Library and Archives
The Science Museum Library has an international reputation in the history and the public understanding of science and technology.
Welcome
Welcome to the Science Museum Library & Archives, a major research library for the history and public understanding of the physical sciences and the branches of engineering. The Library is now based over two sites, at South Kensington in London and at Wroughton near Swindon, with complementary collections. The Archives collection is also based at the Wroughton library.
Library news
Science Museum Library London now open evenings and Saturdays
Science Museum Library London is now open
Monday to Friday: 09.30 to 20.30
Saturday: 10.00 to 18.00
Closed: Bank Holiday weekends and whenever Imperial College Central Library is closed.
STS Desk (SML enquiries) staffed Monday to Friday 10.00 to 17.00
Collections
The Science Museum Library's collections of books, periodicals, microfilms and other material amount in total to at least 500,000 items, including a considerable proportion of foreign language material reflecting the international nature of scientific and technical research literature.
Library Catalogues
You can start your research by looking in the Online Catalogue which we have shared with Imperial College Libraries since 1992. It already includes a large part of our holdings and we will be recataloguing the remainder into the database over the next few years.
Services
Information on the services for readers we provide at our sites, and on the delivery service between sites.
Visiting the Library & Archives
The Science Museum Library & Archives is arranged over two sites, at Wroughton near Swindon and at South Kensington in London. Private researchers and members of Imperial College London are welcome to use the Science Museum Library.
Brief History
Founded in 1883, the Science Museum Library has had a long and interesting history as a national science library, continuing to provide scientific and technical information to researchers even during World War 2.
