The Library of the Society reflects the interests of the Society geographically and chronologically. The main collection consists of approximately 5,500 books covering Asia from Turkey to Japan. Most of these books relate to Asia since the beginning of the 20th Century and deal with
history, geography, politics and travel.

The collection includes a small number of biographies and books on the religions of Asia. Those books relating to Central Asia are shelved separately, reflecting the origins of the Society as the Central Asian Society. Some of the books in this section date from the second half of the
19th century. The Library has a card catalogue for the books, arranged both by author and by subject country. Please see below at List A.

The Society also has an archive of glass slides and photographs. The black and white slides date from the 1920's to 1950's. The archive also includes some 35mm transparencies. The glass slides are gradually being catalogued and prints have been made for most of them. Anyone wishing to consult the archives is invited to contact the office and to arrange an appointment to view them in person. It may be helpful to consult the on-line catalogue of the archives before a visit: a weblink is available via the Archives page on this website. The office and the Library of the Society are located in adjacent rooms on the same floor of 2 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PJ.

For a representative sample of the glass-lantern slides, please click here.

For an example of watercolours held in the Society's archives, click here

The countries or regions listed below at List B are represented in the photographic collections.

General Information

Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday from 10am to 4pm and Friday 10am - 1pm.

Visitors wishing to see the library should telephone first to arrange a convenient time.

To enquire further about the library please send an email to the Librarian of the Society at sec@rsaa.org.uk

Most books are available for loan to Members, for a maximum of two months. Other readers may consult books in the Library.

Small collections of European language manuscripts, photographs and maps are in the process of being catalogued.

No Photographs, Periodicals or Manuscripts may be borrowed.

The library does not take any Asian newspapers and only a small number of periodicals are received in exchanges for Asian Affairs, the Journal of the Society.
These include Foreign Affairs, Iran - Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies, Pacific Affairs and Journal of East and West Studies. Limitations on space prevent the storage of back runs of any periodical other than Asian Affairs and Iran.

List A : Author and Geographical Area: Arrangement within the Library

In the catalogue, the Author sequence is continuous in alphabetical order. Areas in the geographical sequence are assigned the following letter-codes and books are arranged alphabetically by author within each geographical area