The Guide to the Manuscripts in UCT Libraries seeks to provide a synoptic, collection-level overview of the manuscript and archival collections in the custody of the Special Collections and Archives section of the University of Cape Town Libraries. The Guide is indexed, and is keyword-searchable in its electronic form, enabling users to identify collections that may hold sources of relevance to their research.

Detailed finding aids exist for most collections and these may be consulted in the Special Collections reading room or in the on-line database of archival finding aids, Access to Memory, AtoM@UCT at http://www.atom.lib.uct.ac.za. In most cases, electronic versions of the finding aids can be e-mailed to users at their request. These detailed finding aids will enable users to identify and request access to specific archival material on the basis of the references they contain.