The College Library is the academic heart of St Edmund’s College.
Adopt a book and enhance the learning experience of our student community.
By supporting our ever-growing community of students with a collection of books that supply the full range of undergraduate courses and research interests of St Edmund’s members, you can make a tangible difference to the student learning experience.
St Edmund’s enjoys the support of a professional Librarian, Cristina Burton, to care for and develop its collection. Every year texts in core subjects must be refreshed to reflect changes in their disciplines, particularly in fields such as the sciences and law. Historic texts also require constant care, and new acquisitions are made to meet the needs and interests of current students and researchers.
The Library is also in need of more space to house its growing collection, and to provide more comfortable and welcoming reading and study spaces for library users.
With your support we can develop the College Library collection to include texts integral to the studies of everybody at St Edmund’s.
If you wish to support the purchase of a particular text or discuss a donation to the Library please contact the Development Office.
Adopt a Book
You can support the Library directly with a donation to the Library Fund, or through our Adopt a Book scheme. All donors to the Library Fund or book adopters are recognised in a special ‘Friends of St Edmund’s College Library’ volume kept in the Library’s permanent collection.
Adopt a new book to be added to the library’s catalogue subjects, or a favourite book from the Library’s existing collection, and receive a bookplate inside the selected volume to record your adoption.
If you are interested in making a one-off donation to support specific acquisitions or conservation cost, wish to set up a regular donation, or make a larger donation to support the development of the collection and facilities, please contact the Development Office directly. We are always happy to discuss your philanthropic priorities.
Adopt a New Book
Support the acquisition of new core texts.
- The College Library develops its collection spending around £6,000 annually on new acquisitions, particularly on core textbooks or additions to reading lists where sources must be constantly updated.
- You can choose to adopt a book in any of the library’s catalogue subjects, e.g Law, Medicine, Engineering, or Natural Sciences.
- You will receive a bookplate with your name in a new book of your chosen subject
- You will have your name permanently recorded in the Friends of St Edmund’s College Library volume.
Adopt a Favourite Book
Support the preservation of your treasured collection.
- Whether it is a book you made extensive use of as a student, a favourite work of fiction, or a text of unique academic importance, you can adopt a specific book from the Library collection.
- You can search the St Edmund’s College library catalogue here to select a text.
- You will receive a bookplate with your name in your selected book.*
- You will have your name permanently recorded in the Friends of St Edmund’s College Library volume.
Sponsor a Shelf
Take your sponsorship to the next level and provide resources to support the study of a whole field or subject.
- Whole shelves and categories within the Collection can be sponsored to support the long term development of the library.
- Sponsoring a shelf will allow you to promote and preserve the study of a specific field in St Edmund’s College Library, and a bequest of this kind will leave a lasting impression on the academic life of the College for years to come
- Discuss the acquisition of specific texts or collections, and naming opportunities for study spaces and shelves.
- You will have your name and the name of your bequest permanently recorded in the Friends of St Edmund’s College library volume.
A well-stocked college library is essential for students – meaning they do not need to purchase expensive key texts for themselves, and do not have to vie for copies of sought-after texts in Faculty and University collections. Recent acquisitions by the Library supported by your donations include an impressive – and essential – complete Loeb Classical Library set, as well as an impressive collection of classical texts and neglected works by women writers.
We also hold a collection of Catholic historical and theological texts, reflective of the historical foundations of the College and its transition from private boarding house for Catholic students not catered for elsewhere in the University to the only post-reformation Catholic college in Cambridge or Oxford.
Please note:
- Although we endeavour to fulfill your book of choice for Adopt a Favourite Book some books may already have existing bookplates, or may have been moved from the open collection in to storage. Where this occurs we will suggest a suitable alternative.
- If you would like more information about the Collection, including suggestions for books that are frequently borrowed or subjects that require the most support please contact the College Librarian.
- Please allow up to three months for your bookplate to be placed in the book.
- Visits to the Library to view the collection must be booked in advance and are dependent on Library staff availability.