Art Collection Guide

The Library's books on fine and applied art are housed in the Art Room, up the short flight of steps leading from the main Issue Hall.   Periodicals on art and related subjects are kept in the Library's general sequence, with current issues available from the Reading Room and earlier bound volumes shelved in the Periodicals section in the basement.

Founded in 1841, the Library’s collection has grown each year and we hold titles from the late 18th century onwards on the open shelves.  As a result, our collection reflects the evolution and changes in thinking in a particular subject and does mean that you may come across titles which contain ideas and vocabulary that would be considered abhorrent today. The collection continues to grow with some 5,000 new titles being added each year. As we develop the collection, we seek to ensure that the controversial topics of today are represented from all sides of a debate. 

The Art Room comprises books on two levels, with a third level in TS Eliot House, and a reading room in the middle.  The sequence starts on the ground floor with quarto-sized books (4to) and continues on the gallery above, where the quarto sequence ends.    Art then continues with the octavo-sized books in T S Eliot House, on the mezzanine floor (Floor M). Small folio sized books are in the adjacent Central Stack, mezzanine floor, at the end of the octavo sequence.  

The Library continues to acquire books and exhibition catalogues on major artists and architects, art history, criticism and theory.  The main strength is in European art from 1500 to the 1960s.  Catalogues raisonnés of major artists acquired whenever possible.  Art of the Americas, Asia and Africa are also represented.   The emphasis is on English language publications, with some works in other major European languages also included.  Film, photography, fashion and crafts are all located in the Art collection.