Earth Sciences Rare Book Collection, University of Melbourne

Earth Sciences Rare Book Collection, University of Melbourne

The Earth Sciences Rare Book Collection at the University of Melbourne is an important research collection of rare and early geological and palaeontological texts. Approximately 65% of the items are the only known copy available in Australia, thus rendering this a collection of national significance.

The collection includes many seminal works from the 19th and early 20th centuries. It has particularly strong holdings of early palaeontological works in English, French & German. The collection also include significant runs of many early periodical titles. The collection’s origins as the private collections and personal libraries of individuals such as Frederick McCoy and Ernest Skeats, early professors at the University who were eminent in their field, mean the collection is significant to the history of the study of earth sciences not only at this institution but more broadly.

Address: 
Level 3, McCoy Building, Elgin Street, University of Melbourne VIC 3010, Australia
Tel: 
+61 03 8344 6528
Hours: 
Earth Sciences Library is generally open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.15pm
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Email: 
guido@unimelb.edu.au
Admission: 
General admission free
Facilities: 
Books may not be borrowed, but can be viewed in the Cultural Collections Reading Room in the University's Baillieu Library, by arrangement in advance with staff in the Earth Sciences Library.

Please note that it takes 72 hours to process requests. Contact the Earth Sciences Library to request items.
Collection: 

The Earth Sciences Rare Book collection was fully catalogued in 2007-2008, thanks to generous financial support from the Russell and Mab Grimwade Miegunyah Fund. It is included in the combined University of Melbourne Library catalogue at http://cat.lib.unimelb.edu.au/