The reference library of the Merseyside Maritime Museum covers all aspects of maritime history, focussing particularly on that of the port of Liverpool. It contains many important and rare materials which are all available for consultation. The collections consist of printed books, pamphlets and substantial runs of periodicals.

Classification Scheme

The books in the library are classified using an in-house classification scheme. Books are classified alphabetically by author/book title. The classification number appears on the book spine, followed by the first three letters of the author/title. The 540 shipping companies class, however, has its own unique numberarranged alphabetically by company name followed by author (enablinggrouping of shipping companies).

Due to the size of some volumes, it has necessitated two additional sequences. The oversize sequence is denoted by /OS immediately following the catalogue number. The pamphlet sequence (any item without a spine or less than fifty pages) is denoted by /PM immediately following the catalogue number. The pamphlet collection is not stored in the searchroom, but is available upon request.

Main Headings

000 Reference

200 Maritime Technology

300 Ships and Boats

400 Seafarers

500 Maritime Commerce (includes slave trade/emigration/maritime law)

600 Port Services

700 Maritime History - ports, areas, countries

800 Naval History

900 Maritime Art

Indexes

Subject index (arranged numerically by subject number).

Author index (arranged alphabetically by author).

These are available in computer print-out format in the searchroom.

Rare Books

Rare books are available on request and are identified by /R immediately following the catalogue number. Some important rare books include:

Anon. The Young Emigrants. London, 1826. 514.YOU/R

Clarkson, T. The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the Slave Trade. London, 1808. 512.CLA/R

Hutchinson, W. A Treatise Upon Practical Seamanship. Liverpool, 1791. 410.HUT/R

Instructions to Surgeons Superintendents of Government Emigrant Ships. London, 1866. 514.INS/R

Lever, D. The Young Sea Officer's Anchor, or A Key to the Leading of Rigging and to Practical Seamanship. London, 1811 (an important rigging and seamanship manual of the early nineteenth century). 410.LEV/R

Liverpool Directories, 1766-1979 (gaps).

Robertson, M. Futility or the Wreck of the Titan. London, 1912. 340.ROB/R