Best Libraries in London for international student
August 28, 2022 2023-02-08 15:47Best Libraries in London for international student
London is the fog city. This is true, but it’s also home to the best libraries in London and in the world that serve as outlets for students seeking to boost their knowledge and advance their academic dreams.
Besides being an avenue for acquiring knowledge and expertise in the subject of study, Libraries are the best places to study in London where international students who study in UK can spend a good time and meet new friends.
Walking around London will leave you in awe because it is a vibrant, artistic city with beautiful architecture. So, London’s libraries are a must-visit if you’re searching for study spaces or just beautiful attractions.
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The coming lines give a glimpse of the most famous libraries in London:
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Best Libraries in London for international students

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The coming lines give a glimpse of the most famous free libraries to study in London:
1) The National Art Library (V&A)
The National Art Library (NAL) was established in 1866 as part of the British Museum. Its mission is to collect, preserve, research, and provide access to artworks from around the globe. The philosophy of the library is: “Together, WE Advanced Further, Faster”.
The NAL has over 2 million objects in its collection, including paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, drawings, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and other materials. It also houses a number of special collections, such as the Royal Collection, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Tate Britain.
It has the UK’s largest public reference collection of books on the fine and decorative arts, with a view of the John Madejski Garden.
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These priceless collections range from modern books to medieval manuscripts. Students read up on fine art, design, and other topics in the reading room. The public is welcome to quietly browse the books.
It is also pretty interested in OCLC as a bibliographic data-focused organization that has 30 years of experience working, and it is really on the cutting edge of the next phase of bibliographic data.
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Why the National Art Library Chose OCLC WorldShare?
NAL has incredibly large electronic resources that are particularly useful to everyone because it’s very important to be able to gain access to other journals to periodical literature.
So it’s not calling the magazines up from the stacks but also to be able to access them via the catalog and the consoles in the reading room.
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NAL uses electronic material quite often as a surrogate for the original material so that NAL’s staff don’t have to go to the stores and actually access that material in the first place because a lot of collections there are very precious, fragile, and rare.
If those resources were surrogates available, NAL staff will bring original resources to the forefront, so the people can see them readily and easily.
The library chose world share management services for a number of reasons. The NAL team felt that people used to search the catalog and then they would separately have to search their online databases that NAL had whereas with WMS.
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2) Welcome Collection Library
Academics, students, those with an interest in learning more, and anyone else who wants to peruse the Welcome Collection Library’s lovely collections is all welcome there.
The library has enough desk space, free WIFI, and charging stations. Students may also use the library’s spaces to collaborate with friends or other students in groups.
If you want to order items from the library’s collection, you must register as a member. Simply fill out a form at the library desk when you arrive to get a day-visitor card if you’re looking for a quiet place to study or want to browse the shelves. A top source for learning about medical history is the library.
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3) Maughan Library
One of the magnificent libraries in London is the King’s College Maughan Library, which is situated in Holborn as part of the university’s Strand Campus.
King’s College London is a well-known university that offers excellent instruction and cutting-edge research. It’s committed to bringing about constructive, long-lasting change in society, and achieving our goal of improving the planet.
It is a neo-gothic structure from the nineteenth century that has appeared in a number of movies, including The Da Vinci Code. You will adore the opulence of the library with its enormous book collection surrounding you on the tall shelves.
More than 750,000 different items, including books, journals, CDs, records, DVDs, and more, are kept in this library. Given that it is a university library, entry is restricted; therefore, in order to see it in all its glory, you must take a university tour.
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What areas is Maughan Library interested in?
It supports the research interests of Law, Humanities, and Science. Here are some more details:
- Business studies
- Classics
- Computer science
- English
- Film studies
- History
- Law
- Music
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Theology & religious studies
- War studies.
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4) The British Library
The British Library is a national library of the United Kingdom, one of the largest libraries in the world, and a popular destination for tourists in London, but it is also a popular option for students looking for a quiet study environment.
