About the Library

Visiting the Library

Both Libraries are available for faculty and research staff of the department, post-graduates and undergraduates, as well as other members of the University, visiting scholars and members of the public.

Opening hours on weekdays are from 8.45-6.00pm (5.00pm out of term time), and in term time on Saturdays from 10.00-1.00.

Bullard Library - If you are not a member of the Department you will have to make an appointment to visit via the Library staff. If you require small amounts of materials from the site – e.g. minimal photocopying, journal volume, monograph – we can deliver this to the Downing Site for you to pick up.

Why not take the Virtual Library Tour ? It's relatively short, so shouldn't take long, and is just by way of an introduction to our wonderful library.

Contact Us

Department of Earth Sciences,
University of Cambridge,
Downing Street,
Cambridge,
Cambridgeshire,
CB2 3EQ
United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)1223 333429
Fax: 01223 333450

Email: Please send any and all general enquiries relating to the library to JavaScript must be turned on for you to be able to see this address (and not to individual members of staff unless you have been asked to) as this will enable us to deal with your query more swiftly. Matters relating to the library web site should be forwarded to JavaScript must be turned on for you to be able to see this addressJavaScript must be turned on for you to be able to see this address

Find Us: Access the University's map selection of Cambridge, a plan of the Downing site, and a plan of the library and library office or as a pdf (rather large file 1.7MB)

History

Much of the original collection (including many rare volumes) owned by the Earth Sciences Library was originally collected by John Woodward* and Adam Sedgwick in whose honour the Sedgwick Museum was built.

The original Library was constructed as part of the Sedgwick Museum building, which opened in 1904 and, with the exception of the two bookcases near the fireplace, looks exactly as it would have done in 1904.

The Geophysics Library at the Bullard Laboratories began when the labs were first opened in 1951. The Library Staff manage both sites.

If you are interested, learn more about the current collection development policy.

*Founder of the Woodwardian Professorship in Geology at Cambridge, a post held by Sedgwick for 55 years.