The Library and Archives at the Royal Society’s offices in London are open to a limited number of pre-booked readers. Opening hours are Monday 10:30am-5pm and Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm. For further information and to book, please contact us.
The Library will be closed on Friday 9 May for staff training.
Our collections and research
We have extensive collections of manuscripts, papers and records, books and journals. These published finding aids may assist you in your research. We host several research projects on the history of science.
New readers
New readers are always welcome. Pre-booking is required - please contact the Library to make an appointment.
On your first visit you will need to complete the registration form (DOC) and bring proof of address (such as a utility bill) and photographic identification (such as a passport) with you.
You are welcome to contact us before your visit to ensure you get the most out of it.
Borrowing books
Books in the ‘Biography’, ‘History’, and ‘Fellows in Fiction’ sections may be borrowed for up to 21 days. Registered readers may borrow up to five books at a time.
Photography
Visitors are welcome to take their own digital photographs of material (without flash). Please complete the photography form either before or during your visit.
Before completing the declaration and undertaking any copying of materials, please consider if the work is already available through our digital resources, including Science in the Making and Picture Library.
Remote access photography requests
Digital copying of individual documents can be arranged for users unable to visit the collections and where the material has not been previously digitised and made available through our digital resources. Please complete the digital copying form and submit to picturelibrary@royalsociety.org along with any specific requirements.
If an entire volume or archival series is to be copied for computational analysis, please submit a formal research proposal so that we can permit access and where necessary arrange large scale digitisation along with a data sharing agreement.
Requests may be subject to a fee. This will vary depending on the time taken to fulfil the request and the complexity of the material requested, as well as the quantity and quality of the digital copies. Please contact the Picture Library for more information.
Reproduction
The licensing of images for reproduction is managed by our Picture Library, please contact picturelibrary@royalsociety.org for enquiries.
Internet access
Free WiFi is available and computers are provided for access to the Society's online resources.
Disabled access
The Library is located on the Lower Mezzanine floor of the building but is accessible by wheelchair. Please let us know if you have any needs in advance of your visit, so that every effort can be made to assist you.
Photocopying
To make a request for photocopying, please complete this photocopying copyright form (DOC).
Photocopying costs 27p per A4 sheet and 36p per A3 sheet. Payment can be made by cash, cheque or debit/credit card.
All photocopying is carried out at our discretion and is dependent on the age and condition of the material. Material over 100 years old can generally not be copied.
For external orders, there is a minimum charge of £5.00, plus an additional charge for postage and packing (£2.00 for UK orders, £3.00 for overseas). Please contact the library to place an external order.
Inter-library loans
We are able to lend monographs published post-1950. Please read our policy on inter-library loans (DOC).
Current exhibition
Light: a colourful history
This exhibition takes you on a colourful journey into the nature of light. It explores groundbreaking experiments in optical science, drawing on the archives and library of the Royal Society's collection, and highlights how these discoveries have shaped our everyday lives.