Pictures

Visited by appointment only, the Pictures room is the where the Library's Pictures Collection is administered.

Where is the Pictures room?

Pictures is adjacent to the Maps, Rare Books, Children's Literature room on the south side of the Library. Entry is via two sets of double glass doors to the right as you enter the Redmond Barry Reading Room from the Cowen Gallery. To gain access to you will need to ring the bell on the right-hand side of these doors. The exact location of this room is clearly detailed on the Library floor plan.

What's in this room?

Despite its name, the Pictures room does not house the Pictures Collection. Instead, it is where newly purchased or donated images are accessioned, catalogued and then sent elsewhere to be stored. 

Immediately to the right of the entrance are the collection shelf lists which provide detailed information about each item. Card indexes - which have been compiled over 50 years and are organised under particular topics, subjects and artists - sit above these lists. This room also contains the Pictures card catalogue. This is a particularly useful resource as less than a third of the collection is available on the Library's online catalogue.

Reception desk and public consultation area

The reception desk separates the administrative section of the room from the public consultation areas where large reading tables are available for visitors who want to use the resources in the room.

When is this room open?

The Pictures room has set opening hours when members of the public can make an appointment to talk to one of our specialist librarians or consult material in the room.