2. Library - Monographs and Handbooks

Range, scope and location

The society has many specialist volumes on a wide range of philatelic topics, some of which are limited editions not generally available. Books are arranged alphabetically by author within each country or topic, grouped on different floors in the building.

A significant part is held in the small library on the ground floor, divided into sections covering Great Britain, Commonwealth countries, European and some other foreign countries, military, maritime and airmails. Pamphlets are housed separately in the lockers below the main shelves.

Rare books are kept in locked cabinets in the basement corridor. These cabinets also house small booklets, such as the Melville issues, arranged in alphabetical order by country and topic. Books on general philately can also be found in a separate cabinet in this area.

Some South American and Asian country monographs have been transferred to the basement stack area to ease pressure on space elsewhere. USA material is also housed separately in the Council Room.

The Library Committee will consider further purchases and always welcomes donations. It would be helpful if members could submit details of items they consider the Society should hold or obtain.

Additions to the Library are listed regularly in the Society's Journal, "The London Philatelist". These additions are initially housed in a separate area in the Library on limited access for consultation, before being placed on the open-access shelves. This will ensure that they are accessible to all members for a limited period before they are made available for loan.

Key to access

The majority of volumes are held on open access for consultation on the premises, and may also be borrowed. Some volumes are designated restricted-access and available for consultation in the building only, to ensure their availability for research at all times.

Books in the basement stack area may be obtained on application to the House Manager or a member of the Library Committee for entrance to this limited-access area. Rare books in the closed-access cabinets may be consulted on application for a particular volume.

All books are listed in a three-part card index by author, country and subject. Cards are arranged alphabetically by author within the relevant country or topic. The Library Committee is currently working on a new catalogue which is being created as a computer data-base. This will enable books to be shown under several headings, thus extending the possibilities for locating relevant material. As sections are completed they are made available in a printed format. For the present, until the project has been completed, researchers are recommended to consult the card index in addition to the new computer records.