Admission to the Library

Information for SOAS staff and students can be found on My SOAS.

Everyone is welcome to join the Library in some way and make use of our extensive collections, even if it's only for one day.

Please complete our membership form

• For SOAS Alumni:
• For all other members: (except SOAS staff and students)

Please do not make any payments until we have confirmed your membership; You are asked to provide a passport-sized photograph by email to ReaderServices@soas.ac.uk

After your membership application has been processed, we will contact you to arrange booking of your first visit to the library. 

Please see SOAS Library rules (pdf; 97kb)  

SOAS Library COVID-safe compliance protocol (pdf; 131kb)  

Guests

Please note that we are unable to accommodate guests of staff, students or visitors. All library visitors must pre-book and visitors who do not have an appointment will not be admitted.. Further information is available from ReaderServices@soas.ac.uk

Please read Information for all Library visitors before applying to join SOAS Library.

Policy for Children and Young People on SOAS Premises - October 2018 (pdf; 78kb)  

Important Notice

Please read the information on our website and ensure that you are paying for the right membership to avoid additional costs as we do not issue refunds for cancelled membership.

We will charge the full price for “Borrowing Membership” even if you already have a “Reference Membership” as our payment structure will not permit such upgrades. This applies to all membership types without exception.

Note that some categories of membership including SCONUL membership are currently unavailable due to COVID restrictions.