The Wit Library, Conway Library and Photographic Survey are open to all who book in advance. Visitors, including Courtauld alumni and The Courtauld Friends, will need to purchase a reader’s card on arrival.

You can book an appointment to use the Wit Library, Conway Library or Photographic Survey here. Please share as much as you can about the images you wish to see. Library staff will confirm that the images you wish to see are available before you travel to Somerset House. We will fetch the material for you ahead of your visit while we have to limit access to the shelves to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Please book an appointment as there is limited seating in the Somerset House Library to maintain social distancing and keep everyone safe. Making an appointment allows Library staff to check that we can make the images you wish to see available. 

You can book an appointment up to 30 days in advance. The booking system shows the available appointments on days the Image Libraries are open.

Library staff need three working days’ notice to check that we can make the images you wish to see available for your visit. The booking system shows the next available appointment. 

Please contact us before travelling so Library staff can check that we can make the images you wish to see available.

To keep everyone safe, you will only be able to enter the Somerset House Library from the start of your booking. You can arrive any time during your appointment, but Library staff will ask you to leave at the end of your booking so we can clean the spaces.

You can find details of how The Courtauld is managing the risk of COVID-19 and keeping our students, visitors and staff safe on our Coronavirus: updates and FAQs web pages.

Please wear a face covering at all times while you are at Somerset House Library unless you are medically exempt. Before travelling to Somerset House, please check The Courtauld’s COVID-19 Visitor Guidance web page for the latest information on what you need to do when you arrive.

Please wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with hot soapy water when you arrive at the Somerset House Library and after handling the images. Library staff will ask you not to wear gloves as this can lead to damage to the images.

Library staff will fetch the images you wish to see while we have to limit access to the shelves in Witt Library and Conway Library to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Library staff will advise whether the Witt Library includes images of works by the artist you are interested in.
For specific items you will need to look through the artist boxes supplied to you once at your Somerset House appointment.
Only material requested at the time of booking will be available.

Library staff will advise whether the Conway Library includes examples of the art and architecture you are interested in.
For specific items you will need to look through the artist boxes supplied to you once at your Somerset House appointment.
Only material requested at the time of booking will be available.

Courtauld students and members of staff should visit the Book Library’s Our services web page for more information. Other visitors should contact us.

A member of Library staff will be on hand throughout your appointment. Alternatively, you can visit our web pages or contact us for advice.