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Library Exhibitions and Events: Looking Back, Looking Forward

The University of Southampton Library offers a varied programme of events and exhibition across its sites.

Looking Back, Looking Forward: Hartley Library Transformations

A black and white photograph of the spiral staircase in the Turner Sims area of Hartley Library, taken in the 1980s.
A bird's eye view 3D scan of the Hartley Library building.

About

This exhibition looks at the Hartley Library through its five distinct phases of development from pre first world war, through the Turner Sims and Gurney Dixon work of the 1930s and 1950s and on to the 1980s and the 2000 wrap around extension.  It includes a selection of items from our Archives and Special Collections, new digital content in response to the material in the archives alongside future development ideas.

There is also a chance to view alumni memories of the Hartley Library; part of our Hartley History Postcard collaboration with ODAR, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

 

#UniSotonLibraryExhibitions

On display from

Monday 10th November 2025 - Friday 16th January 2026

Location

Level 4 Gallery in Hartley Library

Check the opening hours to see when all our libraries are open.

Curators

Emma Guest (Engagement Librarian), Catherine Polley (Head of Collections Engagement), Peter Webster (Head of Digital Scholarship and Innovation) and Karen Robson (Head of Archives and Special Collections).

Hartley Library Cabinet of Curiosities

James MacDonell (3D Specialist, Digital Scholarship Team) has created a digital experience to accompany our Looking Back, Looking Forward exhibition. Click the image below to explore a Hartley Library Cabinet of Curiosities.

This image shows the homepage for the Hartley Library Cabinet of Curiosities, and is hyperlinked to this ThingLink.