Editing Cambridge University Library (section)

===The first library===
[[File:Development of UL in 1930s.jpg|alt= The Cambridge University Library|left|thumb|Construction of the main UL building in the 1930s]]
By the middle of the 14th century, the [[University of Cambridge]] owned a collection of books. These would have been kept in chests along with other valuables, rather than in a library building as would be recognised today.<ref>{{Cite web|title = History of Cambridge University Library {{!}} Cambridge University Library|url = http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/about-library/history-cambridge-university-library|website = www.lib.cam.ac.uk| date=5 March 2015 |access-date = 10 September 2015}}</ref>

A common university library can be traced to the beginning of the 15th century, with the first direct reference to a 'library'. In March 1416, the will of William Loring was proved, which bequeathed three volumes to the library thus: "''Item volo quod omnes libri mei juris civilis remaneant in communi libraria scolarium universitatis Cantebrigg' in perpetuum''." In the second decade of the 15th century, the library found a home on the newly built [[Old Schools]] site.

The earliest catalogue is dated {{Circa|1424}}, at which time there were 122 volumes in the library.<ref>Higgins, Hannah. ''The Grid Book''. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 2009. p.180. {{ISBN|978-0-262-51240-4}}</ref> The second earliest surviving catalogue was drawn up in 1473, and records 330 volumes. During the [[English Reformation]], while there does not seem to be evidence of widespread destruction of books, as there was at Oxford, some books were certainly destroyed, and there were very few donations. [[King's College, Cambridge|King's College]] received only one bequest between 1528 and 1568.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Oates|first=J. C. T.|date=1962|title=The Cambridge University Library: 1400-1600|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4305285|journal=The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy|volume=32|issue=4|pages=270–286|doi=10.1086/619053 |jstor=4305285 |s2cid=144221637 |issn=0024-2519|url-access=subscription}}</ref> From the 16th century, the library received generous donations or bequests of books and growth was considerably increased once the privilege of legal deposit had been granted. In 1648 the House of Commons ordered funds for the library.<ref>"House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 27 March 1648." ''Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 5, 1646-1648.'' London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1802. 515-516. [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol5/pp515-516 British History Online website] Retrieved 12 May 2023.</ref>

The library's space was greatly extended with the building of the Cockerell Building on [[Senate House Passage]] in 1837&ndash;42.