Library and MUP collaboration gives unrivalled digital content access

07 Apr 2020

Our University Library and Manchester University Press collaborate to offer instant and unlimited access to all Manchester University Press’ digital content

Manchester University Press (MUP) and The University of Manchester Library are delighted to offer all staff and students instant access to MUP’s digital content of over 1,600 eBooks and journals across the humanities and social sciences through Library Search and through two exciting new platforms, manchesterhive and manchesteropenhive (the home for all of MUP's open access content). Both platforms are also available through the Library Databases A-Z. 

The collections bring together research monographs, edited collections, scholarly critiques and journals written by leading researchers in the field including a growing number of colleagues based here at our University.

The online resources in manchesterhive incorporate 12 bespoke themed ‘bundles’ on topics ranging from Film Studies and the newly launched Manchester Medieval Studies in the arts to Political Studies and Studies in Imperialism in the social sciences. 

Award-winning titles such as Hilary Pilkington’s Loud and Proud can be readily accessed together with recent publications such as Penny Bee et al.’s A Research Handbook for Patient and Public Involvement.

Unsurprisingly the new platforms also conveniently draw together wide-ranging publications by a host of University colleagues. These include: Stage Women, 1900-50 by Maggie B. Gale and Kate Dorney; Making Work More Equal by Damian Grimshaw, Colette Fagan et al.; Europe on the Move by Peter Gatrell and Liubov Zhvanko; Beckett’s Dantes by Daniela Casseli and Materials and Medicine by Pratik Chakrabarti.

Simon Ross, CEO of Manchester University Press, said: “One of the most important projects in MUP’s 115-year history was the launch of a new digital platform hosting all content, including backlist.

"This has enabled us to work with the Library to do something that many other University Press’s don’t do, which is to allow the entire University to have complete access to all the publications of their own University Press.”

Professor Christopher Pressler, University Librarian and Director of The John Rylands Library, added: “A team from both MUP and the Library have been working hard since before the national crisis to ensure maximum access to MUP titles through the University Library.

"To have achieved this in the current circumstances is both testament to the innovative relationship between the Press and the Library and a real contribution to continuing learning and research at Manchester.”

Patrick Hackett, Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer, said: “I am delighted that this collaborative digital initiative between our Library and Press has come to fruition, particularly at such a challenging time for the University’s staff and students.

"This will provide them with an excellent opportunity to view a wealth of resources that can support their ongoing research and education - both away from campus over the coming weeks, and following their return here.”