Support for Learning & Teaching

Process

1. To book, you fill out the request form by the deadline.
2. We will reply within a week confirming the dates and times of your class(es) where possible, and requesting the final details of the items you'd like to use.
3. You choose the items you'd like to teach with, and send us the details.
4. Our Conservation & Preservation team will check the condition of the items to see if they can be safely handled in the way you would like.
5. We will get back to you at least 3 weeks before the class to confirm which items can be used.
6. On the day, you lead the class. Archives & Special Collections staff will support you by invigilating the safe handling of the items.

If you are looking for something else, please get in touch with us via library-asc@gla.systa-s.com to arrange a discussion.

Guide to choosing items

Go to our Discover our Collections page to find out what we have for your class topic. There are video guides to help with searching.

If you would like to consult potential items ahead of your class, please Book an appointment.

Please note the Reference Code/Shelfmark and Title of each item you’re interested in. You can use up to 5 of our items in the class.

Teaching collection: In addition to the collections linked to from our Discover page, we have our Teaching Collection. These items have been acquired for use in classes where the focus is on examples of literary genres or material book features (eg formats, bindings, illustration and paper types) rather than on specific texts. We don’t need to invigilate the in-class use of these items.

Format options

We offer three format options for Collections Classroom sessions: 

• In-person: you and your students in our space with our items.
• Blended: you and some students in our space with our items, with other students joining you via Teams or Zoom.
• Virtual: you in our space with our items, broadcasting live to your students who are elsewhere, or pre-recording content for them.

Spaces and layouts

Spaces

Our collections are stored across two sites (Level 12 of the University Library and 13 Thurso St) with teaching areas at both.

Both rooms have a teaching-set-up PC, with a large screen, microphones, speakers, and cameras showing the room. They each have an overhead camera for showing items on-screen to the group in the room and to students joining via Teams.

Layouts

You can find our standard Collections Classroom layouts here: Collections Classroom Layouts.

If you have something else in mind, please let us know. 

Accessibility 

Please note that classes involving attendees who are unable to use stairs will be booked for our site on Level 12 of the University Library, rather than for our 13 Thurso St site.

If you are aware that your students have any other accessibility requirements, please let us know.