University of Glasgow | Library

The first explicit mention of the University Library was in November 1475 when the first donations by the University's Chancellor, Bishop John Laing, were recorded. These comprised a manuscript compendium of Aristotle and Pseudo-Aristotelian texts, and a paper volume of quaestiones. The next gift noted was that of Duncan Bunch, the first Principal of the auld pedagogy. This comprised ten volumes, including works by Aristotle, Porphyry, Boethius on logic, Albertus Magnus on physics, and questions by Bunch's teacher at Cologne, John Althilmer.

The Library grew slowly, since, until the end of the 17th century, it depended largely on gifts, and its only income was the small payments made by students at matriculation and graduation. In 1644, the visitors noted that the Library was "but verie small for ane Universitie", and even by 1691, it had only 3,500 volumes.

During the eighteenth century, the Library grew rapidly. This was due largely to the copyright act of 1709, under which the Scottish universities acquired the right to obtain free copies of all books published in the United Kingdom. By 1760 the holdings had extended to about 6,000 and by 1791 this had reached some 20,000. A printed catalogue was published that year by the Foulis Press, compiled by Archibald Arthur, Professor of Moral Philosophy, Chaplain and Librarian. The University received the greatest boost to its Library holdings in 1807, however, when it inherited the prized collection of books and manuscripts assembled by Dr William Hunter, the distinguished anatomist and physician extraordinary to Queen Charlotte. His personal library of some 10,000 printed volumes doubled the Library's stock.

In 1836, legal copyright was reviewed. The distance from London and the attendant difficulties of acquiring the books required by the teaching staff had rendered the privilege ineffective and Glasgow's copyright library status was now commuted to a fixed annual sum from the Treasury. This allowed the Library to develop its collections more systematically.

By 1888, the Library's holdings had risen to some 126,000 volumes.

The greatest period of change and expansion came with the growth in numbers entering higher education and the simultaneous arrival of the post-war information explosion.

The Library was originally housed in the college buildings on the High Street. A new Library building was begun in 1732 just to the east of the south-east corner of the main building not far from Blackfriars Church. It was completed in 1744 and most of the books transferred in 1745. Some books, however, remained in the old library. The new library building was extended in 1782.

Following the removal of the University to Gilmorehill in 1870, a new Library was built in the north front of the new University building.

In 1968, a new Library was constructed in Hillhead Street. It was extended in 1983, 1986 and 1997. It was the centre of the University's library system and housed the principal collections in all fields except chemistry, dental medicine, education and veterinary medicine, which were held in branch libraries. There was also a faculty library in social sciences (the Adam Smith Library), containing mainly duplicate undergraduate texts. In 2002, the Faculty of Education Library was rehoused with the main Library.

The Library was originally a working library for regents in the Faculty of Arts. It later became a storehouse of information for students, teachers and researchers. It now also aimed to equip students with research skills.

Originally, accessions were left in the keeping of the several professors, and, at the time of the nova erectio of 1577, the Quaestor was in charge of the Library accounts. It was not until 1641 that a Keeper of the Library was appointed as a result of a mortification by Thomas Hutcheson of Lambhill. The Keeper was to be the holder of an MA who was the son of a burgess, and each successive Keeper was to hold the post for only four years. After Hutcheson's death, the appointment was vested in Glasgow Town Council. In 1651, the College was given the right to make the appointment alternately with the Town Council. In 1782, the Town Council handed over to the University the right to appoint and pay the Keeper of the general library, whilst reserving the right to appoint, once every four years, a custodian for the books which remained in the old library. In 1998, the post of Keeper was renamed Director of Library Services.

The Director of Library Services was assisted by a Library Management Team. This Team reported to the Library Committee, a joint committee of Court and Senate, which comprised representatives from Court, Senate, the faculties, the Student Representative Council and the Library staff.

In 1991, the Library became part of the Information Services Planning Unit. In 2004, following a reorganisation of the University's administration, the service became part of the Information Services Division of Administrative, Information and Management Services.

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Authority record created according to the National Council on ArchivesRules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names (NCA Rules)1997 and International Council on Archives: Ad Hoc Committee on Descriptive StandardsInternational Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families (ISAAR)CPF1995.

Corporate name authority record compiled for the GASHE project by Victoria Peters, research archivist, 18 December 2004