The Arcanaeum, also called the Ysmir Collective, is the library of the College of Winterhold. Its grumpy guardian Urag gro-Shub watches over more than 100 books you may read but not walk off with. Rescued from destruction in the east, the collection reportedly holds documents from the late Second Era and is the cornerstone of College life.
What you’ll find
- Urag gro-Shub – librarian and bookseller, whose stock changes between saves and restocks every 48 in-game hours. He takes knowledge very seriously, as you’ll notice if you touch the shelves.
- Shelves, tables and floor – piles of lore: Dwemer Inquiries, the Brief History of the Empire, several Wolf Queen volumes, Dragon Language: Myth no More and much more.
- Master Investigator’s Box – a Master-locked box that matters later in the College questline.
- Display case behind Urag’s desk – your Elder Scroll ends up here if you sell it to him.
Quests
- Hitting the Books – Orthorn stole three books and ran to Fellglow Keep: Night of Tears, The Last King of the Ayleids and Fragment: On Artaeum.
- Shalidor’s Insights – Urag asks for help tracking down Shalidor’s Insights, rare manuscripts scattered across Skyrim.
- Elder Knowledge – Urag hands over two texts on the Elder Scrolls and points you to Septimus Signus.
- Ancient Falmer Tomes (Dawnguard) – four tomes from the Forgotten Vale, worth 1,000 gold and a translation each.
- Fetch Me That Book! – rare book runs for gold; collect enough and Urag sends word to the Orc strongholds so you can enter.
- Scroll Scouting – buying a sold Elder Scroll back costs 4,000 gold, 3,000 with persuasion, or half price as Arch-Mage.
- Forgotten Names – four ornamental rings sit in the Master Investigator’s Box. Taking them counts as theft.
Notable items
- Elder Scroll (Dragon) on display after you sell it to Urag.
- The Legend of Red Eagle, which starts The Legend of Red Eagle.
Tips
For Forgotten Names, use the Investigator’s Key or a Master-level lockpick, and do it while Urag is asleep in his room or right after finishing The Eye of Magnus, when he isn’t around. Selling him the Elder Scroll is tempting, but remember what buying it back costs – Orcs drive a hard bargain, librarians even more so.
Good to know
Between reading sessions, apprentices retire to the Hall of Attainment, while the College’s top mage sleeps in the Arch-Mage’s Quarters. Urag, naturally, prefers the books.
Details checked against community wiki articles and the Skyrim game files, summarised in our own words.