A project to improve access to digital images of items from the Library’s collections began in 2011. LUNA software was acquired to upload and manage images of material, with the ultimate aim of creating a searchable online resource. This data is now available online alongside the Library’s other catalogues.

The system contains over 22,500 images dating from the medieval to the modern period and includes items from:
• The manuscripts sequence including illuminated manuscripts and manuscripts from Sion College
• Lambeth printed book collections (including prints) and selected items from the Sion College collection
• Selected parts of the Archbishops’ papers and archives
• Selected images from the collections of the Church of England Record Centre
The system also allows access to some 14,000 images digitized from the archive of the Incorporated Church Building Society which were formerly available via the Church Plans Online website and provide a valuable resource to architectural historians and others interested in church fabric, local historians, and other researchers. This complements catalogue data on the ICBS archive which is accessible via the Library’s archive catalogue.

It is now easier to identify images for instance those relating to particular people and places. The system also allows users to zoom into details of images. In addition, the ‘book’ functionality of the software has made some complete texts available electronically.

Further background on the Library’s image holdings and help in using the system are also available.