Medical libraries in London


April 2008 Introduction
The BMA library is a private library for members of the BMA, its staff and other institutional users. Members of the public who wish to use the library must purchase a daily readers' ticket.

The basic daily ticket allows reference access to the indexes, books and journals in the main reading room. The full daily ticket allows full access to the library collections and to electronic databases. Current costs are in our quick guide to costs factsheet. This charge is necessary because the Library is funded by subscriptions of BMA members and costs over £5,000 a day to run. There are other biomedical libraries in London, some of which offer free access to members of the public.
Visit our Quick guide to costs factsheet here

British Library Science Technology and Business Service
The British Library
Reader Registration
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB

tel: 020 7412 7676 (admissions)
fax: 020 7412 7794 (admissions)
email: Reader-Registration@bl.uk
Visit the British Library website here http://www.bl.uk
hours: Mon 10.00am - 8.00pm; Tue - Thur 9.30am - 8.00pm; Friday - Saturday, 9.30am - 5.00pm
* Note different opening hours to other BL services
access: free (pass will be needed)

The Science 2 south reading room holds the life sciences & technologies, medical and chemistry collections. Healthcare information enquiries can be made to:
tel: 020 7412 7288
fax: 020 7412 7295
email: scitech@bl.uk

The British Library is the national library for Britain which allows free reference use by members of the public without appointment. You will need to demonstrate however that the resources you need are not easily available elsewhere. It is an excellent national collection.

Subjects covered include: the life sciences and technologies (biology, agriculture, veterinary science, medicine, biochemistry, and biotechnology); geology; meteorology; astronomy; mathematics; business information on companies; markets and products; British & European Patent Co-operation; Treaty patents and trade marks. There is no coverage of nursing and medical administration and very little coverage of psychology and psychiatry.

The Aldwych & Holborn reading rooms are now closed. The science & technology and business collections have moved to the new British Library at the St Pancras site. Readers will need passes as follows. Applicants will need to complete a form and provide proof of identity such as a passport or bankers card, and evidence of their need to use the collections.

Wellcome Institute for the History and Understanding of Medicine
Library
183 Euston Road
London
NW1 2BE
tel: 020 7611 8722
fax: 020 7611 8369
email: library@wellcome.ac.uk
Visit the Wellcome Institute for the History and Understanding of Medicine website here http://library.wellcome.ac.uk/
hours: Mon, Fri 9.30 am - 5.15 pm; Tue, Thu 9.30 am - 7.15 pm; Wed 10.00 am - 5.15 pm; Sat 9.30 am - 1 pm
access: free

Main library for historical enquiries. Reference use is free and without appointment. The Wellcome Information Service is now closed as a separate unit although the collections are still maintained.
Visit the Wellcome public information collection website here

Westminster Public Library
Westminster Library and Archives
Marylebone Information Service
Marylebone Library
109-117 Marylebone Library
Marylebone Road
London
NW1 5PS
tel: 020 7641 1300
fax: 020 7641 1044
email: marylebonelibrary@westminster.gov.uk
Visit the Westminster Library website here http://www.westminster.gov.uk/libraries/findalibrary/marylebone.cfm
Visit the Westminster Archives website here http://www.westminster.gov.uk/larchives
hours: Mon - Fri 9.30 am - 8 pm (Wed 10 am - 8 pm); Sat 9.30 am - 5 pm ; Sun 1.30 am - 5 pm
access: free

Serves the general public, patients and carers in Westminster. Information on: orthodox medicine; complementary medicine; conditions and treatments; drugs and their side-effects; lifestyle and healoth; self-help groups; and directories of health-care professionals. It is a reference library only. Books on clinical medicine for the medical practitioner or student are no longer included in the collection.
You can find out more about the Health Information Service here

King's Fund
11-13 Cavendish Square
London
W1M 0AN
tel: 020 7307 2568/69
fax: 020 7307 2805
email: library@kingsfund.org.uk
Visit the website here http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/Library/
hours: Mon - Fri 9.30 am - 5.30 pm (Wed 11 am - 5.30 pm)
access: Free (* copying, searches and printing are chargeable)

Specialises in health care management, community care, purchasing, health economics and the social aspects of health care.

Royal Society of Medicine
1 Wimpole Street
London
W1M A8E
tel: 020 7290 2940
fax: 020 7290 2939
email: library@roysocmed.ac.
http://www.roysocmed.ac.uk/librar/index.php
hours: Mon - Thu 9 am - 7.00 pm; Fri 9 am - 5.30 pm; Sat 10 am - 4.30 pm
access: Readers' ticket (£10 per day, £20 per week, £35 per month)

One of the largest postgraduate medical libraries in the UK with both research and historical collections. The collection includes 500 000 books and 2 000 journal titles, almost all of which are on open access. Services to non-members include photocopying and an enquiry service but charges are made.

Royal College of Nursing
20 Cavendish Square
London
W1M 0AB
tel: 020 7647 3610
fax: 020 7647 3420
email: rcn.library@rcn.org.uk
Visit the website here http://www.rcn.org.uk/library/london/
hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.00 am -7.00 pm; Wednesday 10.00 am -7.00 pm; Saturday 9.00 am-5.00 pm

Largest nursing library in Europe with research and historical collections. Collection includes 95 000 books and 430 current journal title. Databases include: the British Nursing Index, ASSIA plus (Applied Social Science), CINAHL (Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health) and Medline.

Royal College of Surgeons
35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London
WC2A 3PE
tel: 020 7869 6555
fax: 020 7405 4438
email: library@rcseng.ac.uk
Visit the website here http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/library
hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30 am -5.30 pm; Wednesday 10.00 am -5.30 pm
access: non-members by prior arrangment (some pay fees)

Extensive library of surgical literature that ranges in scope from the late 15th century onwards. The Lumley Centre is a modern training centre with extensive web, AV and electronic resources.

University College, London Clinical Sciences Library
Cruciform Building
90 Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT
tel: 020 7679 6079
fax: 020 7679 6981
email: clinscilib@ucl.ac.uk
Go to the website here http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/crucilib.shtml
hours: Mon - Fri 9.00 am - 12.00 pm; Sat 11.00 am - 9.00 pm; (Vacations: different)
access: Free (occasional) or £7 per day (£20 a week) Borrowers ticket

Good collection of important medical journals. The Library is situated in the basement of the Cruciform building. The main entrance is on Gower Street. Please note: IDs must be shown at the entrance to the building; visitors should obtain a security pass and then report to the Library issue desk. Allows occasional free reference use on completion of a form. Applications for regular use should be made in writing well in advance to:

Matthew Reynolds
Head of Membership
Library Services
University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
tel: 020 7679 7953
email: lib-membership@ucl.ac.uk

© British Medical Association 2008

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