// Listen with headphones for best experience //

Join librarians Vicky Worsfold and Caroline Penn as they guide you around the National Art Library at the V&A – a calm and tranquil yet deeply sensory space, which is open to all.

Follow Vicky as she shows you how to handle precious books using a book sofa and weights (also called book snakes), and join Caroline as she cares for fragile objects with crinkly spines. Listen as they turn the pages of a 19th-century treasure from the library – a very large book called an elephant folio. Titled ‘The Birds of America’ by John James Audubon, it contains exquisite illustrations of birds, and is an example of a book that you could order.

Come along and experience the National Art Library for yourself: https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/national-a...

Welcome to the Library:
00:00 Pulling / pushing books on shelves
00:27 Typing
00:36 Talking to the Librarian – how to access books
01:13 Using a book sofa and book snakes
04:08 Elephant folio
04:55 Page turning
09:35 (Whispering) tying a fragile book with linen tape
11:31 (No talking) tying a fragile book with linen tape

Search the Library Catalogue: https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/national-a...

More ASMR at the museum:    • ASMR at the museum