Library Reading Room

Reading Room resources

The Royal Naval Museum Library holds a variety of serial publications, the most important of which are available on open shelves in the Reading Room. These include

London Gazettes (1776 to 1986)

Navy Lists (from 1797)

Illustrated London News

Admiralty Fleet Orders

Annual Register

amongst other standard serial and reference publications relating to naval history including

Mariner's Mirror

Naval Review

Jane's Fighting Ships and the

ODNB

In addition, other significant runs held in the stores are

Army & Navy Gazette

Gentleman’s Magazine

selected Parliamentary Papers

The Times 1809-1986

For further detailed information on the titles and runs held in the library, please look at the Genealogical sources and General historical sources information sheets or contact us.

Reading Room assistance

Readers can access the London Gazettes, Navy Lists and a large number of reference resources in the Reading Room. Readers can also access the library and manuscript catalogues within the Reading Room for materials held in our environmentally controlled bookstore, Staff are on hand to advise readers on resources held within the library and can advise on external sources of information, if necessary. Some of these can be found on our Useful Sources pages

Digital photography

We are happy for researchers to use non-flash digital photography in the Reading Room under the following conditions:

1. Use of images is for personal study and research. If you wish for images for commercial use (ie where a fee is being paid for the researcher/product) we reserve the right to undertake the reproduction by our own staff to ensure high quality images. You will be requested to sign a declaration form before images are made.

2. Acknowledgement is made to the Museum as the source of the images.

3. The amount of all images taken are within normal copyright limitations (please ask staff for further advice on copyright)

As from January 2011, we will be making a charge for researchers to use their digital camera to take images from our collections.

One day: £2.50 1 week (5 working days): £10

Please ask at the enquiry desk for further information.

Location

The Royal Naval Museum Library Reading Room is located behind the Museum building within the Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth.