Leeds University Library

Collections and Subjects

The stunning new Laidlaw Library building opened its doors for the first time on Wednesday 27 May 2015.

The Leeds University Library is spread over multiple locations, and holds, over 2.75 million books, 26,000 print and electronic journals, 850 databases and 6,000 electronic books: making it one of the largest research libraries in the UK. The library also houses numerous special collections, ranging from the 15th century through to the 20th century.

The collections even include locks of hair from the influential Classical era composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Further collections held include William Shakespeare's First Folio (Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories. & Tragedies) published in 1623 and valued at around £15 million. The university also holds Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, first published 5 July 1687 and Oscar Wilde's manuscript of The Duchess of Padua from 1883.

The libraries of the University of Leeds offer a wide variety of resources and support for students and the public, including specific information on the following subjects:

A Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies Architecture (Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies) Art (Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies) Aviation (Chemical and Process Engineering)

B Biochemistry (Biological Sciences) Biological Sciences Biology (Biological Sciences) Biomedical Sciences (Biological Sciences) Business

C Chemical Engineering (Chemical and Process Engineering) Chemical and Process Engineering Chemistry Chinese (East Asian Studies) Civil Engineering Classics Colour Science (Chemistry) Computing

D Dentistry Design

E Earth and Environment East Asian Studies Education Electronic and Electrical Engineering Energy Engineering (Chemical and Process Engineering) English Environment (Earth and Environment)

F Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies Fire and Explosion Engineering (Chemical and Process Engineering) Food Science and Nutrition French

G Genetics (Biological Sciences) Geography Geological Sciences (Earth and Environment) German, Russian and Slavonic Studies

H Healthcare History History and Philosophy of Science (Philosophy, Religion and History of Science) Human Geography (Geography)

I Icelandic (English) International health (Medicine) Italian

J Japanese (East Asian Studies)

L Law Lifelong Learning Centre Linguistics and Phonetics

M Mathematics Mechanical Engineering Media and Communication Medicine

Medieval studies Microbiology (Biological Sciences) Molecular Nanoscience Museum Studies (Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies) Music

N NHS Neuroscience (Biological Sciences)

P Performance and Cultural Industries Petroleum Engineering (Chemical and Process Engineering) Pharmacology (Biological Sciences) Philosophy, Religion and History of Science Physical Geography (Geography) Physics and Astronomy Politics and International Studies Psychology

R Russian and Slavonic Studies (German, Russian and Slavonic Studies)

S Social Work (Healthcare) Sociology and Social Policy South East Asian Studies (East Asian Studies) Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies Sport and Exercise Sciences

T Textiles (Design) Theatre Theology and Religious Studies (Philosophy, Religion and History of Science) Translation Transport Studies

Z Zoology (Biological Sciences)

Click here to read about the new Laidlaw Library