The Anthropology Library at the British Museum's Centre for Anthropology is effectively the United Kingdom's national anthropological library, housing the library collections of the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) and the British Museum's Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas (formerly the Department of Ethnography).

Geographically the Library's scope is worldwide, with particular emphasis on the Commonwealth, Eastern Europe and the Americas, notably Mesoamerica. The literature held covers all aspects of anthropology: cultural (with an emphasis on material culture) and biological anthropology, archaeology and linguistics, together with such related fields as history, sociology, description and travel.

The holdings comprise more than 120,000 books and pamphlets and 4,000 journal titles, of which around 1,500 are current. Journal exchanges of RAI publications with those of other scholarly institutions have provided strong collections from Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. The journal collection is indexed by the RAI's Anthropological Index Online.

Also included are maps, newsletters, reports, and a significant Pictorial Collection.

The Library is administered and maintained by the British Museum, with books and journals being continuously added to the library. The RAI maintains an active interest in the Library and continues to contribute generously to its holdings.

The Library is open to the public for reference and research. Fellows of the RAI are eligible to borrow items donated by the RAI.

Address: Anthropology Library, Centre for Anthropology, British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG, United Kingdom

The nearest British Museum entrance for the Library is the North entrance (Montague Place).

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7323 8031

Email: anthropologylibrary@thebritishmuseum.ac.uk

Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10.00 - 16.45; Thursday 12.00 - 19.00