About the Source Libraries
The British Library, London
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the world's greatest research libraries. It provides world class information services to the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world's largest and most comprehensive research collection.
The Library's collection has developed over 250 years and exceeds 150 million separate items representing every age of written civilisation. It includes: books, journals, manuscripts, maps, stamps, music, patents, newspapers and sound recordings in all written and spoken languages.
Further information, including an online gallery and catalogues, is available on the Library's website at www.bl.uk.
The Brontë Parsonage Museum, Haworth, England
The Brontë Parsonage Museum's Research Library houses the world's largest collection of information on the world's most famous literary family. Their collection of secondary material includes editions of the novels, articles, the Brontë Society Transactions journal from 1898 to present, topographical, critical and biographical works. Their drama archive includes stills, programmes, scripts and other material from dramatizations of the Brontë's lives and works. The library can provide access to original material for students at post-graduate level and beyond with an academic reference. For those without an academic reference they have facsimile copies of all our primary source material in their research library.
For more information and to browse the library's online catalogue, visit www.bronte.org.uk.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C.
From the library's Web site:
"Home to the world's largest and finest collection of Shakespeare materials and to major collections of other rare Renaissance books, manuscripts, and works of art, the Folger serves a wide audience of researchers, visitors, teachers, students, families, and theater- and concert-goers."
Find out more and search the library catalog at http://www.folger.edu/.
Huntington Library, San Marino, California
From the library's Web site:
"For qualified scholars, the Huntington Library is one of the largest and most complete research libraries in the United States in its fields of specialization.
"The Library's collection of rare books, manuscripts, prints, photographs, maps, and other materials in the fields of British and American history and literature totals more than six million items."
Find out more and search the library catalog at http://www.huntington.org/.
National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
From the library's Web site:
"The National Art Library is a major public reference library, as well as being the Victoria and Albert Museum's curatorial department for the art, craft and design of the book.
"The library's strength lies in the range and depth of its holdings of documentary material concerning the fine and decorative arts of many countries and periods."
Many of the library's catalogues are available online. Find out more at http://www.vam.ac.uk/nal/.
National Library of Scotland
The largest research library in Scotland with collections of more than 13 million books, maps, manuscripts, music, films, and digital resources, the National Library of Scotland has been at the heart of Scotland's cultural and intellectual life for more than three centuries. Its collections are founded on the Library of the Faculty of Advocates, which opened in 1689, and which was further expanded through the legal deposit system from 1710. The National Library of Scotland was established by an Act of Parliament in 1925. It continues to play a vital role in inspiring and fostering learning, scholarship and enlightenment in modern day Scotland.
Many of the library's catalogues are available online. Find out more at http://www.nls.uk/.
Princeton University Library
From the library's Web site:
"The library's collections include more than 6.5 million books, 6.3 million microforms, 36,000 linear feet of manuscripts, and impressive holdings of rare books, prints and archives. The library also offers access to extensive electronic resources including e-journals, databases, statistical data, images and digital maps."
Additional information as well as many searchable finding aids and digital collections can be found at http://www.princeton.edu/main/library/.
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of California, Los Angeles
From the library's Web site:
"The William Andrews Clark Memorial Library is one of UCLA's major libraries. It is a rare books and manuscripts collection, with particular strengths in English literature and history (1641-1800), Oscar Wilde, and fine printing. It is located thirteen miles off campus (about a half-hour drive), in the West Adams District of Los Angeles north of USC. It is administered by UCLA's Center for Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Century Studies. "
Several Web-based finding aids are available. Visit the library Web site at http://www.humnet.ucla.edu/humnet/clarklib/ for more information.