Sultan celebrates thirty years of library facilities
HMS SULTAN has celebrated a significant milestone in 2025 as their library (located in the Learning & Development Hub) marked thirty years of service; which was marked as part of Libraries Week to highlight three decades of supporting the educational / professional development of Royal Navy personnel, their families, and the wider defence community.
The library’s historic origins can be traced back to the School for Engineering Students that was established in 1880 at Keyham Gate, HM Dockyard, Devonport. This facility became later known as the Royal Naval Engineering College (RNEC) and there was many references to its library as early as 1886 running into the early 20th century.
After the Second World War from 1939 to 1945 the College relocated to Manadon in Plymouth and was soon developed into the Navy’s primary engineering educational institution. This closed in July 1995 after nearly five decades, in which the library had amassed an impressive collection of 87,000 volumes and nearly five hundred periodical titles.
That year marked a new chapter, as approximately 25,000 selected books were transferred to HMS Sultan, merging with the existing education and resettlement collection in a custom-converted space in Brunel Annex in September 1995. In subsequent years, the library expanded further by incorporating materials from other closing establishments including HMS Daedalus and RN College, Greenwich. In 2005, the library moved to its current location alongside the Education and Resettlement Centre in Raven Block.
Library and Information Specialist, Nigel Sturt, commented: “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. 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.”
Nigel has over thirty years of professional experience in creating and delivering library services, whilst he has also spent much of his career supporting Royal Naval educational facilities and museums. He spoke about his increasing passion for his role and why he has focused on this area of work for a long time as he reflected:
“What I love most about this role is seeing how information and knowledge directly impact operational capability. Every day I witness engineers and technicians developing their skills through our resources, and families finding connection through our community initiatives. There’s something immensely satisfying about creating a space that serves both the professional needs of the Service and the personal wellbeing of our people.”
A significant achievement of the library has been the preservation of the complete archive of “Naval Engineer” publications, dating back to its first issue. This valuable collection documents the evolution of naval engineering practices, technological advancements, and innovations that have shaped the Royal Navy’s capabilities over decades. In recent years, the library team has undertaken an extensive digitisation project to ensure these historical records are preserved for future generations while making them more accessible to today’s engineers and researchers.
A key part of this is Nigel and he explained: “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. Engineers can now easily research historical solutions to complex problems or track the development of specific systems through time. It’s remarkable how often the challenges of the past can inform today’s engineering decisions.”
The library, alongside staff from the Learning & Development Hub, provides a wealth of services including information literacy training for MOD staff / trainees, support for those with specific learning difficulties, Resources supporting neurodiversity awareness and support, and expert literature searches / tailored resource guides for defence teams.
There is also Access to Ship’s Library Service fiction which supports personal leisure reading, and literacy development during functional skills qualifications; whilst there is further access to courses for elective learning, including GCSEs, Functional Skills and distance learning. The ‘Little Legs Library’ collection for service families, launched recently to help personnel maintain connections with their children while on training.
Libraries Week runs from June 2-8 and this year’s theme is entitled “Libraries Change Lives by Sustaining Economic Growth”; which aims to highlight how library services support informed decision-making and long-term prosperity. One such example for HMS Sultan is their comprehensive collection of engineering and technical publications, including full archives of “Naval Engineer” magazine, which documents the evolution and achievements of Royal Navy engineering over the decades.
HMS Sultan, as a centre of engineering excellence for the Royal Navy, delivers over 320 courses ranging from half a day to two years in duration. The library plays a crucial role in supporting this training mission, ensuring that the Royal Navy’s engineers and technicians have the knowledge resources they need to maintain ships, submarines and airframes at peak operational readiness.
The library’s development has been supported over the years by organisations including Reading Force, Aggie Weston’s, The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and the Gosport Discovery Centre, demonstrating the strong community links that HMS Sultan has maintained throughout its history.
PICTURED BY LEADING PHOTOGRAPHER BAZ SWAINSBURY: The library at HMS Sultan is celebrating thirty years in 2025 and the training establishment have marked this landmark as part of Libraries Week.
