About the Library

The Mariners' Museum Library at Christopher Newport University holds the largest maritime history collection in the Western Hemisphere.  With its rich collections and international scope, the Library is a premier resourse for maritime research.

The Library collections consists of over 1,750,000 items including books, magazines, rare books, manuscripts, maps and charts, vessel plans, newspaper articles, photographs, Chris-Craft archives, and The Mariners' Museum's archives. The Herbert H. Bateman Maritime Research Center, located within the Library, provides access to the Library's online catalog, reference materials in the Reading Room and contains the main book, periodical, and photograph collections.

HOURS AND DIRECTIONS

VISITOR INFORMATION

The Library is open to the public free of charge.

• Contact us in advance, if you plan to conduct in-depth research or use our special collections including rare books, manuscripts, maps, vessel plans or Chris-Craft material.
• Search the Library's online catalog and other finding aides to identify items of interest.
• Browse our reference books, which include the most comprehensive collection of ship registers in North America.
• Due to the rare and fragile nature of the Library collection, the book stacks are closed to the public. Staff members are available to assist visitors with their research and will page requested material.
• Materials are available for use only in the Library and are not available for interlibrary loan.

COPIES AND REPRODUCTIONS

Photocopies

• Photocopy costs are $.25 per page, or $.20 per page for Museum members, payable by cash, check or credit card (Visa, MC, Amex only).

• Library staff will photocopy journal articles, printed material, and photographs, depending upon the size and condition of the original, and in accordance with copyright guidelines.

• Requests for more than 25 pages will be processed quickly, as time and staffing permit, and mailed to visitors. Requests for more than 50 pages involve additional fees.

Reproductions of Plans

Information about vessel plans can be requested by filling out a Plans Research Request Form. Staff will locate the appropriate plans and provide pricing information. For more information select Reproduction of Plans (Non Chris-Craft).

Information about Chris-Craft plans can be requested by filling out a Chris-Craft Research Request Form. Research packages contain information on the availability of plans and pricing.

Reproductions of Photographs and Images

• For individuals conducting personal research, reproductions of photographs or images from our collections can be requested by filling out a Library Research Request Form.

• For commercial use or public display of images, contact Permissions@MarinersMuseum.org.

FELLOWSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

The Mariners' Museum Library at Christopher Newport University has a number of fellowship and internship opportunities. Students and scholars of the following disciplines, who are interested in creating internships involving a world-class maritime collection, are encouraged to contact us at library@MarinersMuseum.org.

• History
• Naval & Maritime History
• Naval Architecture & Shipbuilding
• Cartography
• Maritime Art History
• Library Science & Archives

BOOK SALES

The Library sells duplicate copies of donated books, magazines, pamphlets, and other print materials that do not contribute to the Library's mission.

• Visitor discounts - 10%

• Museum Member visitor discounts - 25%

• Purchase items from our "Book Sale" shelves in the Library or at "Book Sails at The Mariners' Museum" on www.abebooks.com. **Special client I.D. needed for link

• For more information contact us at biblio@MarinersMuseum.org or (757) 591-7786.

• Visit the Museum Shop for additional new and used books.

HISTORY

Purpose

The purpose of the Library, as envisioned by founder Archer M. Huntington, is to provide a research center for students, writers, scientists, and others pursuing various lines of maritime investigation. In addition, it is to create a repository for reference materials to be used by the staff in connection with the identification, appraisal, maintenance and display of the Museum’s collections, exhibits and programs.

Significant Events

The Library at The Mariners' Museum opened to the public on October 29, 1933 with 5,000 volumes. Today it is the largest maritime history collection in the Western Hemisphere with an international focus. The following are significant events related to the history of the Library.

• 1933: On September 11th, Miss C. W. Evans became The Mariners' Museum's first Librarian.

• 1979: The Museum's Board of Trustees founded the Archives to manage the Museum's official records and collection of maritime manuscripts.

• 1986: A major highlight was the addition of the Chris-Craft company archives to the collection. Considered to be one of the most complete histories of a boatbuilding company, the Chris-Craft collection includes boat equipment records ("hull cards"), photographs, boat plans, sales materials, boat engineering data, and engine master records for the period of 1922 to 1980.

• 1996: The late Congressman Herbert H. Bateman secured funding that allowed the Library to automate its catalog, which subsequently became available on the World Wide Web.

• 2001: The Library opened the Herbert H. Bateman Maritime Research Center, which was made possible through an Institute of Museum and Library Services grant sponsored by the late Congressman Herbert H. Bateman. The grant provided funds to convert Library bookshelves to compact shelving, thus doubling the book storage capacity. The Bateman Maritime Research Center is comprised of the Library Reading Room, an extensive book and periodical collections storage area, a scanning and digitization project workspace and online catalog.

• 2002: Established the Friends of the Library organization.

CONTACT US

Information and Research
Phone 757-591-7782
Email library@MarinersMuseum.org
Fax 757-591-7310

Plans and Drawings
Phone 757-591-7783
Email vesselplans@MarinersMuseum.org
Fax 757-591-7310

Chris-Craft Research
Phone 1-800-565-6846
757-591-7785
E-mail chriscraft@MarinersMuseum.org
Fax 757-591-7310

Mailing Address
The Mariners' Museum Library
100 Museum Drive
Newport News, VA 23606
757-591-7782

Web Address
www.MarinersMuseum.org

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