Library Facilities
The Institute of Archaeology Library (pictures) contains approximately 70,000 books, and nearly 800 periodicals (journals). Our holdings are strong on all aspects of archaeological theory, prehistoric Britain and Europe, the archaeology of Western Asia (Ancient Near East), Classical Greece and Rome, Egypt, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Environmental archaeology, forensic anthropology, ancient technology, the conservation of artefacts and museum and heritage studies are very well represented. Specialist materials relating to the archaeology of London are also extensive.
New material, in both paper and electronic formats, is constantly being purchased for the Institute Library. Monthly accessions lists of these new materials are available through the Ancient World Studies/Archaeology blog.
A comprehensive range of videos, DVDs, CD-ROMS, online databases and electronic resources, including e-journals, is also available and on-line reading lists facilitate access to key readings in digital format for a growing number of courses. For licensing reasons, non-UCL members (including alumni) cannot consult UCL Library Services' electronic resources offsite, but we do have dedicated terminals from which certain resources can be accessed within libraries, subject to copyright restrictions.
The Institute Library is open access and current material is readily available. Older and less frequently used materials may be consulted through UCL Library Services' Stores service. For current staff and students, items which are not held in any of the UCL libraries can be requested through our interlending and document supply facility and suggestions for purchasing can be made.
Archives material (papers and photos) relating to the history of the Institute and archaeology are also available for consultation through UCL Special Collections. These include the papers of Sir Mortimer Wheeler, Professor Gordon Childe, Sir W. M. Flinders Petrie, Professor Frederick Everard Zeuner and Gertrude Caton-Thompson.
63 seats are available for individual quiet study in the Institute
library. Current students wishing to engage in group study should book
one of the group study rooms located in the DMS Watson (Science Library).
A eUCLid library catalogue with large screen and large font keyboard and priority PC for disabled use (current UCL staff and students only) are also available. A portable induction loop is available from the Issue Desk on request.
Useful links
- Guide to the Institute Library for visitors and non-UCL users
- UCL Library Services' Explore
- UCL Archives catalogue
- Library Services A-Z
- Subject guides for Archaeology, Classical Archaeology and Egyptology
- Printable library leaflet guides for UCL Library Services
- UCL Library Services' information for disabled users
