Services

We welcome all types of researchers to our library and archives, from private researchers to academics and students; from curators, collectors and dealers to enthusiasts, restorers, family and local historians.

We welcome group visits from societies, special interest groups, schools and colleges. We can show you treasures from our collections and other material suited to your needs, and our staff will give you guided tours behind the scenes. Please contact us in advance to make arrangements.

Enquiries

• We operate an enquiry service via email, telephone and letter. We can offer up to 30 minutes of research time on enquiries free of charge. For information on charges for research over 30 minutes, please contact us.
• Please see the collections pages for details on items you may wish to consult. However, if you don’t see what you are looking for there, please contact us as we may be able to help.
• Photocopies of items can be provided remotely, copyright permitting, at a small admin charge.

Reading Rooms

• The reading rooms in our libraries each have around 30 study spaces.
• If visiting our Wroughton site, please contact us first to arrange a time to visit so that we can prepare materials in advance.
• First time visitors to our London site are asked to get in touch before visiting, so we can discuss how best to help you.
• There is an enquiry desk at each library where our staff are happy to provide advice, along with guidance in using the catalogues and collections.

Copying

• Self-service coin-operated machines for photocopying sturdy modern materials are available at each site.
• Our Wroughton library has specialist scanning and printing equipment which we can use to copy older material, fragile material, archives and large format drawings.

Borrowing books

• Staff and students from Imperial College and Science Museum staff may borrow books from our modern collections
• The Library is a member of the M25 scheme, allowing staff from other member organisations to borrow our books
• You may request modern materials housed at Wroughton to be delivered for consultation in London and vice versa. This service is not available for rare or fragile materials such as archives, or books and periodicals over 100 years old, which are only available for consultation at Wroughton.

Electronic services

The Library subscribes to a range of electronic journals and resources. These are freely available using the dedicated PCs in our reading rooms.

Accessibility

• The libraries are fully wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair is available at each site and can be borrowed when visiting – please contact us in advance at the relevant site to let us know.
• Lifts are available at our London site and are wheelchair accessible. The Wroughton library is all located on the ground floor.
• Guide dogs, hearing dogs and assistance dogs are welcome at both of our sites.
• Induction loops are fitted at both sites.

Free Driver Service/Station Shuttle at Wroughton

• Free shuttle service on Tuesdays for Library & Archives visitors, between Swindon Railway Station and the Science Museum Library & Archives at Wroughton.
• Pick ups at Swindon Railway Station at 9.30am, 11.00am and 12.30pm.
• Return at 2.00pm, 3.30pm and 4.30pm.
• Service only available on Tuesdays, and must be booked in advance.
• A limited one-way service from London to Wroughton may also be available on Wednesdays, leaving the Science Museum Library London late morning/lunchtime. This must be booked in advance, and we cannot currently offer a return journey to London.
• Contact us to book, or for further information.

We do not have facilities for young children or families, but we are happy to assist young researchers carrying out their own private study.