Textual resources

If you need advice about how to conduct a search, or how to look for primary sources, ask in the Enquiry Hall.

Further information about our collections

Further information about our catalogues

Open access collections

Approximately 150 000 books and journals are available for browsing on open shelves within the Library and are arranged by subject. Guides to the subject classification scheme are available.

If your area of study is more specific, begin by searching the Library catalogue for references. The catalogue record will indicate whether the item is on open or closed access.

All closed access material needs to be ordered.

Accessing stored items

A large proportion of the Library collections are on closed access and need to be requested. Items requested from closed stores are generally ready for collection within an hour but can occasionally take up to 90 minutes. Material is delivered to service desks every half hour.

Last delivery is half an hour before closing time.

Unfortunately, day visitors cannot request items from stores, or access the Rare Materials Reading Room.

Archives and Manuscripts

Our Archives and Manuscripts collection is searchable through our online catalogue. A proportion of the archival and manuscripts material is only described in general top-level terms in the database; for detail of these it is necessary to consult hard-copy listings in the Library.

Material from Archives and Manuscripts is held on closed access and need to be requested.

Readers are required to complete and sign an additional undertaking, and are advised that, particularly when using material from earlier than 1900, they should make an initial appointment to speak to an archivist.

To find out more about collections not described in full on the database, or for any other matters relating to Archives and Manuscripts, contact us: arch+mss@wellcome.ac.uk.