Guide to London Specialist Libraries
Advertising Association Information Centre
Advertising Association Information Centre
Abford House, 15 Wilton Road, SW1V 1NJ
Tel: 020 7828 2771
e-mail: ic@adassoc.org.uk
Nearest tube station: Victoria
Facilities: Reference only
Access: By appointment only
Subject areas: Advertising, marketing, sales promotion, media and public relations
Cost: Free
Website: www.adassoc.org.uk
Barbican Library
Barbican Library
Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS
Tel: 020 7638 0569 (Music LIbrary: 020 7638 0672)
Nearest tube station: Barbican, Moorgate, Liverpool Street, St Paul's
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access
Subject areas: General lending library, but with emphasis on the arts and music
Cost: free
Website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/leisure_heritage/
IET Library and Archives
The Institution of Engineering and Technology, 2 Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL
Tel: 020 7344 5461
Nearest tube station: Charing Cross, Embankment
Facilities: Reference. Limited borrowing permitted with membership
Access: Open access, but some material needs to be requested from stacks
Subject areas: all aspects of electrical engineering, electronics, manufacturing and control engineering, computing, information technology, telecommunications and related subjects such as physics, management and history.
Cost: £10 per student through Library membership of the BCS. Ask Library staff for details.
Website: www1.bcs.org.uk/
Library catalogue: OPAC
British Film Institute Library
21 Stephen Street, W1T 1LN
Tel: 020 7255 1444
Nearest tube station: Tottenham Court Road
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access
Subject areas: Cinema, cinematography, television, broadcasting, video and related subjects
Cost: Day pass = £6.00, Annual pass = £33.00 (£25 for National Film Theatre members) Concessionary rate for students: £20 (paid by student)
Website: www.bfi.org.uk/nationallibrary/index.html
The British Library
96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
Tel: 020 7412 7332
Nearest tube: Euston, Kings Cross/St. Pancras
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Pass required.
In order to access the Reading rooms of the British Library you must fulfill their admissions criteria. The British Library is a research library and access will only be granted if you can demonstrate that you are unable to find the information you require elsewhere. It is advisable to contact Reader Admissions Office for further information. If items are likely to be available in other libraries in the London area the Reader Admissions Office will refer applicants to appropriate specialist and public libraries more suited to their research needs.
Reader Admissions Office
The British Library
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7412 7677
E-mail: reader-admissions@bl.uk
Website: www.bl.uk/
British Library of Political and Economic Science
Lionel Robbins Building, 10 Portugal Street, WC2A 2HD
Tel: 020 7955 7229
Nearest tube station: Holborn, Chancery Lane, Temple
Map: Access
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Very difficult, appointment required before visit
Subject areas: Economics, politics, official publications, social sciences
Website: www.blpes.lse.ac.uk/
City Business Library
1 Brewers' Hall Garden, London EC2V 5BX
Tel: 020 7332 1812,
Business Information Focus 020 7600 1461
Nearest tube station: Moorgate
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access (ID required)
Subject areas: management, law, banking, insurance, statistics and investment
Website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/leisure_heritage/
Commission for Racial Equality
Elliot House, 10-12 Allington Street, SW1E 5EH
Tel: 020 7828 7022
Nearest tube station: Victoria
Facilities: Reference only
Access: By appointment only (1 day notice)
Subject areas: Race relations, immigration, ethnic minorities
Cost: Free
Website: www.cre.gov.uk
Commonwealth Resource Centre
Commonwealth Institute, Kensington High Street, W8 6NQ
Tel: 020 7603 4535
Nearest tube station: High Street Kensington
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access
Subject areas: History, geography, economics and culture of the countries of the Commonwealth
Cost: £10.00 per year for students
Website: www.commonwealth.org.uk/
Courtauld Institute of Art Library
Somerset House, Strand, WC2R ORN
Tel: 020 7848 2701
Nearest tube station: Temple, Covent Garden
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access with your University ID card (1 day notice required)
Subject areas: History of fine arts and architecture in Europe and the European tradition
Website: www.courtauld.ac.uk
Educational Advisory Service of the Fulbright Commission
Fulbright House, 62 Doughty Street, WC1N 2JZ
Tel: 020 7404 6994
Nearest tube station: Chancery Lane, Kings Cross, Russell Square
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access
Subject areas: Information on the U.S. educational system
Cost: Free
Website:www.fulbright.co.uk/contact.html
English-Speaking Union of the Commonwealth
Page Memorial Library, Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street, W1J SED
Tel: 020 7529 1500
Nearest tube station: Green Park, Bond Street
Facilities: Reference only
Access: at the discretion of the librarian, by prior appointment only
Subject areas: Politics, sociology, literature and history of the U.S.A.
Cost: Free
Website: www.esu.org/educate/library.html
Guildhall Library
Aldermanbury, EC2P 2EJ
Tel: 020 7332 1868
Nearest tube station: St. Paul’s, Bank, Mansion House, Moorgate
Facilities: Reference only
Access: With University ID card only
Subject areas: London past and present, business history, maritime history, general English history
Cost: Free
Website: http://w ww.cityoflondon.gov.uk/leisure_heritage/
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine Central Library (including the Science Museum)
Imperial College Road, London SW7 5NH
Tel: 020 7594 8820
Nearest tube station: South Kensington
Map: Access
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access (sign Visitor's book) ; need ID card
Subject areas: Science, technology, management
Website: www.lib.ic.ac.uk/intro.htm
Independent Television Commission Information Centre
33 Foley Street, W1W 7TL
Tel: 020 7306 7763
Nearest tube station: Oxford Circus
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access ; appointment advisable
Subject areas: Broadcasting, broadcasting regulations, advertising, cable and satellite broadcasting, telecommunications and mass media
Website: www.itc.org.uk/divisions/pub_aff/library/index.asp
Institute of Education Library
20 Bedford Way, WC1H 0AL
Tel: 020 7612 6080
Nearest tube station: Russell Square
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access
Subject areas: All aspects of education in the UK and abroad, plus related subjects such as philosophy, psychology, sociology and linguistics
Cost: £5.00 per day ; ID required
Website: www.ioe.ac.uk/library/libraryservices.html
International Institute for Strategic Studies Library
Arundel House, 13–15 Arundel Street, Temple Place, London WC2R 3DX
Tel: 020 7395 9122.
