The Courtney Library

The Courtney Library

The Library houses around 150,000 items (i.e. printed and manuscript sources, photographs, engravings, ephemera etc) including:

  • A core collection of printed books and periodicals covering the history of Cornwall from the prehistoric to modern period

  • Substantial collections of archives of Cornish families

  • Important collections of Cornish historic photographs from mid-19th century

  • Original files and microfilmed copies of local and regional newspapers

  • General reference books and periodicals including fine art, archaeology, history and subjects relating to the collections in the RIC’s Royal Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery

  • Our extensive reference collections are always available on site

SATURDAY AFTERNOONS
 Revised opening hours

From the beginning of January 2006 the Courtney Library – including the photographic service and telephone enquiries – will be closed Saturday afternoons.

The Library will continue to be open on Saturday mornings from 10-1pm

Monday to Friday opening hours
(10-1pm and 2-5pm will remain unchanged)

These revised opening hours are being introduced to allow the staff a regular period of uninterrupted time to catalogue re-list and computerise the R.I.C’s substantial collections of archives. As work progresses the catalogues and lists will be progressively made available which will significantly increase public access to our holdings.

We apologise for any inconvenience these new arrangements may cause to our users

Telephone: 01872 242786

E-mail: (research/information)
The Courtney Library