Countrywide Artwork Library

The majority of our products are held in retailer rather then on open up accessibility and want to get asked for. To view content within the National Artwork Library Looking at Rooms you will need to purchase most products by means of the Library catalogue.

You are able to buy objects after you are inside our Looking at Rooms, or upfront of a take a look at, possibly on the web or by getting in touch with us for things that cannot be ordered on line. We endorse that you just order beforehand so that you can make the best usage of your time and effort during the Library.

Some collection items are indicated as unavailable for on-line requesting and you will require to speak to us for help:


 Periodicals have to be asked for on paper request kinds, possibly beforehand or within the examining rooms

 Particular remarkably restricted merchandise demand a written suggestion and appointment

 Blythe House materials needs an appointment upfront

 Prints  Drawings Study Room product simply cannot be ordered upfront


Ordering products beforehand using the Library Catalogue

New readers should register on-line for a Reader Ticket before you can place requests on line; click on the New User button for a web form.

Readers can ask for products upfront of visits by logging onto the Library Catalogue. Please consult the Help Sheet (PDF File, 162.0 KB) for full instructions on ordering materials online.


 Delivery times may vary; objects within the Crypt Store and Departmental Libraries will take longer to retrieve than general collection substance (see Retrieval times below); some Special Selection products will only be retrieved once you happen to be inside the Library. Requests for Special Collections made after 15.30 will not be available until the next working day; Crypt Store products ordered after 15.30 will not be available until 12.00 the next working day.

 Any products ordered after the last selection from the stores at 16.30 will not be available until approximately 11.30 the following day.

 Items will be reserved for you for 3 working days. Do not buy content beforehand of 3 working days before your intended stop by.

 You may order up to 6 objects at a time.

 You could check the status of the goods you have ordered within the catalogue. If the status has changed from Available to Reading through Room the item is ready for assortment from the Library Counter or Invigilation Desk. (Tip: When logged in to your account on the catalogue, use My List to keep a note of one's requested products).


Get hold of us to buy products in advance

Where an item is NOT available for online request, please communicate with us by telephone or email to buy items on your behalf, or to make an appointment  where necessary.

Periodicals requests:

We will need the following information to process your requests:


 Your name

 Your reader ticket number

 Date content is required

 Full details of the item(s) (including periodical title, volume/issue number and date)

 Pressmark (you might find this during the catalogue record)


We do not send automatic responses for periodicals orders by email although we will make contact with you if we forsee any problems with your ask for.

Access to collections by appointment only:


 Blythe Property (Archive of Art and Design)
 Tel: +44 (0)20 7603 7493 or contact us on the net

 Blythe Home (Renier Collection of Childrens Publications)
 Tel: +44 (0)20 7602 0281 ext. 212 or speak to us on the internet

 Blythe Property (Theatre  performance)
 Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 2698, email: tmenquiries@vam.ac.uk


In addition, most illuminated manuscripts and some artists books are not normally made available without a created recommendation received and acknowledged by us. Please make contact with us in advance if you require entry to this substance.

Communicate with details

Information Services Enquiries
Nationwide Art Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
London SW7 2RL
United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)207 942 2400 between 10.00 and 17.30, Tuesday to Friday or speak to us on-line

Ordering products within the Reading Rooms

You can order merchandise from within the Looking at Rooms, for the same day or for a future date, by logging onto the Library Catalogue. If ordering for the same day, please note the Retrieval times below as this will affect how long you will have to wait to view the things you have ordered. Remember to logout when you have finished making requests.

Periodicals can't be requested on line and should be ordered using the blue request types available at the Library Counter.

Please check out the Prints  Drawings Study Room to watch things with that location in the Library catalogue. There is no have to have to make an appointment; things simply cannot be ordered upfront and will be retrieved on demand once you happen to be during the Prints  Drawings Study Room.

Retrieval times

Library staff retrieve product from the book stacks at the times indicated below. Books are usually ready for collection between 20 minutes to one hour after the stated retrieval time. Please note however that you just may will need to wait up to 2 hours 30 minutes for delivery of materials from the Crypt Stores depending on whenever you order.