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theul.bsky.social
Cambridge University Library
@theul.bsky.social
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Cambridge University Library
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theul.bsky.social
We're open as usual today, Saturday 17 January. As a thank you for your patience while we were closed yesterday, there's free tea and coffee for readers and staff available in the Tea Room until 2pm ☕
People sitting at long tables in a quiet library tea room, reading books and working on laptops. Sunlight streams in through tall windows along one wall, illuminating wooden floors and chairs.
January 17, 2026 at 10:07 AM
theul.bsky.social
We're back! The University Library will open again on Saturday 17 January.

The issue this morning was due to a burst water pipe, which has now been safely resolved. We are pleased to confirm there is no damage to, or concern for, our collections.
https://loom.ly/JAHIoXk
January 16, 2026 at 5:07 PM
theul.bsky.social
The University Library will be closed today, due to a burst water pipe. We are pleased to confirm there is no damage to, or concern for, our collections. The heating and hot water are currently still off throughout the building.
https://loom.ly/JAHIoXk
January 16, 2026 at 12:50 PM
theul.bsky.social
Due to an unplanned maintenance issue which requires further assessment, the University Library will not be open to readers until 12 noon at the earliest today. We'll update as soon as we have an opening time.

You can also check our Service Update page: loom.ly/JAHIoXk
Library service updates
The University Library is closed this morning (16th January) Due to an unplanned maintenance issue which requires further assessment, the University Library will not be open to readers until midday
loom.ly
January 16, 2026 at 9:49 AM
theul.bsky.social
The Main Reading Room at Cambridge University Library reopens tomorrow, Friday 16 January.

There continue to be some restrictions on the materials available for fetching. Learn more: https://loom.ly/JAHIoXk.

Thanks for your patience. For any questions: readerservices@lib.cam.ac.uk / 01223 333000.
A symmetrical view of a grand library reading room with long wooden tables lined by green desk lamps and matching chairs, tall arched windows along both sides, bookshelves on the walls, and a high coffered ceiling leading to an arched doorway at the far end.
January 15, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
camlibresearch.bsky.social
Munby Fellowship in Bibliography based @theul.bsky.social in Cambridge - closes on 1 February, so still time to apply.
Munby Fellowship in Bibliography 2026 - 2027 at University of Cambridge
Searching for an academic job? Explore this Munby Fellowship in Bibliography 2026 - 2027 opening on jobs.ac.uk! Click to view more details and browse other academic jobs.
www.jobs.ac.uk
January 14, 2026 at 6:58 PM
theul.bsky.social
Due to maintenance issues in the University Library, the Main Reading Room will remain closed on Thursday 15 January.

Additionally, there are some restrictions on the materials available for fetching.

Thanks for your patience.

Find out more: https://loom.ly/JAHIoXk.
A close-up of library shelves filled with old and modern books, arranged on green metal shelving.
January 14, 2026 at 5:18 PM
theul.bsky.social
📝 The Research Skills Training Programme from University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives is open for bookings!

👋 Designed primarily for PhD students and researchers, the sessions are open to all Cambridge staff and students.

🔎Learn more and book: https://loom.ly/RjU6dj4
Promotional poster for University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives’ “Research Skills Training Programme.” The poster features the university library's logo at the top, followed by the title of the programme. It describes the training as “a programme of events to teach essential skills and build confidence for every stage of the research journey.” Topics include reading and note-making, literature searching, academic writing, data management, referencing and copyright, thesis deposit, and publishing, fair attribution & metrics. The background image shows a student working at a desk with books, a laptop, and stationery.
January 14, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
jillwhitelock.bsky.social
The old Cambridge University Library. @theul.bsky.social
#AlphabetChallenge #WeekBforBooks 📷 #photography
The entrance to a library, photographed in the early evening, with an amber glow from lights inside, ‘Bibliotheca’ is carved above the door.
January 13, 2026 at 8:29 PM
theul.bsky.social
Due to maintenance issues in the University Library, the Main Reading Room remains closed today and tomorrow (13-14 Jan). Additionally, there are some restrictions on the materials available for fetching.

Thanks for your patience.

There is more information available here: https://loom.ly/JAHIoXk.
A photograph of the Main Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. Two bookshelves frame the shot and in the centre we see a library user working at a desk.
January 13, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
camlibresearch.bsky.social
Fascinating to see this @theul.bsky.social today - Newton’s drawing of his reflecting telescope, made in 1668.
January 12, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
theulspeccoll.bsky.social
Painter John Singer Sargent was born on this day in 1856. In 1915 he painted this portrait of University Librarian Francis Jenkinson, to mark the 25th year of his librarianship. It hangs outside the present Librarian's office @theul.bsky.social.
January 12, 2026 at 9:27 AM
theul.bsky.social
The Main Reading Room at the University Library is closed today (Monday, January 12th) due to a heating issue. Contractors are on-site to resolve the problem, and we are working to minimise the disruption.
January 12, 2026 at 11:08 AM
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
jillwhitelock.bsky.social
A nice record of 81 plants still in flower on 29 October 1800 around Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire by Revett Sheppard (1778-1830), then a student in his twenties at @caiuscollege.bsky.social, Cambridge.

