Clare College Fellows’ Library is due to re-open in September for use by Clare Fellows and visiting researchers, after being out of operation for five years.

The interior design of the Fellows’ Library, with bookcases around the walls, was created by James Essex in 1729. The Library  incorporates volumes of historic and cultural significance and many items with a special connection to the history of Clare through former Masters and Fellows of the College.

The collection includes books and manuscripts from the 16^th to 19^th Century, and some earlier material, including a collection of medieval manuscripts.

The collection was packed and moved into specialist storage facilities in 2018, ahead of building and refurbishment work in the North Range of  Old Court.

Preparation of the Fellows’ Library for return of the collection involved redecorating, replacing UV protective window film and blinds, returning furniture to restore the layout of the Library, and cleaning throughout.  This work was carried out with great care and to very tight deadlines by staff from Buildings & Maintenance, Support Services and Housekeeping Departments. 

 The project to return the Fellows’ Library collection to the Library was led by the Forbes Mellon Librarian, Catherine Reid, with assistance from Assistant Librarian Raphaëlle Goyeau, and Deputy Librarian Julie Hope, and with valuable support and advice from Fellows’ Librarians Prof Simon Franklin and Prof Tim Chesters.

 During August 5,700  volumes were returned to the Fellows’ Library from a specialist storage facility in Oxfordshire and from the British Library, Boston Spa. These facilities provided environments with controlled storage conditions suitable for heritage collections. The books were delivered to College in approximately 700 boxes and crates, and these had to be carefully transported to the Fellows’ Library. A team from the contractor Harwell unpacked and returned the books to shelves, with supervision and advice from the Forbes Mellon Library team.  As this historic collection requires careful handling and storage the team was advised throughout by book conservators from the Cambridge Colleges Conservation Consortium. There are approximately 160 volumes remaining in storage nearby in the University Library and College Archives, for return at a later date. 

Prof. Tim Chesters will be taking over from Prof. Simon Franklin as Fellows’ Librarian in October. Tim and Simon will inform Fellows about the re-opening of the Library in September, and external researchers will be informed via the College website. Congratulations and many thanks to everyone involved in the reinstatement of the Fellows’ Library.