National Art Library, Victoria and Albert Museum

The above is entitled "I Pledge" and is created using words from the Pledge of Allegiance. It's a new trend called book art.

We visited the Victoria and Albert Museum where the National Art Library is housed which focuses on art and design. Kirsten, the Assistant Librarian, gave us a tour which included a history of the library and its aims. We began in the Center Room which is where all inquiries are made and where requested materials are given to the readers. Also, there is a section where you can make copies (nothing before 1900) and/or take digital photographs.

There is no classification scheme at the National Art Library. Because there is limited space materials are shelved according to size. There are findings lists which tell where runs of books are by number. These lists are used by the two people assigned for retrieval duty. As the library is open to the public all materials are available. However, this does not always mean that the visitor will have the original in hand. Because many of the materials are quite valuable, such as Dickens's original manuscripts, the visitor is given a digital copy to encourage preservation.

The library was established in 1857 when the museum opened as the South Kensington Museum. However, it was not until 1884 that a proper space was built for the library. Unfortunately, the demand for space is not peculiar to this library or even to just the library. The West Room used to house library storage but three years ago when the museum needed more space it partially took it over and now houses the 20th century collection. There are still some books shelved along the walls and there are bars across to discourage the public from pulling them from the shelves. As an added inconvenience to library staff every time one of these books is requested the bars must be removed using a screwdriver.

After our tour with Kirsten we sat down with Francis to look at some of their special collections which included various examples of the early printing presses. She explained to us how important preservation and conservation is to their library. Like most other libraries they use acid free envelopes and melanex baggies for storage.

Below is yet another version of Alice in Wonderland and is housed at the National Art Library.