About the society - Library
The Library is housed in The Mansion House, Chiswell Green Lane,
St Albans, Herts, AL2 3NS. It is open daily from 09.30 am - 4.00 pm Mondays to Fridays to Fellows, Members and their guests, except on public holidays. To ensure that you can access all parts of the collection please arrange an appointment with the Librarian before visiting.
Library holdings
The Library's strengths are in general biology and taxonomy of insects, particularly with reference to the Western Palaearctic Region. However, the Library aims to acquire major works of reference covering all aspects of insect biology, without any geographical bias. The stock in the Library includes some 11,000 books and 750 journal titles, of which 250 are taken currently. A journal holdings list is available on request for a small charge. The stock comprises all Orders of insects as well as a small section on spiders.
The Library now has an accessible database which is located here. For access please contact the Librarian for a pin number.
Please e-mail your photocopy requests to the librarian using the following Photocopy request form.
No library can achieve comprehensive coverage in its subject area nowadays and if you find that the book or journal which you require is not available "in house", efforts can be made to obtain it elsewhere.
The Society has a reciprocal arrangement with the Zoological Society of London Library whereby Fellows and Members can visit and use their Library and we can obtain photocopies of items from them. We also belong to the British Library network (small charge made for this service).
Rare books
There is a rare book collection - not normally loaned - including about 1000 early entomological works, pre-dating 1850. Please arrange an appointment with the Librarian if you wish to consult any of these books.
Archival material
A collection of diaries, letters and photographs of eminent entomologists is maintained and can be made available for study. Please arrange an appointment with the Librarian if you wish to consult any of these books.
Reprints
The Library houses about 30,000 reprints, including the Rothschild collection of papers on Siphonaptera. The reprint collection is currently being made into a database which will be available on the web in due course.
The librarian
The Librarian, Val McAtear, may be contacted by phone on 01727 899387 (International +44 1727 899387) or by fax on 01727 894797 (International +44 1727 894797) or email: lib@royensoc.co.uk during normal office hours.
