Visiting Heritage Collections

The Ronald Duncan (Special Collections) Reading Room is located in the Old Library (no.7 on the map) on the University of Exeter's Streatham Campus. Click on the map to see a larger version.

When you reach a paved semi-circular turning point on Prince of Wales Road, please proceed (uphill) along the straight paved road leading off it towards a paved courtyard. At the top you will find the Mary Harris Memorial Chapel straight ahead of you, and the main entrance to the Old Library on your right. If in doubt, follow the signs for the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum.

Please see our webpages for further information on visiting the University. 

Information for visitor parking on site can be found here.

Special Collections is committed to improving accessibility and we warmly welcome feedback or suggestions. If you have specific accessibility requirements, please include these in our Reading Room booking form, or contact us via email or telephone before your visit. During your visit, please don't hesitate to ask staff if you require assistance. 

A detailed Access Guide to the Old Library can be found here on AccessAble.

Sensory information

• The Reading Room is generally a quiet space, although it may become noisier at times when readers are working together in groups. We kindly ask all visitors to be mindful of others. If you need a quieter environment, please contact us via email or telephone before your visit.
• The Reading Room is air-conditioned and maintained at a temperature of around 18 to 20°C, which some visitors may find cool. We recommend bringing extra layers and taking regular breaks to stay comfortable.
• The Reading Room is brightly lit with a combination of overhead lighting and natural light from windows. Blinds are available to help adjust the level of natural light. The university hopes to introduce dimmable lighting to our spaces in the future. If you require a darker environment, please contact us via email or telephone before your visit.
• Fire alarms in the Old Library are tested every Tuesday in the late morning. The alarm will sound for approximately 10 seconds and may sound particularly loud inside the Reading Room.

Defibrillators

• The nearest defibrillators are located in Hatherly reception or Washington Singer reception.

Dogs

• Registered Assistance dogs are very welcome in our Reading Room and Galleries. Please be advised that all other dogs are not permitted inside University of Exeter library buildings.

• Before your visit, please read our handling guidelines carefully. They provide information on how to handle volumes, papers, large materials, photographic materials, and audiovisual materials in our collections. You can also ask for advice during your visit if you are unsure about how to handle something. We're always happy to help!
• It is also worth checking whether there are any restrictions on the resources that you want to consult and prepare for this in advance. Some archives might be restricted if they contain personal data relating to living individuals, and others might require permission from a copyright holder for any copies to be made. You can find more information on our Data Protection and Copying archive materials pages.