The College Library comprises the Arthur Peck Reading Room, the Bookstacks (floors 2 and 3) the Law Library, the Annexe, and the Old Library.

Books needed for Tripos exams are likely to be located in the Reading Room, the Bookstacks, and the Law Library. The Annexe contains older books, and is closed to readers, though books located there may be borrowed if required. The Old Library contains our historic collections. The Library’s collections of borrowable music scores are shelved with the music monographs. Language learning CDs are also available for loan, and there is a growing selection of DVDs.

The general reference section in the Reading Room includes Cambridge University examination papers, encyclopaedias, and dictionaries. There is also a general interest section consisting largely of travel books, translations of foreign works of fiction, and self-help books.

The Law Library is situated off First Court and is only accessible to law students. It provides 12 reading spaces and is a reference collection consisting of law reports, journals, and statutes. Law texts available for borrowing are located in the main undergraduate library.

The Library seeks to provide a quiet atmosphere for study and research. Seating in the Reading Room is provided for approximately 65 readers.

The College Library aims to provide most of the required texts and background materials for Tripos Parts I and II. For more specialised material students are advised to make use of the facilities offered by Departmental and Faculty Libraries and by Cambridge University Library.

Student recommendations are always very welcome. Please use our book recommendation form, ask at the library desk, or fill in a slip and post it in the suggestions box in the Reading Room.