Royal Navy library in Gosport celebrates 30 years of service

Based at HMS Sultan in Gosport, the library is part of the Learning and Development Hub and supports the professional and personal growth of Royal Navy personnel, their families, and the wider defence community.

Nigel Sturt, library and information specialist at HMS Sultan, said: "Over the past 30 years, our library has been much more than just a collection of books.

"We've transformed into a dynamic learning hub that supports the professional development of our engineering community while also building strong connections with service families.

The Library at HMS Sultan as it is today (Image: Baz Swainsbury) "From providing technical resources for our trainees to creating spaces where parents can read with their children, the library has become central to both the operational effectiveness and wellbeing of personnel at Sultan."

The library’s origins date back to the School for Engineering Students at HM Dockyard, Devonport in 1880.

Following the Second World War, the collection grew at the Royal Naval Engineering College in Manadon, Plymouth, until its closure in July 1995.

At that time, around 25,000 books were transferred to HMS Sultan to form the foundation of its current library.

The library later expanded with materials from other closing establishments, including HMS Daedalus and the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

In 2005, it moved to its current location in Raven Block.

A key achievement of the library has been preserving and digitising the full archive of "Naval Engineer" publications, which document decades of technological advancements and engineering practices in the Royal Navy.

Nigel said: "The Naval Engineer archives represent an invaluable record of our engineering heritage.

"Through digitisation, we've been able to unlock knowledge that was previously difficult to access.

"It's remarkable how often the challenges of the past can inform today's engineering decisions."

The library offers a range of services, including information literacy training, literature searches, support for specific learning differences, and resources for neurodiversity awareness.

It also provides personal development resources, including GCSEs and functional skills courses, and a "Little Legs Library" to help service families stay connected.

HMS Sultan delivers over 320 engineering courses, and the library plays a vital role in supporting the training needs of the Royal Navy’s engineers and technicians.