Scope of Services

Scope of Services

Virtual Reading Room

The National Art Library offers a Virtual Reading Room service allowing you to make online appointments to consult items from our collection without having to visit in person. Appointments take place via a Microsoft Teams call and are facilitated by a Library staff member, who will share your requested materials through a high-resolution camera. You can ask the staff members to turn pages and to zoom in on areas of interest. The service operates on Mondays and Fridays and is free and open to all on a first come, first served basis.

Copying Service

If you are unable to visit the library in person, you can also contact us to order copies online. Copying is subject to UK copyright law and permitted for private study or non-commercial research. The amount you copy must be 'fair and justifiable' and no more than a single chapter or 10% of a total work. Out-of-copyright materials may be copied not for publication. Please see further details of our service and pricing.

Contact form

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Service operation hours

Virtual Reading Room

Monday, Friday: 9.30 - 10.30 & 15.30 - 16.30

Copying Service

Monday - Friday: 8.00 - 17.30

 

National Art Library,

South Kensington:

10.00 - 17.00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

V&A East Storehouse study room (by appointment only):

10.00 - 17.00 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Virtual Reading Room copyright information

Virtual Reading Room Copyright Information

We cannot supply screenshots or video recordings of Virtual Reading Room sessions. If you would like to request research quality scans of material, please request through the form on this page.

Any screenshots or video recordings you make of library materials during your VRR session will be subject to UK copyright law and should not be used for any purpose other than personal non-commercial research or private study. You should not supply your screenshots or recordings to any other person. To ensure your screenshots comply with copyright fair dealing it is advisable to limit the amount you copy to around 5% of a library item.