National Art Library
The National Art Library (NAL) is a major reference library, situated in the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), a museum of decorative arts in London. Being a reference library, the NAL does not circulate its materials—all items must be accessed and consulted within the library. It is freely accessible to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, and specialises in material about fine and decorative arts of many countries and eras. The NAL also contains substantial sources for information about artists. In the past, the NAL operated a restrictive admissions policy and was known as a library  of last resort, but that has since changed, and today, all—from students to those with a curiosity about the arts—are welcome to use the library and its collections. The NAL is located on the first floor of the museum, overlooking the John Madejski Garden. The library's subject coverage includes those central to the work of the V&A and its collections, including prints, drawings, and paintings; furniture and woodwork; textiles, dress and fashion; ceramics and glass; metalwork; sculpture; and art and design of the Far East, India and South East Asia. The library also functions as the V&A 's curatorial department for the art, craft, and design of the book; to that end, the NAL maintains a collection of artists' books. Collection highlights. The main strength of the NAL lies in the range and depth of its documentary material on the fine and decorative arts. The library's collections focus on the following areas: Artists' books. The NAL artists' book collection is one of its greatest strengths, and includes the first artists' book Ambroise Vollard ever published. The collection also contains books created by artists such as Sol Lewitt, Ed Ruscha, Édouard Manet, and David Hockney. Former Chief  Librarian Jan van der Wateren joined the NAL in 1988, bringing with him a deep interest and passion for artists' books. The NAL collection was among his favorite areas of focus, and during his tenure, not only did the artists' book collection grow, but the library began collecting artist ephemera and information pertaining to artists and their book art. These valuable additions to the NAL collection mean that even if the library doesn't own a book crafted by a particular artist, it can still point patrons toward valuable and unique information and/or objects. To accompany the NAL's artists ' book holdings, the V&A has an abridged Artists' Book Visual Database. This valuable online resource allows any patron to view a portion of the NAL's artists' books, which they otherwise wouldn't see: Due to the books' rare nature the artists' book collection is physically handled only by NAL staff and is available for patron perusal only by request. The NAL's collection also includes: Visitor access. Getting a library card. A National Art Library card is needed to place requests for library materials and access study rooms at the V&A. To get a library card, users must create  an NAL account, which can be done online or in person at the Library. Accessibility for patrons with disabilities. The National Art Library offers the following services for patrons with disabilities: In addition to the above, accessible parking and entry is available at the V&A, in which the NAL is housed. The V&A continues to improve accessibility on its premises, though until these improvements are fully completed, wheelchair-bound patrons will find themselves having to use alternative entrances to the building. Due to the historic nature of the buildings in which the study rooms are housed (some of the V&A  study rooms are not inside the South Kensington V&A building), accessibility to them is more variable. However, wheelchair access is available to the Prints & Drawings Study Room, which is housed in the V&A. The museum's digital map offers further information. Patron Services. The NAL is a reference library, meaning that readers may not check out materials. Rather, readers may view materials in one of the library's public reading rooms. Some reference books are out on open shelves and can be perused by patrons, but otherwise, materials have to be requested via staff at the counter. However, the library 's catalogue is available on the web, and materials can be requested in advance of a visit.