Explore rare University collections from home via new online portal
01 May 2020
People at home due to the COVID-19 lockdown can now explore ancient pottery and medieval literature, the work of Samuel Beckett and the history of rural England all in one place.
The University of Reading’s new online Museums and Collections portal makes it easier to discover the breadth of its collections by bringing together fascinating content from across the collections. It includes a suite of new websites for the Special Collections and the Ure and Cole Museums.
The University’s collections and museums welcome more than 50,000 visitors every year, and the materials support vast numbers of researchers and students. The online portal allows even more members of the public to engage with the items now, through online events, exhibitions and blogs, and to make the most of their visits after the lockdown.
Guy Baxter, Assistant Director of Archive Services for UMSCS, said: "Recent events have highlighted how important it is for researchers, students and the wider public to engage with museums and collections online. The wide variety of world-class research materials held at the University makes the clear presentation of what we have and how people might access and use it particularly important.
“Our new portal will do that, enabling us to uncover links between the millions of documents, books, objects and artworks that we care for, and telling the stories behind the collections.
“New online exhibitions will showcase the collections, alongside our existing blogs and social media channels. We hope that these new resources will also inspire people to get involved in our museums and collections, by visiting, studying, attending events or volunteering."
The new portal includes an A-Z list of the University’s collections, and showcases their themes and strengths, enabling users to explore in ways that suit them. Subjects range from Ancient History to Farming, Food and Health; from Books, Printing and Publishing to Natural History; and from Childhood to the Visual Arts.
The museums and collections support teaching and learning for all ages, from pre-school work and school visits, through to University teaching and support for doctoral students. Several of the museums and collections on campus are fully integrated within academic departments, while the acclaimed Museum Studies programme offers a unique opportunity to combine a heritage qualification with Archaeology or Classics at an undergraduate level.
The collections have informed a number of teaching and research projects at the University. Examples include Samuel Beckett’s manuscripts inspiring new work through the Samuel Beckett Centre at the University, while archived materials belonging to Nancy Astor – Britain’s first female MP to sit in Parliament – were an integral part of national centenary commemorations.