Globe Library and Archive

A flash banner.

Welcome to Shakespeare's Globe Library and Archive.

The Library is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 5 pm.

Space is very limited, so we recommend that you make an appointment before visiting. Appointments can be made for the morning from 10am - 1pm, or in the afternoon from 2pm - 5pm. To make an appointment email Jordan or Victoria or telephone 020 7902 1580.

There are currently five reading spaces and two audio-visual spaces available in the library. No more than one person may use a reading or AV space at any one time. To find out how busy the library is on certain days, please see the following chart -- free spaces are shown in white, while spaces that have already been booked are shown in red. This chart will be updated regularly so please check back.

Download Library Bookings Sheet 28th October - 13th November - updated 28/10/08

When you arrive, go to the Front Desk, tell them you are here to use the Library, and someone will come and collect you.

Christmas and New Year Opening Times

The library will have limited opening during the Christmas and New Year period:

Tuesday 16 December: morning only
Wednesday 17 December: open all day
Thursday 18 December: open all day

Tuesday 23 December: CLOSED
Wednesday 24 December: CLOSED
Thursday 25 December: CLOSED

Tuesday 30 December: CLOSED
Wednesday 31 December: CLOSED
Thursday 1 January: CLOSED

We will be back to normal opening on Tuesday 6 January.

History and Collections

Library

The origins of the library lie in the research collections of the Canadian academics Donald Rowan and David Galloway, which were donated to the Globe in 1999. The original 'Canadian Library' has been supplemented by the Globe Education library and continues to be added to today. The library includes books which once belonged to the Globe's founder Sam Wanamaker, and Sir John Gielgud.

The library contains texts and criticism of plays by Shakespeare and his contemporaries, and a selection of 16th and 17th century poetry. The library also stocks periodicals (including Shakespeare Survey, Shakespeare Bulletin & Shakespeare Quarterly), and works on the following subjects:

  • Shakespearean sources;
  • Theatre history (including 16th and 17th century Spanish theatre);
  • Cultural and social history of early modern England;
  • Shakespeare's Globe (reconstruction, early seasons etc).

You may find books keyworded 'Theatre History', 'Staging' and 'Globe' particularly useful.

Please note that the library is reference only, and that books cannot be borrowed.

Archive

The earliest records in the Globe's archives date from the late1960s and chart the gradual development of the Globe project from dream to reality.

The archive contains production materials for plays performed at the Globe since 1996, including programmes, prompt books, show reports and videos.

The archive also holds administrative records, press-cuttings, copies of in-house publications and material relating to the Globe's educational activities (including recordings of staged readings, talks and discussions).

A selection of illustrations showing various productions in the UK and elsewhere can be found in the top drawer of filing cabinet C (labelled 'theatre history').

Deposited Collections

The Globe Library and Archive holds research materials pertaining to the Original Practice productions that were the hallmark of the first ten years of performance at Shakespeare’s Globe. These include:

  • The papers of Mark Rylance, first artistic director of the Globe;
  • Material relating to music composed for the Globe by Claire van Kampen (including several scores);
  • Material relating to costumes designed for the Globe by Jenny Tiramani (including selected costumes).

Papers relating to the reconstruction of the Globe have also been deposited by Pentagram (the architects responsible for the project).

Please note that special arrangements are in place for access to and quotation from the deposited collections.

Rules and Regulations

Please help us to preserve the Globe's resources for future generations by observing the following terms and conditions:

  • Please do not eat or drink in the library.
  • Please do not use anything which could damage the books or documents (this includes pens, staplers and correction fluid).
  • Please ensure that your hands are clean before handling books or documents.
  • Should you need to follow text line by line, or mark your place in a book, please use a slip of scrap paper.
  • On no account should books be placed face down, as this can damage the binding beyond repair.
  • When you have finished using books, documents or images please return them to a member of staff.
  • When returning files containing loose material please ensure that the original order has been preserved.
  • Personal laptop computers may be used with a battery; however we do ask you to keep mobile phones switched off.
  • Copying of documents and photographs is at the archivist's discretion. Please note that some classes of records (including prompt books and show reports) cannot be copied under any circumstances.
  • No copying from audio-visual resources is permitted (this includes sketching).

Back to top