Skyrim:The Arcanaeum

Library: The Arcanaeum (view on map)
# of Zones	1
Respawn Time	10 days
Console Location Code(s)
WinterholdCollegeArcanaeum
Location
College of Winterhold

Inside The Arcanaeum

The Arcanaeum is the library located within the College of Winterhold, zealously maintained by Urag gro-Shub.

Collated over hundreds of years, the College's library contains a wealth of information, placed at the fingertips of those who require it - albeit under the ever-watchful eye of Urag gro-Shub. It is located on the first floor of the main college building, between the Hall of the Elements and the Arch-Mage's Quarters. If you choose to join the College, you may find yourself adding significantly to the collection of books available, and may even be gifted with some as rewards.

Residents

Residents
Urag gro-Shub

Related Quests

• Creature of Legend^CC: Track down and tame the last living Unicorn.
• Discerning the Transmundane: Uncover the secrets of the mysterious Dwemer lockbox.
• Elder Knowledge: Recover an Elder Scroll to learn an Ancient Secret.
• Fetch me that Book!: Fetch a book for Urag gro-Shub. (radiant)
• Forgotten Vale Books Quest^DG: Bring the Ancient Falmer Tome to Urag gro-Shub.
• Hitting the Books: Find the books needed to identify the artifact found in Saarthal.
• Scroll Scouting^DG: Obtain information on the Dragon Elder Scroll.
• Shalidor's Insights: Discover the writings of Shalidor and benefit from his wisdom. (radiant)
• Swift as an Arrow^CC: Learn how to craft and use Telekinesis Arrows.

The Arcanaeum

There are four entrances to the Arcanaeum: one from the antechamber in the Hall of Elements, one from the Arch-mage's Quarters, and two from the roof of the College. It is a large circular room with large locked and unlocked non-respawning bookcases lining most of the walls. By the entrances are five unlocked bookcases; however, everything in the Arcanaeum is owned, and taking items is considered stealing. There is a mammoth tusk on top of one of the unlocked bookcases, with a round wooden table and chairs nearby. There are many tables and chairs arranged in small groups around the room, with stacks of common and less common books on every available surface. There are many bottles of alto wine and wine as well as goblets on the tables, but strictly no food.

The counter is at the far end, where Urag gro-Shub can always be found, overseeing anyone within the Arcanaeum. He is very protective of the books found in the Arcanaeum, and will repeat warnings to take care of any books found here every time you talk to him. With the Arcane Archer Pack Creation installed, Spell Tome: Telekinesis Arrows and Telekinesis Arrows Research Notes can be found atop the counter next to Urag. Under the counter are two bottles of Nord mead, and behind it against the rear wall is a locked display case containing four rare books; however, the lock cannot be picked, and no key exists in-game to unlock either the various locked bookcases or the display case.

Farther around to the left is the non-respawning investigator's chest, which is master-locked. The key to open it is found on a table in the Midden along with a copy of the Midden Incident Report regarding the disappearance and subsequent deaths of four previous students. Inside the chest are four rings that are needed for the gauntlet in the Midden, as part of the unmarked quest Forgotten Names.

There are partition walls segregating the outer ring of the room from the central reading area. You will often find one or more of the college trainers in the Arcanaeum reading. Urag gro-Shub, like other Orcs, is able to make you Blood-Kin to the Orcs, once you have completed a couple quests for him.

Notes

• Urag will sell you a variety of books that weren't fit to be added to the Arcanaeum's collection.
• When completing the quest Alduin's Bane, you can sell the Elder Scroll to Urag for 2000 gold. However, if you have the Dawnguard add-on installed, you will need the Elder Scroll for this questline. You can buy it back from him if needed, but you will not be able to sell it again.
• Like all other bookcases in Skyrim, books can be read from the unlocked bookcases with no repercussions, but as they are marked as owned, taking them is considered stealing.
• The books inside the display case are (from left to right): Arcana Restored, Imperial Report on Saarthal, Herbane's Bestiary: Automatons, and The Falmer: A Study.
• The name "Arcanaeum" is possibly an allusion to the Belgian Mundaneum.