Update: Access to collections for academic research and teaching

From 10 March we will be providing access to collections through the Special Collections Service reading room for academic research and teaching only.

For all other research requiring access to the collections, we will continue to provide this through our digital access to collections service.

If you would like to make a reading room booking, please ensure that you read the updated reading room guidance before contacting us as we have made a number of changes to our service.

Please note that we can only accept bookings in advance, and that our reading room is operating with reduced opening hours:

Weds-Fri: 9.30am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-4.00pm (we will close for an hour at lunch).

We will stagger the arrival times of researchers during the first 30 minutes of opening and we will inform you of your arrival slot. We will need to close promptly at the end of each session. Please allow time at the end of each session to collect your things. Entry will continue to be via the MERL reception.

Please note that due to the closure of the MERL public galleries, we cannot guarantee that refreshment facilities will be available on site.