See also:
* Library staff
* Library and Archive refurbishment project
* Filming in Queen Square Library and Archive.
On 3 February at the National Hospital’s Medical Committee meeting, a letter from Dr. William Gowers (clinical neurologist at the National Hospital for the Paralysed and Epileptic, Queen Square, London) is read which proposes the creation of a medical reference library.
There are printed records mentioning the existence of an established medical library at Queen Square as early as the National Hospital’s Annual Report of 1923.
The Medical Library “is now thoroughly representative of modern neurological literature”, which more periodicals being donated by members of the Honorary Staff to the Medical Library.
Built in part by a generous grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, the new Queen Mary Wing of the National Hospital is completed in June. The Library is situated on the ground floor facing Queen Square, along with laboratories, a clinical research unit, the lecture hall and the post-mortem department.
The Library Sub-Committee propose to change the Library’s name to the Rockefeller Library (or Rockefeller Medical Library), in tribute to the Rockefeller Foundation’s funding to the National Hospital.
“The Institute decided that the library should be called the Rockefeller Library in view of the interest shown by the Rockefeller Foundation and its financial support of the hospital, especially its substantial contribution to the cost of building the Queen Mary Wing.”
The substantial contribution of £60,000 from the Rockefeller Foundation was received in 1936, following an appeal from the National Hospital in 1935. In the original appeal plans for library improvements were mentioned:
“The Hospital has already a reference library of neurological textbooks, monographs and periodicals. Sixteen English, American and foreign journals are now received regularly. A room where these journals and books may conveniently be consulted by the students would be an invaluable aid to their clinical and pathological studies.”
The Library move to Alexandra House takes place between February 1962 and July 1963.
M.B. Bailey, ALA becomes the Librarian (September 1965 - 1993). ‘Beryl’ Bailey is the longest serving Queen Square Librarian, to date.
A ban on eating in the Library is introduced (well before a smoking ban).
First mention of a selected reading list, in February: “AGREED to ask the Sub-Dean to consult with the Clinical Tutors and to prepare a list of books recommended for reading by the students attending the Institute, to amplify the teaching programme. The list should consist primarily of books available in the Institute Library. When the list is complete it should be sent to this Committee”.
the Medical Library Sub-Committee organises a book donation for a brand new Neurological and Neurosurgical Library opened in Denver, University of Colorado, in memory of the late Professor James Stephens. The Professor was Assistant and Registrar to James Purdon Martin, MD, FRCP at the National Hospital. Professor Stuart A. Schneck at the University of Colorado acknowledges receipt of Gowers’ ‘Borderland of Epilepsy: faints, vagal attacks, vertigo, migraine, sleep symptoms and their treatment’.
The Library moved into its current accommodation on the 1st Floor of no.23 Queen Square in 1980-81, when the University purchased the freehold of the building. Prior to this, the Library had been located in Alexandra House, but it is not clear exactly which year the Library space in Alexandra House was established.
The Library hosts a small memorial party with Hallpike family members in the newly named The Hallpike Room. The Library gets connected to the University academic computer network.
The Library becomes a no smoking area.
From June, Medline on CD-ROM is installed, proving very popular as it is in almost constant use. It replaces the online search searches and enables users to do their own literature searches.
Beryl Bailey retires and Louise Shepherd appointed as Librarian. The Library starts to use a lightpen and barcodes, rather than slips of paper, for book circulation services.
A refurbishment in 1995 during which several partitions were removed in order to improve access to stock, install a security system and increase shelf space and reader spaces.
The Library takes part in what becomes a very popular trial of networked access to Medline databases across the Institute’s network by Institute and Hospital users. The Library becomes the first UK customer in September 1995.
The Library participates in its first trial of electronic journals, and the Library gets its first ever internet entry on the Institute’s website.
In June, the Library is accredited for the services provided to the National Hospital, as part of a national accreditation program. The accreditation is carried out by a panel of assessors who review documentation and visit Queen Square to assess the Library, interview Library staff and meet with a selection of Library users. The Library is awarded a 2 rating (the rating scale is 0-3). The report’s summary reads:
“The Queen Square Library team, who demonstrate a “can do” approach, provide an excellent service to Queen Square staff. The Library team now need to focus on marketing (as opposed to promoting) their contribution to organizational development and patient care
In the first half of 2010 the library underwent a major refurbishment to create the library you see today. The Library re-opened with the name Queen Square Library, Archive and Museum, in recognition of its new and continuing roles across the whole of Queen Square.
Successful Wellcome (Research Resources in Medical History) bid to preserve and catalogue Archive collections.
Louise Shepherd retires.
Queen Square Library shortlisted for SCONUL Library design award. Sarah Lawson joins as Head of Queen Square Library in April.
On Monday 22nd June 2015, we were joined by members of Louise Shepherd’s family, and many colleagues from across Queen Square and UCL Libraries past and present, to mark the renaming of the Archives “pod” as the Louise Shepherd Room and the fifth anniversary of the re-opening of the Library. The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of a new commemorative plaque on the Archives “pod” in Louise’s memory. Photos of the refurbishment and renaming event
Self-service machines installed in the Library.
Hosted launch of Queen Square: A History of the National Hospital and its Institute of Neurology.
Filming takes place in the Library for BBC2 programme on shell shock, broadcast in November to mark the centenary of the end of WW1.
Deputy Librarian, Kate Brunskill, wins the UCL Provost Education Award for outstanding response to a pandemic.
Organised Shell Shock beyond the War – A European perspective:: international symposium.
Urszula Skiba appointed as Information Assistant.
The Library implements UCL’s Scan and Send service, and supports the Institute’s first undergraduate course, BSc Human Neuroscience.
Carl Banks joins as an Information Assistant.
The Library’s Twitter account is closed down. Instead, the Library joins the UCL Health Libraries account on BlueSky: @uclhealthlibraries.bsky.social.