World Collections
Cambridge University Library began acquiring books from beyond Europe in the seventeenth century. Today, World Collections has grown to encompass more than one million items, ranging from rare books and manuscripts, photographs, contemporary research publications, and an array of cultural artefacts.
Together, these holdings constitute a world-class resource, enabling scholars to study the histories, languages, cultures, intellectual traditions, and artistic expressions of societies across Asia, Africa, and the Commonwealth.
The Department of World Collections comprises several curatorial units tasked with the stewardship, development, and promotion of these internationally significant holdings. At the heart of the Department's work is a commitment to advancing the educational and research mission of the University. Through the expertise of its curators and subject specialists, the Department operates across four interconnected areas: academic and research support; the stewardship of modern and heritage collections (including the libraries and archives of the Royal Commonwealth Society, African Study Library, and South Asian Study Library); collection-led scholarship; and a wide range of engagement activities aimed at a variety of audiences.
Support our mission and join us in ensuring that collections remain accessible to all, enriched through rigorous research, and connected to communities locally and internationally.
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