The Anthropology Library, located within the Centre for Anthropology at the British Museum, incorporates the original Library of the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) and the Museum’s Ethnography Library, and is effectively Britain’s national anthropology library. The RAI contributes substantially to Library acquisitions and staffing. International exchange arrangements are also in place with scholarly institutions, under which the Library receives publications in exchange for RAI journals.

The Library is open to the public for reference and research. RAI Fellows have the special privilege of borrowing books and journals donated by the RAI (about 60% of total holdings). Fellows and Members are encouraged to make use of the Library’s wide ranging resources.

The online catalogue can be searched here.

Both the RAI and the Museum’s Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas host seminars and other events in the Centre. The Department’s Collections Enquiries service is also located within the Centre.

Library opening hours are 10.00-17.00 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and 12.00-17.00 on Thursday.

Electronic Resources

The Library is increasingly purchasing material in electronic format as well as hard copy. At present the electronic resources collection is still in its developmental stage, but already comprises a substantial number of reference works and some journal titles. This development will allow Fellows both on-site and remote access to a selection of the Library’s resources and, by rationalising purchases, will enable the Library both to effect budgetary savings and to offer a much wider range of material.