Using the Library

The Royal Society's Library and Archives are open to the public from 10am-5pm Monday to Friday.

Joining is quick and simple. It takes just a few minutes to register and new readers are always welcome.

Before you visit

• New visitors are encouraged to discuss your requirements in advance to ensure that you get the greatest benefit out of your visit.
• Visitors with disabilities: you are encouraged to identify needs in advance of your visit, so that every effort can be made to assist you. Although the Library is located on the first floor, it is accessible by wheelchair.
• Please ensure you are aware of the reader rules.
• New visitors will be asked to register and produce proof of address and photographic identification, such as a passport. To save time, you can download our registration form (using the link at the top right of this page) and bring it with you.
• Regular visitors are invited to request a Reader card - for more information download the 'Reader ID cards and loan procedures' from the right-hand column, or ask the duty librarian.

During your visit

• Wireless internet is available throughout the Reading Rooms.
• Computers are provided for access to the Royal Society's online resources, including the library and archive catalogues. In the event of these being unavailable please ask desk staff to assist you with your research, and please note that these computers are not to be used for personal work or web browsing.
• A photocopying service is provided. There is a charge for this service.
• Visitors are welcome to take their own digital photographs of material (without flash) - this is free of charge though we do ask for a photography form to be completed first.
• The last fetch of material takes place at 4.30pm so please submit your final request to the duty librarian before this time.

Book loans

• As a Reader card holder, you may borrow books from the modern ‘Biography’, ‘History’, and ‘Fellows in Fiction’ sections in the Centre for History of Science.
• Reader card holders may borrow up to five books at a time, for a loan period of 21 days.
• For full details please download the 'Reader ID cards and loan procedures' from the right-hand column, or ask the duty librarian.

New Accessions

If you'd like to get a flavour of the books and other material we've been adding to the Library collection recently, click here to download a pdf of our new acquisitions.

Contact the Library
Library and Information Services
The Royal Society
6-9 Carlton House Terrace
London SW1Y 5AG

Tel: +44 (0)20 7451 2606
Fax: +44 (0)20 7930 2170