Access to the Library
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Readers' tickets
The Library is freely available to members of the public at the discretion of the Librarian. However, to preserve our valuable holdings for the future, those wishing to use the Library must obtain a reader's ticket, which is valid for five years. In order to be issued with a ticket, all users of the Reading Room are required to present the following:-
For a ticket valid only for post-1800
printed material, all microfilms (which include
marriage allegations before 1851)
and all original wills, please bring proof of
permanent address (eg. driving licence,
bank statement, utility bill) and two recent passport-style
photographs.
- For a ticket valid for all classes of material, including any original manuscripts and archives and pre-1800 printed material, please bring, in addition to the above, a formal letter of introduction (eg. from an academic supervisor/colleague, archivist, librarian, employer, vicar, or someone known to you in a formal capacity). Please note that we do not accept e-mails as a form of introduction. In addition, special permission is needed for access to some categories of material, eg. original illuminated manuscripts.
It is a condition of access, in order to preserve our unique holdings, that all readers observe the rules of the Library, which are displayed for reference in the Reading Room.
[NB Members of staff of the National Church Institutions should bring their staff pass, which will be valid for all classes of material with the exception of restricted material (eg. original illuminated manuscripts), for which special permission is required].
Opening times
The Library is open from Monday
to Friday, from 10am to 5pm. No appointment is needed. It is closed on
public holidays, for ten days at Christmas beginning on Christmas Eve,
for ten days at Easter beginning on Good Friday, and exceptionally at other
times.
The Library will close to researchers at 5pm on Tuesday 23rd December 2008
and reopen at 10am on Monday 5th January 2009.
A handlist of published catalogues of manuscripts and archives is available, and readers will also find numerous unpublished lists and indexes in the reading room. Some catalogues are for sale exclusively from the Library.
Microfilm and microfiche readers and an ultra-violet lamp are available. Readers may use their own portable computers in the reading room, provided that they do not disturb others.
Tea and coffee are available at the Library, and readers are welcome to bring sandwiches and similar refreshments to consume in the refreshment area. The consumption of tobacco products is only permitted in the Courtyard, not in any Library building.
Please contact the Library in advance concerning facilities for the disabled.
Documents are generally produced on demand, however during the lunch time period between 12-2pm production of material cannot be guaranteed and will be at the discretion of the Reading Room supervisor. After 4.30pm no material can be fetched for readers. However, it is possible to place advance orders for certain categories of material. Please click on the link to see the list of guidelines for advance ordering and the categories of material which can be ordered in advance. Please read these guidelines carefully.
Location
The Library is situated on Lambeth Palace Road; its entrance is approximately 100 yards from the main gate of the Palace and is clearly marked with a brass plate and bell. Please ring once only for admittance, and be patient whilst someone comes to open the door. Here is a map.
The nearest Underground stations are
- Westminster (Circle, District and Jubilee lines);
- Lambeth North (Bakerloo line);
- Waterloo (Bakerloo, Northern and Jubilee lines);
- Vauxhall (Victoria line).
Further information on transport in London may be obtained from Transport for London.
Enquiries
Members of Library staff are always on hand in the Reading Room to help readers. Although we may look busy, we are here to help: please ask!The Library welcomes routine enquiries,
however
the Library has a small staff and therefore if your enquiry requires detailed
research, we will advise you to visit the Library, or suggest that you employ a
professional researcher.
We aim to send a response within 10 working days, but this
will depend on the nature of the enquiry, staff availability, and the volume of
enquiries received.
Church
of England Record Centre (CERC)
Public access to CERC holdings is via the reading room at Lambeth Palace Library. See Access conditions for more information.