About the library

The Institution of Civil Engineers was founded in 1818 by a small group of idealistic young men and was granted a royal charter in 1828 where it declared that its aim was to "foster and promote the art and science of civil engineering". With over 130,000 titles, including major conference series and over 900 periodical titles, the ICE Library is the largest single resource in Civil Engineering in the world.

The ICE archives contain records relating to the ICE from its formation to the present, as well as records relating to prominent engineers of the past, including James Brindley, John Smeaton, Thomas Telford and The Rennies; and engineering wonders like Marc Brunel’s Thames Tunnel, Robert Stephenson’s Britannia Bridge, the Forth Railway Bridge, and the Panama Canal.

The local library catalogue is available online.

British Library inter-library loan codes

Library code

LO/R63

Policy code

G2

For an explanation of these codes, and for more information on arranging inter-library loans, see the inter-library loans page on the British Library website.

Accessing materials

Can I see live document availability on Library Hub Discover? No.

Can I obtain items via inter-library loan? Yes - subject to the library's local lending policy. See their website for details. You must request an inter-library loan via a library of which you are a member. Talk to your own library staff for advice on ordering an item.

Can I visit the library to view materials? Yes - see the library's website for access details. If you wish to visit it is advisable to contact the library in advance, to ensure that they can accommodate you and that the material you need will be available.

Location

Browse all of the Institution of Civil Engineers' records in Library Hub Discover here.