It was a part of the British Museum and was opened in 1753. But in 1973, the library separated from the British Museum and became its own entity.
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it contains between 170-200 million books from around the world. There is a nice courtyard outside the library that you can explore. It’s a legal deposit library which means that it contains every published book throughout the UK and Ireland.
Around 3 million new books are added each year! It contains a cafe and a theater. Over 1.6 million people visit it every year.
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Why International Students should Visit the British Library?
If you are a student who wants to use the British Library’s reading rooms, you must first enroll for a Reader Pass online. After that, you must physically visit the library and present additional documentation.
There are other ways to access the library, such as by attending workshops, conversations, exhibitions, and events the library hosts, if you’re a visitor who wants to see the inside or how it operates.
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5) The National Poetry Library at Southbank Centre

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It costs nothing to browse the National Poetry Library at Southbank Centre, whether you are a poet, a student, or you are just interested in the collection’s contents.
This library, which was established by the Arts Council in 1953 and inaugurated by poets T.S. Eliot and Herbert Read, houses the largest public collection of contemporary poetry in the entire world.
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Additionally, you can find poems by the greatest poets on any subject in this location, along with a Reading Den for both parents and kids.
In 1988, the Poetry Library moved to the Southbank Centre, and poet Seamus Heaney presided over the official opening. Over the years, many writers have found inspiration in this library.
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6) The BFI Reuben Library
A fantastic selection of books, journals, and digitized content about film, television, and moving image can be found in the BFI Reuben Library. Everyone has free access to the collection.
The majority of the items can be accessed during business hours, but you must request off-site materials in advance of your visit.
The Edwin Fox Foundation Reading Room, which has a book collection covering the history of cinema from its inception to the present, is also accessible to anyone wishing to use its facilities.
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Why BFI Reuben Library Over Other Libraries in London?
Here are the reasons why it is one of the best libraries in London:
- One of the largest public libraries for modern poetry in the world.
- Digitizing its collections to listen and read, no matter where you are.
- A part of National Documentary Heritage.
- All its services are free of charge!
- Containing a significant collection of publications on the worlds of film, television, and moving images, including books, journals, and digital content.
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7) The London Library
The London Library, one of the largest Libraries in London, has an exceptional selection of over one million books as well as a fascinating past.
Virginia Woolf’s father inaugurated the Reading Room of the London Library in 1896, and many writers, including Arthur Conan Doyle and Joseph Conrad, have collaborated here.
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The structure, which looks out onto St. James’s Square, is home to grand book stacks and lovely areas where library patrons can study or unwind.
On the 17 miles of shelving, there are more than a million books from the 1700s to the present that are displayed beautifully. Additionally, there is a Writer’s Room inside the structure, which seats 26 people and is one of the busiest parts of the library.
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What are the Features of the London Library?
- It offers free access to most collections.
- It has majestic spaces where international students can study or relax.
- Famous for its high organization, you will need to book an appointment to visit the library or use the reading rooms.
- Provides students with a card that helps the student to access all of the sources and collections.
- Its amazing collection contains over 1 million books.
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8) Bishopsgate Institute Library
A center for adult education, Bishopsgate Institute Library is situated near Liverpool Street and offers a variety of evening courses in the humanities, the arts, and physical education.
The library offers a calm setting where people can unwind and simply explore while escaping the bustle of the city. For those with shared interests and a desire to learn more about them, Bishopsgate Institute has provided a free gathering place since 1895.
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What are its Special Services?
- It offers a comfortable setting with Wi-Fi access and space for private study as well.
- The library’s collections on London, labor, free thought, protest, and other topics are available to the public without charge.
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To conclude, the UK is home to great Libraries in London that serve not only as spaces for reading and boosting academic knowledge but also as outlets for meeting with new people and spending a good time.
These Best Libraries in London deeply rooted in history also help international students advance their academic dreams and get what they have been dreaming of for years.
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