Science Museum Library and Archives

Type: Museum

The Science Museum Library and Archives is a national library and archive holding internationally important collections on the history and development of science, technology, engineering and medicine. We have two libraries, at Wroughton, near Swindon, and at South Kensington, in London. Both libraries are freely available to the public for reference and research and include fully equipped study facilities, computers, printers, self-service photocopiers, scanning services, and refreshment facilities.

Collectively both libraries hold over half a million items, including 100,000 19th and 20th century books, 6,000 books dating from before 1800, trade literature from approximately 40,000 companies, a complete set of British patents from 1617 to 1992, and many complete runs of scientific journals.

At our Wroughton site we hold our original science and engineering collection; books and journals spanning 500 years, including works by authors such as Newton, Darwin and Einstein; plus technical reports, patents, trade catalogues, directories and maps. Visitors can also see the original manuscripts, letters, research notes, photographs and technical drawings of many scientists and engineers, including Barnes Wallis, Charles Babbage and Charles Wheatstone, as well as the archives of many well known scientific and engineering companies.

At our South Kensington site we hold the finest collections of histories of science and technology, as well as biographies of many scientists and engineers, and the works on the historical and social context of science and technology.

We also subscribe to around 400 journals across a variety of subject areas, as well as a number of important bibliographic and full-text electronic databases, including specialist history of science and social history resources, such as JSTOR, OCLC FirstSearch, Times Digital Archive, Oxford Reference Online, and Who’s Who Online. Library visitors can access these resources for free via the computers provided at both libraries.

The Science Museum Library’s works and resources are of particular interest to researchers, academics, students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, genealogists, local historians and school parties. Both libraries are staffed by friendly and skilled librarians and archivists who are always on hand to help and guide visitors and support them in their research activities. Many of the items we hold can be transported at no charge between our two libraries by the next working day.

In addition we also provide a free shuttle service between Swindon Railway Station and the Library at Wroughton, which operates every Tuesday. Please contact the Library for details of both these services. For more detailed information about our collections, including a selection of digitised images from important works held by the Library, or to search our online library catalogue, please visit our website at www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/library .

Visits to our Wroughton library are on an appointment only basis. Please contact us to arrange a time to visit and to discuss the materials you would like to consult, so that we can have them ready for your arrival. Visits to our London library do not need to be pre-booked, although you will need to bring a form of personal identification and sign our visitor’s book at reception. If you’d like to make regular visits to our London library then please apply for a free Library Admission Card at the reception desk.

Opening Times

2012 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2012

* Library opening times (closed on public holidays) by prior appointment.

Road Directions

From the motorway, exit at junction 15 or 16 and follow the signs for Wroughton. From Wroughton take the A4361 towards Avebury and Devizes, the Science Museum site is on the left about half a mile out of Wroughton. The Library is located at the far end of the Science Museum site.

Public Transport Directions

To visit our Wroughton library, travel by train to Swindon Railway Station and then take a taxi to the Science Museum site at Wroughton or catch the number 49 Stagecoach bus to Devizes, which leaves Swindon Railway Station at 09:55 and every hour thereafter. The Science Museum site is on the A4361 Devizes Road in Wroughton. Please stop at Red Barn Gate to check in with Security before continuing across the airfield to the Library. The Library offers a free collect and return shuttle service every Tuesday between Swindon Railway Station and the Library. Please contact the Library for times and to book a space on this service.