National Marine Biological Library (NMBL)
Parent Body: Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB

Principal Functions
To maintain the library as a major marine biological resource for the UK, so that users are provided with the information necessary to their researches.

To maintain and develop the library’s position as one of the major reference libraries for the marine life sciences, through the continued acquisition, cataloguing and indexing of relevant marine life sciences documents.

Subsidiary Functions
UK National Partner, preparing and coordinating input for the UN-sponsored Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA).

General Details
One of the world's major collections of publications on marine biology, oceanography, chemistry, fisheries, ecology, pollution and related subjects. It provides a range of services to internal and external users, including information and data services; enquiries; an annual British Waters bibliography; Marine Pollution Research Titles, a publication listing papers on worldwide marine pollution; archives of the history of marine science in the UK.

Specification
4,550 serial titles (of which 1,074 are current; 154 with electronic access); 13,250 books (from the 16th Century onwards); 80,000 reprints; 1,200 conferences; 147 series of expedition reports; 1,250 maps and charts; 3,500 microforms; card index to books, reports, papers and reprints from the 16th century to 1994, containing over 330,000 items. The electronic catalogue, Libweb, contains some 207,500 entries. Special efforts are made to index records pertaining to British waters and marine pollution. Libweb can be accessed remotely via the internet.

Special Features
Three professional staff, all with relevant library or information qualifications and experience. Archives containing portraits, illustrations, photographs and personal papers relating to the early history of the Marine Biological Association and marine science in the UK.

Future Plans
To continue to develop information services for UK, European and other overseas partners and customers

Availability
The facility is available to other bodies in both the private and public sector. There are no restrictions on the type of body that can apply to use the facility.

Charging Basis
Published rates are available, but they can be subject to individual negotiation. There are no restrictions on the type of body that can apply to use the facility.

Contact Information
Linda Noble
Head of Library and Information Services
National Marine Biological Library
The Laboratory
Citadel Hill
Plymouth
PL1 2PB
Telephone: 01752 633266 Fax: 01752 633102
Email: lno@pml.ac.uk
Website: http://www.mba.ac.uk/nmbl/