Collections Close Up: The Ends of the Earth

We are going to the Ends of the Earth for Book Week Scotland.

It's Book Week Scotland and this year we are celebrating with a Collections Close Up featuring books "from the ends of the earth". Fiona Hurley, last year's winner of the Thomas Reid Collecting Prize for students will chat about her collection of books and the books that she recommended be purchased for the University. Jane Pirie, Curator (Rare Books), will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the rare books collection.

We are delighted to share Fiona's passion for collecting books on the theme of extreme exploration where often historical facts are intertwined with horror and the supernatural. As the winner of last year's Collecting Prize she was also invited to recommend purchases for the University collection. This year's Thomas Reid Collecting Prize is also being launched in Book Week – so if you have a passion for collecting, find out more at this event.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to visit the new exhibition 'Imagined Norths' in the Library Gallery which features more rare books from the University's Collection, including the superb Abraham Ortelius atlas from 1592. See what our world looked like to a medieval mapmaker, where sea-monsters denoted the mysterious unknown.