SWINDON Science Museum is proud to show off one of the best collections of science and technology books in the world.

The Wroughton museum's new library contains more than 100,000 books, dating back from as early as 1486, and more than a million official documents.

Books on history and literature can also be found along with the archive collection, including biographies, company directories, dictionaries and encyclopaedias.

Site librarian Nick Wyatt said: "We cover a lot of subjects but it depends what you are looking for. There are books about restoring steam engines or an old car to books written about veterinary science."

Members of the public are invited to take a free tour of the library, which includes a signed copy of Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.

Under the close supervision of library workers, the treasures can be seen without any barriers but they cannot be handled without gloves as they are fragile and may be damaged.

The rare book collection is kept in a specially cooled room in order to preserve them. They are kept at a temperature of 16 degrees. The museum is always secured with CCTV and intruder alarms to protect the goods.

Researchers looking to use the facilities can order books they want to see in advance after talking to the library workers about what they are interested in.

Mr Wyatt said: "People have to order books in advance by contacting us and we will arrange an appointment to discuss what it is they are looking for.

"It doesn't matter if people don't have a specific idea, we will help them find what they need.

"We have material useful for local history, including Bourne's Great Western Railway and ordnance survey maps dating back to 1900.

"We also have books that can help people researching family history including their family's trade and working conditions they may have encountered.

"We want to encourage groups to visit the works and hope historians and scholars will be encouraged to use the collection for research and write books on them."

The tours must be booked in advance for security reasons and will run until the end of April.

Materials for examinations can be ordered and held within one working day.

The Swindon Science Museum is open from Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm excluding bank holidays. For more information on visiting the museum ring 01793 846200 or email Wroughton.enquiries@nmsi.ac.uk.