Nearest tube station: Blackfriars, Charing Cross, Temple, Waterloo
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access on payment of fee
Subject areas: Security, arms control and international relations
Cost: £2.00 per day, paid by the student
Website: www.iiss.org/pub/libgenin.asp
London Metropolitan Archives
40 Northampton Road, EC1R 0HB
Tel: 020 7332 3820
Nearest tube station: Angel, Farringdon
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access
Subject areas: All aspects of the history and development of Greater London, including local government and local history
Cost: Free
Website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/leisure_heritage/
National Art Library
Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
Tel: 020 7942 2400
Nearest tube station: South Kensington
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access, but a library of "last resort"
Subject areas: History of fine and applied art and design
Cost: Free
Website: www.nal.vam.ac.uk/
St. Bride Printing Library
Bride Lane, EC4Y 8EE
Tel: 020 7353 4660
Nearest tube station: Blackfriars, St. Paul’s
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access (access to special collections by appointment only)
Subject areas: Printing, graphic design, typography, typefaces, printmaking, publishing and bookselling
Cost: Free
Website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/leisure_heritage/
School of Oriental and African Studies Library (SOAS)
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, WC1H 0XG
Tel: 020 7898 4163
Nearest tube station: Russell Square
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Each student is allowed five one-day passes per year which are issued on production of your University ID card. If you need further access, there is a charge of £7.00 for each extra one-day pass.
Subject areas: Cultural, social and economic aspects of the countries of Africa and Asia (including the Middle East)
Cost: May be charged depending on frequency of usage
Website: www.soas.ac.uk/Library/home.html
Swiss Cottage (Camden Central Library)
88 Avenue Road, NW3 3HA
Tel: 020 7974 6522
Nearest tube station: Swiss Cottage
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access
Subject areas: All, plus special collection on philosophy and psychology
Cost: Free
Website: www.camden.gov.uk/learn/libraries/libs_fr.htm
The Terence Higgins Trust
52-54 Gray’s Inn Road, WC1X 8JU
Tel: 020 7831 0330
Nearest tube station: Chancery Lane
Facilities: Reference only
Access: By prior appointment only
Subject areas: Largest UK collection of non- medical resources relating to HIV and AIDS
Cost: Free
Website: www.tht.org.uk
Theatre Museum Library and Study Room
Russell Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7PA
Tel: 020 7943 4700 (General Information)
Tel: 020 7943 4727 (to book an appointment to view the collections)
Nearest tube station: Covent Garden, Charing Cross
Facilities: Reference only
Access: By appointment only (two weeks notice normally required)
Subject areas: All aspects of the live performing arts; drama, dance, opera, musical theatre, circus, music hall and puppetry
Cost: Free
Website: theatremuseum.vam.ac.uk/index.htm
UK Trade & Investment Information Centre
Subject areas: Export information, country information, economics, business
This library closed for good in December 2005. The website below will direct you to alternative locations.
Website: www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/
United Nations Information Centre
21st Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, SW1 P4QH
Tel: 020 7630 1981
Tel: 020 7630 2709(Library)
Nearest tube station: St. James’s Park, Victoria, Pimlico
Facilities: Reference only
Access: By appointment only
Subject areas: Contain the official publications and documents of the United Nations, and general information from the major specialised agencies
Cost: Free
Website: www.unitednations.org.uk
University of London Library
Senate House, Malet Street, WC1E 7HU
Tel: 020 7862 8500
Nearest tube station: Russell Square, Tottenham Court Road, Euston Square
Facilities: Lending and reference
Access: By letter of introduction from the Library
Subject areas: Principally, humanities and social sciences (including economics and psychology). Small collection on business and management
Cost: Fee, paid by Richmond Library only if visit is warranted.
Website: www.ull.ac.uk
Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine
Wellcome Building (2nd floor), 183 Euston Road, NW1 2BE
Tel: 020 7611 8582
Nearest tube station: Euston, Euston Square, Warren Street
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open Access
Subject areas: History of medicine and allied sciences, including alchemy, natural history, pharmacy and herbals
Cost: Free
Website: www.wellcome.ac.uk/en/1/lib.html
Westminster Reference Library
35 St. Martin’s Street, WC2H 7HP
Tel: 020 7641 2036
Nearest tube station: Leicester Square, Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus
Facilities: Reference only
Access: Open access
Subject areas: General reference library with an emphasis on the performing arts, official publications, business, art & design
Cost: Free
Website: http://www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries/index.cfm
The Women's library
London Guildhall University, Calcutta House, Old Castle Street, E1 7NT
Tel: 020 7320 2222
Nearest tube station: Aldgate East
Facilities: Reference only with a day pass
Access: Open access
Subject areas: History of feminism and women’s studies in general
Cost: £4.50 per day (paid by the student) ; ID required
Website: www.thewomenslibrary.ac.uk/
WILL - What's in London's Libraries
Search the collections & resources of a range of London libraries, museums & archives.
Link to this page: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/s/1012.aspx
