In term time we are open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
by appointment only.
PLEASE NOTE: we are closed from the 23rd December to the 5th January, reopening 6th January 2025.
To make an appointment please email archives@dmu.ac.uk.
Accessing DMU Special Collections is free and we are open to all – staff and students of DMU and other universities, alumni, private researchers and members of the public. The reading room is wheelchair accessible and fitted with a hearing loop.
You will need an appointment to visit us, and you are welcome to contact us in advance and discuss your research needs. It is also useful to look at our catalogues and let us know if there is something specific you would like to consult.
When you arrive for your first visit, you will be asked to complete a reader registration form and show a form of ID, for example, your DMU student pass or a driving licence. By signing the reader registration form you agree to respect our code of conduct while visiting the archive. If you visit again, you will be asked to sign in using our visitor book.
You will be asked to put coats and bags in a locker and take only what you need to the research desks. Staff will give you a brief introduction to using Special Collections and the specific materials you are interested in, including safe handling of archive documents. You may be asked to complete an order slip for the specific items you wish to view.
If you want to take photographs or have scans made, please discuss this with staff. There are charges for users from outside DMU.
DMU subscribes to Eduroam providing wifi access to users from other higher education institutions. If you do not qualify for Eduroam please contact us in advance and we can set up guest wifi access. Power points are available for laptops.
Please note food and drink are not allowed in the reading room. If you need refreshments during your research time, there is a cafe in the Library building and in several other locations across campus.
DMU Special Collections strives to be a welcoming and inclusive environment where everybody can enjoy access to our rich heritage.
If you have specific requirements please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss with staff what reasonable adjustments we can make to ensure your visit is comfortable and fruitful, or mention it to staff during your visit. We will keep anything disclosed to us private and confidential.
If you cannot visit us in person, please contact us to discuss your enquiry. We can advise you on our resources and the feasibility of finding useful information in our collection. We will undertake the first 15 minutes of the enquiry for free. After this we should be able to tell you if it is worth continuing with the research. If you go ahead, £2.50 will be charged per 15 minutes of staff time.
For users from outside DMU we have introduced some charges for reprographics and research.
Photocopies:
A4 and A3 black and white: £0.30 per side
A4 and A3 colour: £0.60 per side
Scanning:
PDF: £0.50 per page
JPEG at 300 dpi: £1.00 per scan (up to A3 size)
JPEG at 300 dpi: £5.00 per scan (over A3 size)
Camera Pass:
£2.50 a day to use personal camera
NB – camera use must still be within copyright guidelines and restrictions
All photocopying and scanning will be done by staff on behalf of the researcher
Please note that due to the fragile nature of the items held in Special Collections, it is not always possible to copy them
Remote orders:
As above + £2.50 fee for the staff time involved in locating and preparing the items to be reproduced + postage if relevant
Digitisation (including audio-visual materials):
For already digitised items £3 per digital file
For items needing digitising £3 per digital file, plus £5 per item for the staff time of digitising
We are located in Kimberlin Library, in DMU's central Leicester campus.
A campus map and transport guide can be found here.
Please report to Library Reception on arrival.
