Visiting the Library
Access to Archive and Library’s collections in the Caird Library during the construction of the Sammy Ofer Wing, 2009-2012
To make an appointment and to order material in advance
Readers will need to book a seat and pre-order material for their visit. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays no appointment is required to look at Library material permanently stored onsite in the Caird Library - only for manuscripts, maps and charts, and other offsite material. The Library online catalogue indicates if material is held onsite or offsite. On Saturdays readers do require an appointment to use material held in the Caird Library reading room.
Readers may advance order up to 15 manuscript items per reader per day, and 15 Library items per reader per day. It will not be possible to order additional offsite material on the day of your visit. Please see last order dates.
To make an appointment on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday and to order material in advance, you can:
- order items through the request function on the Archive online catalogue or the Library online catalogue (we will presume that the date you have requested the item for is the date of your appointment. Please note that master’s certificates and crew lists cannot be ordered via the online catalogue).
- or email library@nmm.ac.uk or manuscripts@nmm.ac.uk (please specify the item ID or finding reference number for each item, available from the online catalogues)
- or telephone the E-Library during Library opening hours on (0)20 8312 6516.
We will contact you to confirm that we have received your booking, and that the material will be ready for you when you come in.
Explanation for reduced services
From January 2009, the Library reduced its opening hours and services due to the move of the archive and library collections caused by the forthcoming construction of the Sammy Ofer Wing.
This capital project involves the complete refurbishment of the current South West Wing, upgrading its conservation, storage and library services. Over the longer term the new wing, which will include a new research and reading room, will offer a significantly improved customer service to its users.
The reduced service is caused by the temporary offsite storage of the collections, whilst construction continues on the Sammy Ofer wing. The reduced opening hours allows staff time to retrieve collections from temporary offsite storage for readers, and continue work on enhancing catalogue records and documentation of the collections. This essential work will mean that when the new research and reading room opens, readers will be able to better access the collections, as the catalogue descriptions and unit of production will be more specific.
We want to offer the best service that we can during the construction period. We recognise that the reduced service is an inconvenience for our users but hope you will bear with us during the period of transition.
