Welcome to the Catholic National Library
The Catholic National Library has over 70,000 books, pamphlets and periodicals including theology, spirituality and related subjects, biography, history (including Catholic Family History), and many works not available elsewhere. The reading room contains the reference stock, current journals, and back numbers of the most frequently consulted journals. There is also a stock of Catholic fiction.
The Catholic National Library currently houses MISSION REGISTERS which list baptisms, confirmations, marriages, deaths etc. dating back as early as 1694. These are typescripts and a few other printed books on loan from the Catholic Family History Society. The Library also houses the Thomas Merton Collection.
Foundation Appeal
The appeal was launched on 20 November 2007. Press Release Papal Blessing
If you wish to make a donation, please click here
OPENING TIMES
Monday: 10.30am to 3.30pm
Tuesday: 10.30am to 3.30pm
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: CLOSED
Friday: 10.30am to 3.30pm
Second Saturday in the month: 10.30am to 3.30pm
New Books
To see a list of books added to the collection since the Library re-opened see
LATEST NEWS CONCERNING THE MOVE
Thanks to the tremendous amount of work invested by the Librarian, Joan Bond, and her Volunteers, the Library re-opened to visitors in 2007. As has been the case in the past, books may be borrowed in person or by post. On 20 November 2007 a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit was celebrated at St Etheldreda's Church, Ely Place, London for the establishment of the Library at its new permanent premises at St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough. At a reception afterwards John Gummer, MP, Chairman of the Trustees, launched the Foundation Appeal.
Visit the Library
If you are curious about the Library, its new location and environs, why not plan a visit on a Saturday (we open on the second Saturday of the month) and combine your visit with a tour of the Church and Crypt which starts at 3.30pm on Saturdays.
Credit Card Facilities
The Library has arranged facilities to receive payments by Credit and Debit cards. This facility is available from December 2007.
VOLUNTEERS
Much of the work of the Library has been done by Volunteers working under the direction of the full-time professional Librarian. But we need more of these Voluntary Library Assistants (VLAs)! VLAs need to be able to commit to working at least half a day a week, have a professional background, although not necessarily in librarianship, be practising Catholics and happy to work in a small team. Please contact the Librarian if you could help in any way.
OPENING HOURS
The opening hours of the Library at the new location are dependent on two things: the needs of visitors and the availability of volunteers to staff the Library. At the moment (2008) we have 6 volunteers and a growing number of visitors.
READING LISTS
The Library has compiled a number of reading lists. The first lists were put together primarily for priests and religious as an aid to CONTINUING FORMATION. Click Continuing Formation for full information.
NOTICES
Change of Name
In June 2007 the Library changed its name from "Catholic Central Library" to "Catholic National Library". There were several reasons for this but the most important was to reflect more closely the Library's role as a national resource.
Return of Books
Many of the books which Members were asked to keep until the Library re-opened have now been returned. Thank you very much for your co-operation. As Members will know, we did not expect the Library to be closed for so long. Inevitably quite a number of books have yet to appear (they can be posted to the Library - address below, or taken to the CTS near Westminster Cathedral) so we have plans to replace the missing items where possible.
On-line Catalogue
Several years ago (in March 2000) we set about making the Library catalogue available on-line. Thanks to the huge amount of work by numerous volunteers we made a good start (about 25,000 books are listed) but the work was interrupted by the move (November 2003). In the light of changes in technology and with the aim of making the catalogue sharable we have re-evaluated this particular venture. By mid 2008 (earlier if at all possible) we hope to have proof-read and uploaded the remaining catalogue records. We plan then to start the process of upgrading to a Library Information System with OPAC (members will be able to check their lending on-line). For a catalogue approaching 70,000 this will be a huge undertaking and will require a lot of support both financial and voluntary.
Audio Books
There are moves afoot to build a relationship between the Library and St Cecilia's Guild. The Guild provides a free audio-book library lending service to the visually impaired. Most of the titles on offer are of a religious or spiritual nature. Expect more information about this during 2008.