Library provision 2009-2012

Important information for visitors

Until summer 2025, there is a new visitor route at the National Maritime Museum while we carry out essential improvements to the Museum's roof. Most galleries will still be open as normal, and special exhibitions are currently free for all visitors. However, the Great Map and AHOY! will be closed for the duration of the works. Find out more.

Essential Information

Location	National Maritime Museum

18 Jun 2008

As valued users of the National Maritime Museum Library, we want to hear your views on the Library's revised opening hours that will begin in June 2009.

The South West wing project is an exciting opportunity for us to enhance the quality of provision of the Archive & Library. The new Research Centre, which opens in 2012, will offer users a large modern reading room and improved access to the paper-based collections of the museum, including the Archive & Library collections, the prints and drawings collections, and the ship sailing plans.

Many modern printed books and key reference works will be browsable in the reading room, where there will also be a greater provision of electronic access to the collections. The majority of the collections, located in controlled storage accommodation close to the reading room, will allow speedier ordering and retrieval times. Education facilities, a Treasures Gallery to show off highlights of the paper collections, and enhanced refreshment facilities will be adjacent to the Research Centre, making it a flexible and comfortable environment in which to come and study.

Building work on the south west wing is expected to begin in mid 2009 which will entail the Archive & Library collections currently stored in that part of the building to be moved temporarily to one of our outstores. These collections will be ordered in advance by users, retrieved from the outstore and taken to the Library on a regular basis each week. With this in mind, we need to revise our opening times, and because of seating requirements, access to the Library will be by appointment.

We value your input in planning this temporary service. With our existing resources, we aim to be open three days a week during the building period. These three days will be either:

Tuesday to Thursday
or
Wednesday to Friday
or
Thursday to Saturday

We would value your opinion as to which of these options you would prefer. Please let us know either by commenting here on the blog, or by contacting me by email or phone: +44 (0)20 8312 6507.

Your opinion really matters to us. We look forward to receiving your responses by 20 June 2008. Thank you.

Eleanor (Head of Archive and Library)