National Art Library latest news

News about Stocktake

The National Art Library has an annual stocktake in August when we are closed to readers (although we continue to answer telephone and email enquiries during this time). The closure gives us the opportunity to either undertake work that is extremely difficult to do when open to the public, such as the relocation of stock or maintenance work, or to develop and implement new services. All available staff resources are allocated to these projects.
   
We are delighted to report that during the 2011 stocktake a total of 41000 books were either moved or audited. This work has made significant sections of the collection quicker and easier to retrieve which will result in an improved delivery service.  A substantial part of the V&A Education Resources Library, which has now closed, was transferred to the NAL, making over 1000 museology titles more readily accessible to readers. Lastly, the reference section on open shelves in the Library Centre Room was reviewed and updated.

Online request system goes live

National Art Library staff are delighted to announce an exciting new service development: the online request system for ordering material is now LIVE. Readers are able to order most material through the NAL catalogue rather than by email, saving themselves time and effort, and enabling NAL staff to provide a more streamlined and efficient service delivery.

For full details please see Ordering material

Free wi-fi

A free wi-fi network has been launched which is available to all Museum visitors and is accessible in the reading rooms. A handout containing full details of how to access the network is available in the NAL

Public use of USB memory

Library users are welcome to download/upload to or from their own USB flash drive (memory stick/USB stick) on our public computers. The NAL has five small form factor PCs located just under the table top (PCs 13–17) and the USB port on these is easy to locate.

Saturday retrieval

Due to recent staffing changes, we are no longer able to retrieve from the NAL stores over the lunchtime period on Saturdays. Retrievals now take place at the following times on Saturdays: 10.30, 11.30, 14.30, 15.30 and 16.30. You can make the most of your time in the library by ordering items in advance of your visit.

Library landing displays

Charles Dickens (1812-70): A Bicentenary Display
15 November 2011 - 1 April 2012
Library Landing, Room 85
Free admission

The Victoria and Albert Museum has the original manuscripts for eleven of Charles Dickens’s major novels held in the National Art Library. This display, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens's birth, focuses on his most autobiographical novel David Copperfield. It examines the development of the book from the original manuscript through to its publication and shows the variety of children's books, comics, and theatrical productions which have been inspired by Dickens’s story.

Current V&A exhibition catalogue

A copy of the catalogue of the headline V&A exhibition is now available for reference at the Library entrance and at the counter.