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Library Collection

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What you can expect to find in the Library Collection

Lloyd's Register’s own historic library was founded in 1852 at the bequest of Augustin Francis Bullock Creuze, Principal Surveyor, and a founding member of the first Royal School of Naval Architecture. The Library now comprises several different collections, including the library of the Institute of Marine Engineers, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and the Denny Library collection of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA).
 
The Lloyd’s Register Foundation Library collection includes approximately 60,000 items in total from 1688-present day and covers topics on the history and development of maritime safety and engineering, navigation, shipbuilding, ship design, histories of major shipbuilders in geographical regions, engineering and oil and gas companies, shipping companies and shipowners, history of the shipping industry more broadly, ship types, shipwrecks, marine rescue, canals, ports and docks, fishing, sailors and seafaring, memoirs, biographies and autobiographies of those involved in maritime work, the Transatlantic slave trade and histories of enslaved people, pirates and piracy and expeditions and voyages of discovery amongst others. 
 
Currently, approximately 2600+ printed books and pamphlets have been made accessible via our online collections catalogue and are available to browse on the open shelves in the Heritage Library at 71 Fenchurch Street. 
 
Print copies of Lloyd's Register of Shipping from 1764 onwards are available to browse in the library, with a digitised version of the Register available online via the collections catalogue. Additionally available are copies of World Fleet Statistics, since 1876 and Casualty Returns, July 1890 to date (now World Casualty Statistics). You can access digitised copies of the Register Book here and other digital resources, including the Register of Yachts, Casualty Returns, Lloyd's of London Missing Vessel Books, Lists of Surveyors, World Fleet Statistics,  Lloyd’s Register Technical Association Papers, Lloyd's Register Rules & Regulations, and Guide to Port Entry & The Ship Atlas here.
 
An extensive and unique part of the library is the pamphlet collection and pamphlets on shipping company histories, shipbuilding and shipwrecks are a highlight. Pamphlets are often published independently and in small runs and can offer unique perspectives on subjects.
 
This collection is a valuable resource for researchers, students, historians and maritime professionals and those with a general interest in maritime history.

Rare books in the Collection

The Library Special Collections include c.400 rare books from the 17th century to the early 20th century on the themes of maritime history navigation, voyages and exploration, naval architecture, shipbuilding and shipwrecks with many featuring fine examples of maps, illustration and print. Camden's history of the Princess Elizabeth (1688) is the oldest book in the collection; The little sea torch or true guide for coasting pilots (1801) contains a beautiful collection of aquatints by J.T. Serres, the elder son of the marine painter Dominic Serres, who was appointed draughtsman to the Admiralty; and Captain Greenville Collins' book of highly detailed engravings Great Britain's coasting pilot (1756). Initially published in 1693, it was the first systematic maritime survey of the British coastline based on direct observation rather than compiled reports, updated to reflect navigational needs and coastal changes. 

Recent updates to the Library Collection

We are currently focusing on diversifying the library collections and reflecting underrepresented voices. These include women in maritime, indigenous peoples, minority workforces, the histories of enslaved people, biographies and autobiographies of those involved in maritime work, especially those focused on communities, geographies or maritime sectors less represented in the collection at present. We are also growing our collections on future ocean technology and the ocean economy, interdisciplinary materials in the maritime space, especially as it pertains to safety and especially shipwrecks; mental health and wellbeing in the maritime industry and the impact of living conditions onboard; and technical clothing, safety gear and the role of clothing in the comfort and identity of maritime workers.

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