How to Access

Bags larger than a laptop case may not be brought into the Public Study Room. Large bags should be left in the lockers provided.

Our reader area is available to visitors, both for the consumption of food and drink and the refilling of bottles at the water fountain.

Copying is permitted across most of our Collections: full details are available in our Rules Governing Access to the Archives & Library Collections. Within the parameters of these rules, a copier/scanner is available for readers wishing to copy library materials. You may email scans to yourself; save them to a personal USB stick; or make photocopies for a small charge. Archive material may be copied using personal hand-held devices.

There is free Wi-Fi available in the Public Study Room and personal laptops can be charged at each desk. There is also a public computer terminal from which you can access the Archives & Library catalogues.

Library

The Library Collection is reference only and the majority of it is on open-access in the Public Study Room and Library Annex. Readers may browse and retrieve material from the open shelves.

The books are classified according to the Universal Decimal Classification, allowing users to browse by subject on the shelves, or by classification on the library catalogue.

Some material, including journals and auction catalogues, are kept in onsite stores. They are available on request, either when you book an appointment, or on the day of your visit.

Library Special Collections material should be requested two working days before your visit. Additional material may be requested during the day, subject to availability. A maximum of 10 items may be requested in advance.

The entire collection has been catalogued and can be searched on our online Library Catalogue. Journal articles since 1998 have also been indexed on this catalogue.

Readers have free access to the following online resources from within the Public Study Room:

• The Grand Tour: A unique collection of primary and secondary sources; artworks; photographs and maps for the study of travel, c. 1550–1850.
• Art & Architecture ePortal: Important art and architectural history scholarship from some of the world’s finest publishers and museums.

Archive

All Archive Collections material is stored in closed access conditions and must be retrieved by staff. Archive collections that have been fully catalogued should be requested two working days before your visit. A maximum of 10 files may be requested in advance. However, additional material may be requested during the day, subject to availability.

Archive collections that are not catalogued but have been box listed can also be consulted. However, in accordance with our responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulations, these collections need to be reviewed by staff before access is provided. Staff will endeavour to carry out this process promptly, but may require more than two working days' notice. Please Contact Us if you would like to consult box listed archive collections.

Tate Photographic Archive

Tate Photographic Archive Collections material should be requested two working days before your visit. A maximum of 10 files may be requested in advance. However, additional material may be requested during the day, subject to availability.

Paul Mellon Centre Photographic Archive

The Paul Mellon Centre Photographic Archive has now been digitised and access is exclusively online.