Library catalogues

Our main library catalogue is shared with Imperial College. It includes a large part of our library holdings and most of our Archive Collections holdings.

Always check the online catalogue first, but if you cannot find what you are looking for you will need to check in the card catalogue in our London library, or just ask us to do this.

Over two-thirds of the catalogued book collections are on the computer catalogue, so you should search it first for

• All histories and biographies of science, technology and medicine
• Journals and periodicals
• Books published before 1800
• 19th century books on astronomy
• 20th century books on general science, astronomy, physics and chemistry
• 20th century books on road, sea and air transport
• Everything published after 1983
• Science Museum Archive collections – see also the archive lists.

The remaining card catalogue entries are gradually being computerised. We are currently adding records for 19th century books in all subjects.

If you are interested in railways you may also want to look at the National Railway Museum Library catalogue.