Welcome to the Caird Library

Important information for visitors

Until summer 2025, there is a new visitor route at the National Maritime Museum while we carry out essential improvements to the Museum's roof. Most galleries will still be open as normal, and special exhibitions are currently free for all visitors. However, the Great Map and AHOY! will be closed for the duration of the works. Find out more.

Essential Information

Location	National Maritime Museum

15 Jul 2011

On Thursday 14^th July the new Caird Library opened to the public, two days after the formal opening of the Sammy Ofer Wing by the Museum's Patron, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Caird Library is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am - 4.45pm for access to the 6,000 selected modern books on open access shelves, most recent issues of journals, electronic resources and selected core reference works such as Lloyd's Register of Shipping and the Navy List.

Access to the Library is by Reader's Ticket. You can register for one ahead of your visit by filling out an online form at www.nmm.ac.uk/aeon. You can also register in person in the Library - but pre-registering online helps you to beat the queues!

To celebrate the opening of the Sammy Ofer Wing and the new Caird Library, we have a range of Library tours and Archive Journey sessions taking place this weekend (16^th and 17^th July). There's no need to book, but sessions are timed and places are limited. For more information, please see our website: www.nmm.ac.uk/visit/events/introduction-to-the-archive.

Gareth (Reader Services Librarian)