French Collections Guide

These areas include Belgium, Switzerland, Canada and former colonies in Africa, Asia, the West Indies and the Pacific. 

Whilst its presence is mainly seen in Literature, History and Topography, there are also large representations in Biography and Art as well as a substantial number of works in Philosophy and Religion and across the wide range of shelfmarks that comprise the Science & Miscellaneous collection.  

Many French works across the collection have been translated into English and these are usually bought to increase access to works amongst the readership. Almost every shelfmark in the Library’s collections with the exception of specific language collections will have a number of works in French as a matter of course although it is not possible to continue this practice nowadays.  

The principle since 1840 has always been to acquire major and many minor works by significant authors to a greater degree as primary material in the Literature collections, as well as works by a great many major French writers on their subjects across the other areas of the collections. The Library has also tried to acquire key reference and standard works across the spectrum of French output but again, within the constraints of the collecting policy and the budget.  

Founded in 1841, the Library’s collection has grown each year and we hold titles from the late 18th century onwards on the open shelves.  As a result, our collection reflects the evolution and changes in thinking in a particular subject and does mean that you may come across titles which contain ideas and vocabulary that would be considered abhorrent today. The collection continues to grow with some 5,000 new titles being added each year. As we develop the collection, we seek to ensure that the controversial topics of today are represented from all sides of a debate.