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 use of the name “Rockefeller Medical Library" appears to have begun in about 1956. A number of hospital wards were renamed in that year to honour past members of consultant staff and,
“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 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.
Further changes to the Library during the no.23 period were: an additional room added within the Library space in 1982 (named the Hallpike Room after the family who donated the funds) and 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.
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.
On 18th December 2009 the Rockefeller Medical Library closed the doors on the old-style library at no.23. The library was closed for seven months, during which time the space was completely refurbished and redesigned. Our services were delivered from a temporary location in CAMLIS and, in early June 2010, the door of the newly renamed Queen Square Library was reopened.
The Library, Museum and Archive refurbishment was generously supported by the Brain Research Trust and the National Brain Appeal. An inaugural exhibition was opened within the first few weeks, covering the founding and early years of the National Hospital.
Why we needed to modernise
In the last ten years there had been very significant changes to libraries in general, and in the services provided by the Library. There also continue to be dramatic changes in the use and delivery of information, and in information and communication technologies, and a tremendous increase in the research, clinical and teaching activities taking place at Queen Square.
The Library needed to fully embrace the changes and technical advances mentioned above in order to continue to support this increase in activity, to continue to expand and develop services covering all aspects of information and knowledge and to obtain best value from the resources available and the physical Library space. It is also vital to fully exploit the internationally important collections held on site. The specialist services and resources provided by the Library do not exist anywhere else in the world, but the current layout, storage facilities and the funds required to digitise parts of the collection mean that these resources are not being fully utilised or used to their best advantage.
As well as unique holdings, the Library and information service at Queen Square is unique in that its space and facilities are freely available to the Institute, Hospital, wider UCL, UCLH, and to research and clinical communities internationally. Space of this nature is in very short supply at Queen Square as are facilities for quiet and group study and hands on IT-training.
By reducing the volume of non-unique print materials and improving access to electronic resources, better use can be made of existing space. This project will also improve access to the electronic record of current research, clinical and evidence-based information. It will also be possible to provide better services and make better use of this space, whilst developing access to storage and preservation of the unique local collections.
The benefits of the project
The re-modelling of existing space in the Library benefits the Institute, the Hospital and the wider UCL & UCLH by providing much-needed facilities that are either in very short supply or absent at Queen Square. This includes an IT training suite bookable by all IoN and NHNN users. This can be used to introduce on-site training of transferable skills for research students, as well as access for students on placement to IT services. This also allows increased access to research, the evidence base, and online clinical information for all NHNN staff.
The provision, for the first time, of a home for the archive and museum collections of the Institute and hospital benefits all at Queen Square as well as the wider neuroscience and neurology communities. Even with the current lack of information about the full extent of the collections, 161 items from the rare books collection and 61 case note volumes have been consulted in the last 18 months. Use has been local and international, with visitors from as far afield as Australia and California. These unique collections were hidden, unexplored and at risk. The existing catalogued Library rare books collection is only available to individuals able to visit the library, and is at risk of loss or damage through use.
Another key benefit is the provision of a physical and virtual show case area to display the evidence of the impact of the activities that have taken place and are taking place at Queen Square, from the very beginnings to the present day, crossing sectoral, professional, and historical boundaries.
How the project supports clinical, educational and research activity
The new layout and facilities in the Library provide much improved on site access to research and clinical information for all. This is particularly beneficial to Hospital staff and to students on placement, who are currently under resourced. The new digitised teaching collections will benefit all taught students at Queen Square and the wider UCL. The digitised archives, case notes and other rare collections will also be available to the international research and clinical communities, becoming a Queen Square Portal on the Internet. The new study and training facilities will be of tremendous benefit to all staff at Queen Square providing purpose built areas in which to work and study and supporting all educational, CPD and research activities.
The physical space and walk-in access to online resources in the library is currently used most by students and Hospital staff, and the virtual resources most by IoN research staff and students. Improving both of these, as well as providing new training facilities for the research students and museum and archive facilities will benefit all at Queen Square. Providing a physical and virtual show case will have the wider benefit of supporting the publicity and promotion of these activities, as well as helping to further promote the Queen Square brand internationally.
Renaming of the Archives pod and fifth anniversary - June 2015
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
Filming in Queen Square Library and Archive
Queen Square Library & Archive has has featured in a number of videos since its refurbishment in 2010, including the following. If you are interested in filming in Queen Square Library, please email: neurolibrary@ucl.ac.uk with further details.
Interview with National Hospital consultant Jeremy Chataway explaining results of the MS-SMART trial. Filmed and released October 2018.
WWI’s Secret Shame: Shell Shocked : 12th November 2018, 9-10pm, BBC2. In this programme, which features footage and materials from Queen Square Archives, Dan Snow discovers how the shell shock of WW1 has evolved into the cases of PTSD that modern soldiers suffer with today. Delving into previously unseen archives he reveals the difficult history of how Britain has reacted to the psychological consequences of warfare. Dan interviewed Stefanie Linden, author of They Called it Shell Shock which draws heavily on our Archives, as part of the programme. Box of Broadcasts (Institutional password required for access)
The following list of current and former library staff is a work in progress. Any omissions and errors are accidental (please let us know if you spot any!).
Librarian
Miss P. M. Clarke (1950 - 1958)
Miss J. P. Wallis, A.L.A. (1958 - 1964)
G. T. Evans, A.L.A. (1964 - 1965)
Mrs M. B. Bailey (1965 - 1993)
Louise Shepherd (1993 - 2012)
Sarah Lawson (2013 - current)
Assistant/Deputy Librarian:
Miss Brenda Hill (Feb - Sept 1968)
Miss Andrea Davies (Nov 1968 - Dec 1970)
Mrs B. Richter (Jan - Sept 1971)
Mrs B. Travers (1971 - 1985)
Miss Melissa Ford (Nov 1985 - 1989)
M. Newman (1989 - 1992)
G.F. Porter (1992 - 1994)
S.J. Duerden (1994 - 1997)
Ms Sam Martin (1997 - 2000)
Ingrid Aubry (2000 - 2002)
Kate Brunskill (Apr 2002 - current)
Library/Information Assistants
Mr A. Jhavary (1980 - 2000)
O.M. Falconer (1994 - 2000)
D.A. Parsons (1998 - 2000)
Jackie Cheshire (Nov 2000 - May 2016)
Sara Hodges, née Golding (2001 - Sept 2005 / Oct 2012 - May 2013)
Vanessa Wan (Nov 2005 - Feb 2009)
Louise Ashton, née Green (Mar 2009 - Sept 2012)
Rossana Rizzo (May 2013 - October 2022)
Sandra Bamborough (October 2016-April 2022)
Jennifer Milligan (April 2022-April 2024 )
Urszula Skiba (March 2023 - )
Irina Smith (August 2024 - )