National Art Library

The National Art Library, housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, provides the public with access to more than two million art-related reference materials, from books and catalogues to periodicals and rare manuscripts. The library was originally established in 1837 as part of the School of Design in the Sommerset House, and at that time focused on more practical, applied resources. In 1857, the library became part of the newly built Victoria and Albert Museum.
Once someone registers as a reader, they may request up to six items at a time to study in one of the two public rooms. Once a reader submits their request they are assigned a seat number which corresponds to a shelving system in the "marshalling area," where staff organize the items that they retrieve every hour. Interestingly, the seat numbering system is the same system -- with the same numbers -- that the library has been using since it was set up in the 1800s. Some things just don't need improving on! Readers are allowed to photocopy or photograph material for their personal use.
There are more than 8,000 titles in the periodical stacks, 2,000 of which are current. The oldest date back to the Victorian period. Although the periodicals were historically bound for library use, our guide Frances Warrell said that the library no longer binds the magazines partly because of the cost, but also because the library or the museum often use magazines in exhibits.
The special collections contain such gems as artists' books, artist correspondence (letters written by Monet, for example), medieval manuscripts, origigal folios, and the original proofs of many of Charles Dickens' manuscripts. In fact, we got to see and touch the original proof for David Copperfield as well as a proof of Gullivers' Travels both with hand-written corrections by the authors.
As well as being a public research library, the National Art Library also supports the Victoria and Albert Museum. Museum and library staff are able to check out up to 20 items from the library, as long as the items stay at the individuals' work station and don't leave the building. And far from being just an English-based art resource, the library takes an international approach to art and resources; 60 percent of their collection is in a foreign language.
One of the neatest things we got to see were examples of books as art, for example a book made out of rabbit skins and a book made out of an old wooden school desk.