From his ‘Naturalist’s Calendar’, MS Add. 9839/22/1 @theul.bsky.social. @bsbibotany.bsky.social 1/2
Manuscript of natural history notes from October 1800.
January 9, 2026 at 12:41 PM
theul.bsky.social
This book claims to have been printed on the frozen River Thames in 1814 during the last of the great frost fairs!

Frostiana, published by G. Davis in 1814 (Syn.7.81.93)
January 9, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
camglamresearch.bsky.social
Call now open for Visiting Fellowships in our Natural History Humanities programme! Building long-term collaborations with early career researchers on Cambridge GLAM collections.

@camunivmuseums.bsky.social @theul.bsky.social @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk/initiatives/...
Natural History Humanities - Collections Connections Communities
www.ccc.cam.ac.uk
January 9, 2026 at 8:27 AM
theul.bsky.social
📅 Coming up on 13 January!

Join an interactive workshop on Fair Attribution and Publishing for Technicians.

Open to technicians across the University, in any department and at any grade/level (you don’t need “technician” in your job title).

Find out more and book a place: https://loom.ly/iPT645k
January 8, 2026 at 5:04 PM
theul.bsky.social
Our Annual Review illuminates the remarkable breadth of work undertaken by our wonderful colleagues across our Libraries and Archives network, and at the University Library.

🔎Read about our extraordinary year: https://loom.ly/3cGDvuQ

Pictured: scanning the 13th-century Merlin manuscript fragment.
Two library staff examine a historic manuscript on a table in a digitisation studio. One holds a handheld scanning device while the other adjusts the document. A computer screen behind them shows a digital image of the manuscript. The University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives logo appears at the top, with the words “Annual Report” overlaid at the bottom.
January 8, 2026 at 2:04 PM
theul.bsky.social
The January choice for our Really Popular Book Club is Katabasis by R. F. Kuang.

Join us online to discuss the book with Dr Tabitha Stanmore (@magicnotwitches.bsky.social)

📅TUES 27 JAN 2026
⏰7PM to 8PM
🎟️ Free, online and open to all: https://loom.ly/TBY0WOg
Bright pink promotional poster for an online book club event. On the left is the book cover of Katabasis by R. F. Kuang, featuring black, white, and gold artwork with staircases. Large yellow text on the right reads “the really popular book club,” with “Hosted by Cambridge University Libraries” beneath it. A vertical yellow banner says “BOOK CLUB.” Text on the left reads, “Join us online on 27 January, 7pm to 8pm!” On the lower right is a portrait of Dr Tabitha Stanmore with her name written below.
January 8, 2026 at 10:06 AM
theul.bsky.social
Our 2026 Christmas card is already sorted 🤝

This wonderful photo of Cambridge University Library in the snow was taken by Lloyd Mann.
An aerial photo of Cambridge University Library in the snow by Lloyd Mann
January 7, 2026 at 5:04 PM
theul.bsky.social
There is now a combined Special Collections Reading Room for manuscripts and archives at the UL.

Learn more about the changes: https://loom.ly/hXnGx8w
A promotional poster for the University of Cambridge Libraries and Archives. We see a photo of a reading room and the text: 'There is now a combined Special Collections Reading Room at Cambridge University Library for manuscripts, archives and rare printed materials.'
January 7, 2026 at 2:05 PM
theul.bsky.social
Sledging our way into the New Year...

Images from our collections:
1. Children sledging down a hill, 1884 (1884.7.702).
2. Bears in a rustic sledge, 1909 (Waddleton b.1.441).
A Victorian book illustration of children sledging down a hill. There wear hats, scarves and gloves. A black and white children's book illustration from the early twentieth century showing four bears in a rustic sledge. The bears wear warm clothes and have jolly expressions.
January 6, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
theulspeccoll.bsky.social
Attention current University of Cambridge students! Entries are welcome for this year's Rose Book Collecting Prize until 30 January. Your collection doesn't need to be large or valuable; just interesting.
January 6, 2026 at 9:49 AM
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
emilydourish.bsky.social
Untouched snow in the courtyard? It would be rude not to... @theul.bsky.social
A black and white image of a lightly snowed courtyard seen from a height. In the foreground are three wooden benches, in the background planted raised beds. Someone has walked in the snow to write "[heart] THE UL" but as they were doing this from the L backwards, evidently didn't leave enough space for an I to complete the sentence. Ahem.
January 5, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
samuelmoore.org
Apply to be the 2026-7 Munby Fellow in bibliography and history of the book @theul.bsky.social

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPZ688/m...
Munby Fellowship in Bibliography 2026 - 2027 at University of Cambridge
Searching for an academic job? Explore this Munby Fellowship in Bibliography 2026 - 2027 opening on jobs.ac.uk! Click to view more details and browse other academic jobs.
www.jobs.ac.uk
January 5, 2026 at 1:52 PM