History of the RCN library

The RCN Library has become the foremost research library on nursing in the UK, and one of the few leading specialist research nursing libraries in the world. The RCN has the only nursing archive in the UK, and one of the largest in the world. The RCN Archives collections reflect the development of the organisation in its changing role across the twentieth century as well as the growth of the British nursing profession.

• The RCN library contains over 120,000 books, journals and e-resources and is one of the biggest nursing libraries in the world.  
• When the e-library launched in 2001 there were only four e-journals and one database for searching. There are now 1,100 journals and over 1,300 e-books plus  access to key nursing database such as British Nursing Index and CINAHL.
• The RCN Library is one most visited pages on the RCN website.
• Between 2011-12 over 228,000 e-journal articles were downloaded.         
• The collection of nursing material is so comprehensive, it actually holds items that are not even stocked by the British Library.
  

The history of the collections

1729 – 20 Cavendish Square is built.

1916 – The College is founded with ambitious educational and professional objectives for the nursing profession.

1921– the RCN library is established.

1922 – after the Cowdray family’s generous gift of a new headquarters building in Henrietta Street, the College establishes a permanent professional library to support members. 

1924 – Gertrude Cowlin becomes the first part-time professional librarian.

1928 – the College is granted a Royal Charter, College of Nursing Ltd becomes the College of Nursing.

1939 – George IV grants the term 'Royal' to the College.

1943 – a full time librarian is required and the service provides books by post to members across the UK.

1944 – the library has grown and now encompasses much of the Henrietta Place side of the headquarters.

1945 – the building at 20 Cavendish Square is re-opened by Princess Elizabeth.

1949 –Alice Thompson appointed as librarian which establishes the library as a unique nursing research collection ranging from historical to contemporary works. Her vision was to create a ‘Library of Nursing’ that would comprehensively collect English language pamphlets, journals and books relating to nursing dating back to the late nineteenth century, including a significant collection of nursing text books. Thompson also advocated nursing libraries in hospitals and was a supporter of high quality nursing library collections to support nursing courses.