Jacques J. M. van Gent (8 June 1932 - 26 March 2021) was director of Leiden University Library from 1983 to 1993. He was librarian in a time of transition and, as director, was able to benefit from the new library building on the Witte Singel. Van Gent was a very different kind of manager from his predecessor,…

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in Biology

Subject librarians and Medical Information specialists employ general criteria when evaluating titles to be added or removed from the collections, some criteria having greater or lesser importance depending on subject area.

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in Classics

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for historical research

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…

Leiden Professor of Maths Frans van Schooten Jnr. (1615-1660) and his wife Margrieta were painted by Rembrandt. This is the claim made by mathematician and art historian Johan Zwakenberg in his recently published article in the 2018 Leiden Yearbook. Leiden art historians are not completely convinced…

The UBL provides access to an endless collection printed and online journal articles

Assistance creating links to journal articles and (e-)books.

If an item is not available at Leiden University Libraries (UBL), you can try and obtain it directly from another library, request it using ILL services, or suggest items for purchase.

A (digital) course reserve shelf offers the possibility to set library materials for a designated period aside.

Leiden University Libraries (UBL) works together with authors and publishers regularly and supports publication of books about the collections. Publications can be obtained from bookshops or publishers. You can also order publications via email (plaatsing@library.leidenuniv.nl). Please give the following…

Leiden University has awarded its prestigious University Medal to Emeritus Professor Lex van der Eb. As a pioneer in genetics and molecular biology, he received this honour for his services to science and his key role in the development of the Leiden Bio Science Park (LBSP).

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

Searching for relevant scholarly information can be a challenge. These tutorials can help you navigating the catalogue and other databases.

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

Museums, libraries and similar institutions can request materials for exhibitions from the Special Collections.

Course reserve shelves are a convenient way to temporarily group library materials together, for use inside the library.

Alumnus Anoma van der Veere did Japanese studies and talks in this interview about his studies in Leiden and his work as a researcher at the Leiden Asia Centre and as Japanese correspondent in Tokyo.

AI in major academic databases, such as EBSCO, Elsevier, and JSTOR explained: what can these tools be used for – and where do they fall short?

The Leiden University Libraries (UBL) catalogue contains millions of (e-)books, (e-)journals, manuscripts, letters, and other materials available at the UBL.

The Chinese Special Collections are part of the Asian Library. Items can be consulted at the Special Collections Reading Room.

Do you have books, manuscripts, and other materials and are considering donating them to UBL? If so, please get in touch with us.

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

The library holds an extensive collection of books, journals, and other materials to support your studies.

Welcome to the Sub-guide for North Korea. This Sub-guide is designed for students looking to locate, access and use a wide variety of scholarly and non-scholarly sources which are either (1) published or produced in North Korea or (2) about North Korea. This Sub-guide is a part of the General Subject…

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

Leiden University is awarding an honorary doctorate to virologist Marc van Ranst. Van Ranst has been one of the main advisers of the Belgian government during the Covid pandemic. German Arabist Beatrice Gründler will also receive an honorary doctorate for her work in the field of Oriental Manuscript…

Leiden University Libraries (UBL) has been able to acquire an extraordinary Chinese manuscript at auction in Hong Kong. It concerns an Imperial Edict (dated 1582) from the Ming dynasty period, at one time part of the former collection of well-known sinologist and author of detective-novels Robert van…

The annual commemoration of the nation’s war dead on Dam Square and at Waalsdorpervlakte, the Dutch apologies for historical slavery and the Cleveringa Lecture itself: our relationship with history is often ritualistic, Cleveringa Professor Frank van Vree will say in his inaugural lecture on 27 Nove…

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in English language and culture.

The G.W.J. Drewes Fund was invoked to celebrate the transfer of the scholarly legacy of Professor Drewes to the UBL and to mark the opening of the Asia Library in the University Library at the Witte Singel. The fund provides financial support to one or more fellowships at the Scaliger Institute. The…

Leiden University Libraries' favourite tools to facilitate your online work and research.

This Subject Guide is designed to support students of Japan studies at Leiden University in their research process. For every step of the research process, this guide introduces a number of tips and recommended resources. You can find several sub-guides and contacts in the 'quick links' in the tab on…

Library staff will select, acquire, catalogue and manage materials to support teaching, learning and research at Leiden University. We aim to have all required study literature available online or in print at the beginning of the semester. Do you think that some titles are missing? Contact your…

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in Political Science

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in Dutch language and culture.

The special collections from Japan and Korea are located at the central library building at Witte Singel, where it forms a part of the Asian Library.

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in Psychology

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in German language and culture.

Overview of databases, reference works and websites for research in Cultural Anthropology