| Admin History | The collection comprises part of the old school library of Queen Elizabeth’s School for Boys, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. It numbers some 75 early books, many of which had been owned by Archbishop Sterne (an “old boy” of the school in the 17th century). |
| Custodial History | In the 1980s the school became concerned about the poor condition and future of the books, which had not been in active use by the school within living memory. In 1987 the school governers agreed to deposit the library with the University of Nottingham, in order to preserve the integrity of the collection, and allow wider access to it. It is a closed collection, and is not being added to. |