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WELCOME TO THE NATIONAL MARINE
BIOLOGICAL LIBRARY
The NMBL was founded
in 1887 to support the
newly created Marine
Biological Association.
OUR LIBRARY IN 1888
1889
A public appeal for books and journals was made
and we asked for donations in the local paper!
Read the request in the Directors Report
1930
Our library grows ….
A new block was built
to accommodate the
growing library collection.
1941All our library resources were moved to Hawkmoor House, near Tavistock, to protect them from potential damage during the war. Amazingly no books were lost or damaged!
Items were moved back in 1946 and the aquarium reopened.
1955
Our library continues to grow and
the spectacular spiral staircase was built
leading to a third floor.
Legend has it that the engraving shown
here originated from a doodle found on
a scrap of paper discarded by one of
the builders.
It inspired the current MBA logo!
1967
We employed our first qualified librarian and, shortly after, two further information scientists to put together a collection of marine pollution literature. This was in response to a government request prompted by the Torrey Canyon oil pollution incident off Cornwall.
1975
Another expansion.
This time our library building was
extended out towards Plymouth
Sound creating a large work area
with stunning views. The journal
collection was now filling three
floors!
1996
We received national status!
The MBA Library was designated as
the National Marine Biological Library
(NMBL) in recognition of its
role as a very specialised
national resource.
2013
NMBL goes online!
The catalogue is now
available on the internet
for anyone to view.
2015
A grant from the Wolfson Foundation
enabled us to find innovative ways to
use the library floor space in response
to the transfer of information services
into the electronic field.
The Wolfson Training Suite was built.
Click here to book the training room
2015
And rolling stacks
were installed to
consolidate stock.
2016
Our beautiful Reading Room was officially opened by Eve Southward and in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Plymouth and the Windsor Herald who unveiled the MBA’s new coat of arms. The reading room is named after Professor Alan Southward who made a generous donation to the library.
2017
Volunteers began work on
cleaning, identifying and
cataloguing our unique
object collection.
2018
Our wonderful
volunteers began
conservation work
on our treasured Rare
Book Collection.
The work continues
today.
2019
The Launch of the “Opening
Doors” programme of events
to promote our library
SEPTEMBER 2019 INFORMATION FOR MARINE CONSERVATION:WHERE TO
GET IT AND HOW TO USE IT. KEITH HISCOCK
NOVEMBER 2019EXPLORING THE INTRIGUING BEHAVIOUR OF OUR
MARINE ANIMALS WITH PAUL NAYLOR
DECEMBER 2019BOOK SALE AND ARTS FAIR
2020
• The NMBL
opens its doors
during Plymouth
History Festival
with its first
virtual tour.
NMBL - THE FUTURE
We are actively working to consolidate and harmonise access to our digital data and information services. We will augment online library resources with information on the distribution and biology of species from the MarLIN and DASSH projects which are also hosted at the Marine Biological Association.