Here at Special Collections, we’ve recently been taking an extra special interest in the work of Canterbury Cathedral Library. The University of Kent’s Templeman Library is linked to the Cathedral’s library through the acquisition of the Mendham Collection but unfortunately in recent years there has been little opportunity to further this link.

However, all that is about to change. Over the next few months, we’ll be undertaking staff working exchange visits between Special Collections and the Cathedral library, to get to know the work and collections involved and how we can help each other. The Cathedral Library and its team have already proved invaluable to us, offering conservation, advice and, when it comes to disasters, immediate assistance! We hope that we can now build up a co-operative service for researchers and lecturers from the University, to make the most of our combined collections.

In keeping with this spirit of shared information and expertise, we hope to be able to publicise Cathedral library events and news on this blog from time to time. The first of these announcements is the Cathedral library’s programme of events for 2011 – including the launch of the newly refurbished library building, at which Dr David Starkey will give a talk on his favourite books from the library. Do have a look at these and come along to discover the history and heritage which the Cathedral and its library has preserved for centuries.