Marine Biological Laboratory-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Library

Marine Biological Laboratory-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Library Review

Scientific forces join together at the Marine Biological Laboratory-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Library, one of the best collections of biological, ecological, and oceanographic literature in the world. The library has access to more than 200 computer databases and subscribes to more than 5,000 scientific journals in 40 languages, with complete collections of most. During World War II the librarian made arrangements with a German subscription agency to have German periodicals sent to neutral Switzerland and stored until the end of the war. Thus the library's German collections are uninterrupted, whereas even those of many German institutions are incomplete. All journals are always accessible, as they cannot be checked out, and because the library is open 24 hours a day. The Rare Books Room contains photographs, monographs, and prints, as well as journal collections that date from 1665.

Unless you are a scientific researcher, the only way you can get to see the library is by taking the Marine Biological Laboratory tour (508/289-7623). The one-hour tours (mid-June through August, weekdays at 1 and 2), led by retired scientists, include an introductory slide show as well as stops at the library, the Marine Resources Center (where living sea creatures collected each day are kept), and one of the many working research labs. It's a good idea to call for reservations and meeting instructions at least a week in advance.