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Photographic services

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Library enquiries desk

Library facilities

Copying and photography

You can use scanners, operated by your library account, to make copies from our collections. You can also use your own camera in the library, subject to some regulations. 

If you want to make a copy of something from our collections, first check our library catalogue to see if there’s already a digital copy. We have thousands of high-quality digital images, books and unpublished materials from our collections, which are easily accessed online, and most can be downloaded. 

Whether you’re using your own camera or our copying facilities, please remember that you can only make copies for research and study or for non-commercial personal use. It’s your responsibility to observe UK copyright law. 

We provide scanners rather than photocopiers in the library in order to minimise wear and tear on items in our collections. The scanning service is only available to members of the library.  

The scanners are available on levels 2 and 3 in the library. Digital copies can be saved to your USB/memory stick (we don’t supply USB sticks in the library), or printed out on our network printers.  

You’re allowed to use your own digital camera to make copies of most items in our collections. But please be sure to observe the library’s handling guidelines and UK copyright regulations.   

If you want to make your own copies of items in the Rare Materials Room (RMR), please check with staff at the RMR enquiry desk first, as special handling rules apply for these materials. Our staff can answer any questions you have about copying from the collections.  

Our photography service can provide you with high resolution images of items from our collections. The service is free and takes approximately four weeks for delivery, for large orders it may take longer.

Before placing an order, please check our library catalogue to see if there is already a digital version of the item. If a digitised version exists, you’ll be able to download a copy from the catalogue. If you require larger files please do not place an order, email digitisation@wellcome.org with your request.

Please don’t request to see the item through the library catalogue if you are ordering a copy as this stops the photography service from requesting it from the stores and it will slow down your photography order.

If an item is still in copyright and you intend to use it for commercial rather than research purposes, you will have to provide us with written permission from the copyright owner before we can provide copies.

To request images, please complete the online photography order form.

If you have any questions about the photography service, please contact digitisation@wellcome.org

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Rare materials reading room

Computers, printing and wifi

Currently only a few library computers are available to use on a first-come, first-served basis, but you can bring your own device into the library and use our free wifi. 

You can use your laptop and other mobile devices in the library for research and study. If you're a library member you can also use the library computers and printing facility.

You’re welcome to bring your laptop and other mobile devices into the library for research and study. Most of our desks have power sockets for charging your device. But remember that the library is a public space and all personal equipment is brought in at your own risk. Please don’t leave your device unattended. You can leave your personal belongings in the lockers on level 2.   

We provide free, unlimited wifi for our users. Ask a member of staff in the library for login details. Our wifi service is subject to the Wellcome Trust's usage policy on free internet access.

We have several desktop computers and a number of laptops available to library members for study and research. If you’re not a member, you’re welcome to use your own device in the library.    

Members can log in to desktop computers and borrow laptops for use in the library with their library cards. The library computer network gives you access to the following:   

subscription databases, e-journals and digital collections 

Microsoft tools such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and an internet browser 

While in the library all visitors are expected to comply with our conditions of use and computer use policy.   

We have both black-and-white and colour printers on the library network. Our printing facilities are only available to members of the library and not to day visitors to the library.   

Printing services are not available for personal use, and we request that you limit your printing to research- and collections-related purposes. 

To use the network printers, you’ll need to log in to a library computer with your library-card number. You’ll need the same card number to release your documents from the printer.  

Printing charges are deducted automatically from your library account, so make sure you have sufficient credit in your account before you start printing.  

You can add credit to your account with your library card, using the wall-mounted machine in the Printing and Scanning Room on level 2. Please note that the machine only takes cash, not debit or credit cards.  

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Group study room

Study rooms

We have two accessible study rooms and one group study room available in the library. Study rooms can only be booked by members of the library who are using the collections for a project or who require access to specialist software or equipment. 

If you need to make a call or have a meeting, you are welcome to use the gallery area of the library above the Reading Room, which is a non-silent space.

We have two smaller study rooms available for library members who require accessibility equipment or who wish to work with a support worker or an assistance animal. 

A network computer with accessibility software:
– JAWS screen-reading software, which uses a multi-lingual speech synthesiser to read aloud information from the screen.  
– A Zoomtext screen magnifier that includes a range of colour and cursor controls. 
– Kurzweil, software that uses a scanner and speech synthesiser to read aloud what you scan.

A height-adjustable table (available in Study Room 1).  

Space for an accompanying person/assistance animal.

You might also like to check our other accessibility services and facilities.

You can also bring collection items from the library shelves into the room with you.   

The group study room can be booked by members who want to work on a collaborative project relating to our collections with a small group of three to eight people. Non-members can attend sessions in the group study room as day visitors, but they must be accompanied by the member of the library who booked the session.     

A large desk for up to eight people.  

A network computer and audio-visual equipment for screen projection and video.     

You can also bring collection items from the library shelves into the room with you.

Contact the library to book a study room or ask a member of staff for more information. And please let us know if you need to cancel a booking. 

Study rooms can be booked during library opening hours and will need to be vacated five minutes before the library closes.  Library members can book a study room once per week to allow for fair usage between members.

While in the library, visitors are expected to comply with our conditions of use  and computer use policy.   

Please be aware that library staff and security may access the room at any time.  The room must be left unlocked when the user is inside. 

At the end of your session, please leave the room in the condition you found it in.   

If you want a space that’s not related to studying and researching our collections, take a look at our Venue hire information to see the variety of meeting rooms available for hire at Wellcome Collection. 

Landing

Our library facilities include computers and printing and copy services. You can also book a study room for group or accessible study. 

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Library facilities

Copying and photography

Computers, printing and wifi

Study rooms

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