John Rylands University Library
The John Rylands University Library (JRUL) is the University of Manchester's library and information service. It was formed in 1972 from the merger of the library of the Victoria University of Manchester with the John Rylands Library. On October 1, 2004 it joined the library of the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology on the merger of the two universities.[citation needed]
It is the largest non-legal deposit academic library in the United Kingdom and supports all subject areas taught by the University. The JRUL provides its members with a large number of services and resources, including an extensive range of electronic resources. A range of services is also provided for members of the public, schools and commercial companies. Entry to the main site off Oxford Road, South Campus (formerly the Victoria University of Manchester) is via library card activated turnstiles.[1]
The John Rylands University Library is responsible for overseeing the departmental libraries, including the Medical Faculty Library (Stopford Building) and the Geography library (Mansfield Cooper building).[citation needed]
John Rylands Library
| John Rylands Library | |
 |
|
| Building | |
|---|---|
| Type | Library |
| Architectural Style | Gothic |
| Location | Deansgate, Manchester,
UK |
| Construction | |
| Completed | 1900[2] |
| Design Team | |
| Architect | Sir Basil Champneys[2] |
The John Rylands Library was founded by Mrs Enriqueta Augustina Rylands in memory of her late husband, John Rylands.[3] In 1890, having purchased a site on Deansgate at the heart of Manchester city centre,[citation needed] she commissioned a design from architect Sir Basil Champneys.[3] Mrs Rylands had originally intended the library as a principally theological collection and the building, a very fine example of Victorian Gothic, has much of the appearance of a church.[citation needed] The core of the library was formed around the collection of 40,000 rare books assembled by George John Spencer, which Mrs Rylands purchased in 1892.[4] The library was finally opened to readers on January 1, 1900.[3]
Aside from the Main Library section, reading room and a lending department, the building also has Bible and Map rooms on the first floor, and conference and committee rooms on the ground floor. A Caretaker's House also forms part of the building.[2] Matching white marble statues of John Rylands and Enriqueta Rylands, sculpted by John Cassidy, can be seen in the reading room of the library.[3]
The library is constructed of stone from near Penrith, Cumbria. Called "shawk", it varies in colour between buff and pink. The library was one of the first public buildings in Manchester to be lit by electricity.[3] It became a listed building on January 25 1952 and was upgraded to Grade I on 6 June 1994.[5]
Librarians at John Rylands before its merger include Edward Gordon Duff between 1899–1900 and Henry Guppy between 1899 and 1948 (joint Librarian with Duff until 1900).[citation needed]
The library now serves as the Special Collections section of the JRUL.[4] Notably, the John Rylands Library holds what is believed to be the oldest extant New Testament document, Rylands Library Papyrus P52, the so-called St John's Fragment.[6]
References
- ^ John Ryland University Library web site ,[Accessibility at John Rylands University Library, [1], accessed 07/10/2007
- ^ a b c Plan of John Rylands Library, Manchester. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
- ^ a b c d e JRUL Special Collections: Visitor Information. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
- ^ a b JRUL: Special Collections Guide. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
- ^ Manchester City Council - listed buildings. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
- ^ An Unpublished Fragment of the Fourth Gospel. JRUL. Retrieved on 2007-04-29.
External links
- The University of Manchester
- The John Rylands University Library
- The John Rylands University Library — Special Collections Division
- Images of England — details from listed building database (388101)
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