Library Appeal 2026
Can you help us reach our goal of raising £20,000 for the SOAS Library?
For over 50 years, the SOAS Library has been a cornerstone of learning, research, and discovery. Housing 1.3 million volumes in over 3,000 languages, it is one of the UK’s five National Research Libraries, offering students, researchers, and alumni unparalleled access to knowledge.
But libraries are more than just books – they are dynamic spaces that evolve to meet the needs of the academic community. With your support, we can continue to provide vital resources, study spaces, and expert research assistance to all who rely on the SOAS Library.
Knowledge without limits
The library serves a cornerstone to the research excellence and student experience. As one of five UK National Research Libraries in the UK with a world leading collection on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the library is the beating heart of SOAS.
Students come to SOAS because they want to build a better future for the world. When you make a gift to the SOAS Library, you help provide world class resources and an enriching education.
How you can help
You could support a variety of measures such as:
- £50 – could help repair a damaged circulation book or undertake small repairs to archives or manuscripts, making them accessible and usable for our patrons once again.
- £250 – could provide Perspex boxes to create a microclimate within display showcases, protecting Special Collection materials from environmental damage.
- £500 – could fund the purchase of museum-quality frames with glazing for artworks enhancing their display and protection.
- £1,000 – could fund the digitisation of several early printed books or manuscripts from our international collections, making these treasures accessible to scholars and the public.
An act of kindness today will support the library and the next generation of thought leaders.
Support the SOAS Library and donate now.
Giving from abroad
If you are supporting the library from overseas, your generosity helps ensure students and researchers can access vital resources, wherever they are in the world. Please see the following pages for further information on donating from abroad.
