National Art Library

National Art Library. It is a major public reference library housed within the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, dedicated to the study of fine and decorative arts. Founded in 1837 as the library for the Government School of Design, its collections have grown to encompass over one million items, serving as a vital resource for researchers, curators, and the public. The library's holdings span from the earliest printed books to contemporary artists' books, covering subjects such as painting, sculpture, architecture, and design.

History

The library's origins are intertwined with the founding of the Government School of Design in 1837, which later evolved into the Royal College of Art. Its initial collection was formed to support the study of design and ornament. In 1852, the library was transferred to the South Kensington Museum, the precursor to the Victoria and Albert Museum, under the direction of Henry Cole. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it expanded significantly through acquisitions and donations, including the important library of the Arundel Society. It was officially renamed the National Art Library in 1865, reflecting its national status and broadened scope beyond the museum's walls, serving scholars from institutions like the British Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts.

Collections

The collections are encyclopedic in scope, focusing on the history of art, design, and book arts from antiquity to the present. They include extensive holdings of exhibition catalogues, auction sale catalogues, and periodicals such as The Burlington Magazine. A significant strength lies in its comprehensive collection of British and European bookbindings, typography, and book illustration. The library also holds substantial archival materials related to figures like John Ruskin, the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Special collections feature children's literature, theatrical designs, and a world-renowned assemblage of artists' books from the 20th and 21st centuries.

Location and access

The library is situated on the first floor of the Victoria and Albert Museum in the South Kensington cultural district of London, an area also home to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. It is accessed via the museum's main entrance on Cromwell Road. The reading rooms are open to the public by appointment, and admission requires a reader's ticket, which is free and available upon completion of a registration process. The library operates within the public opening hours of the Victoria and Albert Museum, with specific reading room hours available on its website.

Services and facilities

Primary services include a publicly accessible reading room for consulting materials from the closed stacks, alongside a dedicated reading room for special collections and rare books. Staff provide expert enquiry and research support, and the library maintains an online catalogue integrated with the resources of the Victoria and Albert Museum. While items cannot be borrowed, photocopying and digital photography services are available subject to copyright and conservation restrictions. The library also hosts regular exhibitions, displays items in the museum's galleries, and participates in educational programs and events in collaboration with institutions like the University of the Arts London.

Notable items

Among its treasures is the Codex Forster, a set of notebooks by Leonardo da Vinci. The library holds the original manuscript of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures Under Ground, which he presented to Alice Liddell. Other highlights include the Luttrell Psalter, the Diamond Sutra (one of the world's oldest dated printed books), and the Bedford Hours. Significant modern works include artists' books by David Hockney, Ed Ruscha, and the Futurist publications of Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. The library also possesses important examples of fine printing from the Kelmscott Press and the Doves Press.

Governance and funding

The library is an integral part of the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom government. Its primary funding comes through the museum's grant-in-aid from the UK Government. Additional support is generated through the Victoria and Albert Museum's commercial activities, charitable donations, and grants from bodies such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Art Fund. Governance follows the policies set by the Board of Trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum, with the library's operations managed by the museum's senior leadership team. Category:Art libraries Category:National libraries Category:Victoria and Albert Museum