The CDS helps researchers to try out new methods and techniques, and to collaborate and learn, to create software and to maintain it.

Leiden’s University Library provides access to a large collection of digital (contemporary) and digitized (historical) newspapers. These newspapers can be found through the library’s catalogue and through the library’s databases. Furthermore, the Dutch National Library offers access to several international…

The Copyright Information Office provides information and advice to teaching staff, eg. on sharing material with students in a digital learning environment or in a reader

The UBL holds five sets of manuscripts recognised by UNESCO as documents of universal value and exceptional significance to the world. They are included in UNESCO's International World Heritage list of documents (Memory of the World Register).

What we now call ‘early printed books’ used to be ‘modern’ works in former centuries.

Our information specialists are ready to answer your questions on how to use Leiden University Libraries' (UBL) services or how to search for information.

Uniquely within the Netherlands, Leiden University Library also collects objects to document the technical development of photography. Hundreds of historical cameras are part of the colletion, as well as darkroom and finishing equipment (light meters, developing trays, color filters, drying racks, etcetera),…

In short, data management can be defined as the creation, storage, maintenance, disclosure, archiving and sustainable preservation of research data.

“Digital Scholarship” comprises the many different ways in which researchers can make use of digital technologies for the purpose of academic research.

A collection consists of items and parts that have been collected by one or more individuals or institutions not responsible for their formation. An archive has been created by one or more individuals or institutions.

Leiden University has several library locations. These libraries are part of one organisation: Leiden University Libraries (UBL). The UBL includes the University Library, the Social and Behavioural Sciences Library, the Law Library, the Science Library, the Asian Library, the NINO Library, the Walaeus…

Copyright is important when writing, publishing or (re-)using academic publications. The Copyright Information Office helps Leiden University staff with copyright related questions.

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in Caribbean Studies

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in Urban Studies

In addition to the Bodel Nijenhuis Collection, the map collections of the former library of the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), and the map collection of the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV), the collection of Maps and Atlases includes several smaller sub…

The Centre for Digital Scholarship offers training, events and presentations for members of Leiden University on the many different aspects of digital scholarship.

Leiden University owns an extensive collection of papyri. The Papyrological Institute is proprietor of most of this collection. A smaller amount of Papyri is part of the ULL collection. Apart from original papyri the Papyrological Institute offers an extensive collection of handbooks and secondary studies…

Open Access provides free online availability of academic output without restrictions. Open Access increases the visibility of research enormously.

Persistent identifiers ensure that online references remain accessible in the future. The Digital Object Identifier, DOI, can be assigned to digital objects, such as data or publications. By using the DOI you can make sustainable citations of and references to digital sources.

The number of historical and contemporary photographs of Leiden University approaches a half million.

The Western manuscript, archival and letter collections consist of books and documents written in Latin, Greek and Cyrillic script.

The collection of maps and atlases consists of approximately 100,000 map sheets (including c. 3,000 manuscript maps), 3,500 atlases and 25,000 topographical prints and drawings.

The domain of the post-medieval manuscripts and private archives covers the period from about 1550 to the present. A clear distinction with the medieval manuscripts, however, is difficult to make. There are many undated manuscripts and it is often difficult to date them even within a decade or a quarter…

The photo collection of South and Southeast Asia contains material collected by the Kern Institute and the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV). In addition to photo prints in various techniques, the collection also includes (lantern) slides, picture postcards…

With its more than 1400 bindings and over a thousand fragments Leiden’s collection of medieval manuscripts (up to ca. 1550) is the largest in the Netherlands.

In the course of over four centuries the book collections have been greatly enlarged thanks to the bequests and grants or the purchases from the propriety of scholars or private collectors. Sometimes it concerned collections with thousands of early printed books, such as the purchase of the library…

Practical information on submitting your dissertation

The South Asian and Tibetan special collections provide material pertaining to the languages, histories, philosophies, art and material cultures of the region. The focus lies on Sanskrit, Tibetan, Lepcha, and Buddhism, but the collections also hold rich visual material for educational and academic purposes…

The Special Collections of Leiden University Libraries contain a world-renowned and vast collection of old prints, manuscripts, archives, prints, drawings and photography. Our collections are accessible to Leiden researchers and students, as well as external researchers and other interested parties.

Some books have particular features such as design, unique illustrations and descriptive annotations. These features can be of interest for specific research.

According to a rough estimate the western manuscripts collections and (private) archives contain some 500,000 letters, of which over 300,000 are catalogued. The letters kept in the University archives are not catalogued; the same holds for most letters kept in the oriental collections. They can be found…

Text and Data Mining (TDM) is increasingly applied in various academic disciplines to extract useful information from unstructured textual data using computational methods.

Conditions are attached to the use of information sources (databases) provided by UBL.

The collection Prints, Drawings and Portraits comprises over 100,000 prints, 12,000 drawings and 30,000 portraits.

The UBL develop collections which support the needs of faculty and students of the University.

There are several excellent options for teachers and researchers to engage students and other audiences with primary sources. Either by requesting items from the Special Collections for use during lectures or by integrating our educational resources into your lesson plans.

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in Ancient Near East Studies. Last update: October 2020

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for South and Southeast Asian Studies.

The library provides access to a large collection of e-books. Below you can find answers to the most relevant questions on how to find and successfully access these e-books.

Overview of databases and reference works for research in Archaeology.

In this FAQ we try to answer a selection of the most important questions on research data management that we compiled over the last 5 years.