The Humanities Library's special reading room

The Humanities Library has a special reading room intended for studies of the University Library's most fragile and valuable materials. In here you may read manuscripts, rarities and other items from the special collections.

Currently, there is sometimes extensive disturbances from Västlänken's construction work. We apologize for the disruption.

Opening hours

The special reading room has other opening hours than the Humanities Library.

Regular opening hours

Day Time
Monday 08:30 – 16:30
Tuesday 08:30 – 20:00
Wednesday 08:30 – 16:30
Thursday 08:30 – 20:00
Friday 08:30 – 16:00
Saturday 10:00 - 17:00

Request materials to the special reading room

Fill out the contact form to request materials to the special reading room.

Request materials via the contact form

How to use the special reading room

When you order manuscripts and rarities, they are delivered to the special reading room. The special reading room is located on the Humanities Library's entrance floor near the quiet reading room.

To get access to the reading room, you must provide valid identification, as well as a GU card or library card and note your visit in the reading room ledger. You also need to read and approve the rules for using the special reading room.

Rules for the Gothenburg University Library special reading room

The reading room is camera-monitored

The special reading room is camera-monitored for security reasons. The recordings are automatically deleted after 30 days.

Monitoring takes place in accordance with the Camera Surveillance Act (2018:1200), the General Data Protection Regulation, and according to the University's routines for processing personal data.

If you have comments on camera monitoring, please contact the Swedish Data Protection Authority. For questions about the legislation and the personal data processing, contact the University's data protection representative via e-mail: dataskydd@gu.se.

Contact us

Contact us if you have any questions about using the special reading room.

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