospective PhD students interested in working with our collections during their studies, but are open to researchers at all career stages particularly those who are new to our collections. Each Open Day showcases a different area of our collection, with the aim of making our materials as accessible as possible.

Our Open Days give you the opportunity to:

• understand how to access our collection
• get expert advice from our Reference Specialists
• speak with curators of collections relevant to your studies
• meet researchers with similar research interests and develop your academic network.

The day will consist of:

• a drop-in session with our Reference Specialists, who can advise you on the practicalities of accessing our collections
• presentations by our curators, introducing you to their collection areas
• a ‘Meet the Curators’ session, during which you can view highlights from our collections and talk to our curators about your research
• a panel discussion with PhD researchers and Library staff exploring their experiences working with our collections.

In this session, explore our collections covering antiquity to 1800, including manuscripts, archives, printed books and maps. More information about what is included in these collection areas is available in our Reference Services guides for manuscripts, maps and pre-1800 printed books. Plus, learn about how we care for our collections from our conservation team.

If you have any questions about this event or would like to discuss accessibility or dietary requirements, please contact pgr@bl.uk.

Your support

The British Library is a charity. Your support helps us open up a world of knowledge and inspiration for everyone. Please consider adding a donation to your basket.

Looking for a different Doctoral Open Day? Explore our other Doctoral Open Days currently available to book.