What’s in the library?
Physical collections
Our collection is divided into sections covering the ten languages taught in MMLL, as well as medieval European languages, linguistics, art, and cinema.
On the first floor of the library, you will find French, Latin American, Portuguese, Catalan, Spanish, Italian, German, our General books (classified under Z), which are useful across different areas of study, our Comics collection, and the Q collection.
The second floor is home to medieval European languages, bound periodicals, Dutch, our Film collection in DVD, Blu-ray, and VHS formats, Cinema, Art, Linguistics, Modern Greek, Romanian, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian.
The third floor houses the Beit Library, a German research collection which is particularly strong on the history of the German language, on literature of the classical period (notably Goethe), and on literature of the nineteenth century. It also includes books on philosophy, history, art, and a major collection of reference works. It is open to readers during regular MMLL Library hours.
You can search for print and online collections across the University libraries and archives using iDiscover, the online catalogue for the libraries of the University of Cambridge, on any of the seven dedicated terminals dotted around the library (four on the first floor and two on the second).
You can get to know the library better by taking a virtual tour on our YouTube channel.
How are the collections organised?
The MMLL Library has a unique classification scheme. The collection is largely arranged by language, and classmarks for each section begin with a different letter or letters. All language sections follow the basic pattern below:
G German
G1 Bibliography
G3 Grammar and language
G4 Thought
G5 Literary criticism
G6 Anthologies
G7 Individual literary authors
G8 History
G9 Social history, culture, media, communications
Other sections, such as Linguistics (L), Art (A), Film (VID), Cinema (CINE), Comics (COM), Q collection (Q), and Beit Library (B) are arranged differently. If you need more information on the details of the classification scheme, just ask a member of staff.
Study spaces
Studying at the MMLL Library places you in the heart of our print collections, ensuring immediate and convenient access to the texts you require.
Across three floors, the library provides a variety of study spaces tailored to different study preferences, ranging from individual desks and shared tables to casual beanbag seating. All workspaces are well lit and with easy access to plug sockets. Readers can choose between views overlooking the Sidgwick Site or the Raised Faculty Building courtyard. Additionally, an adjustable-height desk and ergonomic chair are available on the first floor to support diverse accessibility needs.
Room 224
Located on the second floor of the library, this is a bright and quiet space with a fantastic view to the UL. It is a multi-use space that can be booked for supervisions, meetings, group study, watching films, and any other study-related activities.
It is equipped with a 50-inch screen which you can connect either to your laptop, or to the DVD and Blu-ray player located in the room.
Contact the library desk or email the library for bookings and further details.
Student Room
On the first floor, between the French and the Portuguese collections, you will find the ‘Student Room’, a cosy room with sofas, armchairs, beanbags, plants, board games, craft activities, and puzzles where you can have a little break or work in a more relaxed atmosphere.
The Student Room houses our collection of comics and the Q collection (cookbooks, English-language fiction in translation, wellbeing, LGBTQ+, anti-racism, world fiction, eco-criticism, reading for leisure).
Screening stations
You are able to watch films in the library at two dedicated stations that have DVD, Blu-ray, and VHS players, monitors and headphones. These are located on the second floor by the Film collection.
There are also four PCs in the library, two on the second floor by the Medieval and the Russian sections, and another two on the third floor in the Beit library. These have built-in DVD drives.
If you like to work with a second, bigger screen, there are four external monitors in the library to which you can connect your laptop.
Room 224 can also be used to watch films.
Additionally, you can borrow laptops, DVD + Blu-ray external drives and players from the library desk. We also lend headphones and chargers to be used in the library.