Introduction to Library Services

Royal Holloway Library Services is on two sites within easy walking distance of each other. The Founder’s Library| (Languages, Literatures, Cinema, Theatre, Fine Arts and Music) is located within the magnificent Founder’s Building, modelled on the Chateau de Chambord and opened by Queen Victoria in 1886. The Archives service and collections are also in this building and provide access to unique papers and materials relating to the history and development of the College.

The Bedford Library|, opened in 1993,  houses resources for science, social sciences and history as well as tlc@bedford|, an IT-rich social learning space launched in 2008.

The Library’s book collections extend to some 600,000 volumes. There are subscriptions to more than 17,000 e-journals; more than 800,000 items are loaned each year and there is an annual footfall of about 700,000. There is increasing provision of electronic resources: e-journals, databases, datasets, e-books, all of which are accessible remotely 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Library continues to improve the service it offers. It is open 7 days a week, supporting a library service from 8.30am to 1.00am on Monday - Thursday and to 8pm on Friday in term-time as well as opening across the weekend. In the pre-exam period after Easter, the Bedford Library is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Royal Holloway students and staff are also significant users of the Senate House Library in central London.