There are over 150,000 records in our library catalogue. Most items in the library have been acquired through the generosity of our members through personal donations and bequests. Find out how to contribute to our library collections.
Our library catalogue is free to access and lists all our library holdings. Records for library items can tell you whether an item is held onsite in the library or in our offsite storage.
If you find an item in the library catalogue that you would like to view, take a look at the location information under the main record. If the item is held in one of the onsite categories below, you don’t need to pre-order it for your library visit.
Library resources held on-site
There are currently over 33,000 catalogue records referring to items held onsite. These include items in the following categories. A map of the library showing the locations of the above sections is available in our Researcher Handbook.
A. Textbooks
General and instructional works and guides related to the following:
bibliography, demography, family history research, local history, monetary records, monumental inscriptions (general), palaeography, record guides, schools, social history, surnames, topography.
B. Topical
Birth briefs (which are indexed in SoG Explore), British Record Society volumes, City Companies (London), Harleian Society volumes, heraldry (general reference works), marriage licences indexes and transcriptions, and wills (indexes and transcriptions).
C. Places
All categories of material for the Channel Islands, India, Ireland, Isle of Man ; Scotland (general and local histories plus volumes of the Scottish History Society and Scottish Record Society); Wales (general and local).
Parish register and monumental inscriptions typescripts for Scotland and Wales have been digitised and are gradually being added to SoG Explore.
D. England Counties
General and local categories.
E. Recent Publications
and periodicals as well as the latest Genealogists’ Magazine and all back issues
F. Featured Collection
Featured Collections are sections of our library usually kept in off-site storage, brought out temporarily (usually around four months) for visitors to access. Further information below.
G. Quick Reference
Stored next to the enquiries desk, but visitors can use them as well – ask a staff member if you would like to use any of these items
H. Microfiche
Held on shelves and in cabinets near the enquiries desk – these are closed access. Microfiche order slips are available at the enquiries desk. Complete your slip and hand it to a staff member or a counter service volunteer.
Library resources to request for your visit
Library items in the categories below can be requested for your library visit.
Please complete your Visit Booking & Collections Request form at least one week before your visit and we will get in touch before your visit to confirm we have your items ready.
If you are unable to visit us, you can place a request with our Genealogy Team, who can inspect library items for you and make copies (copyright permitting) for you.
Further information about accessing our collections, and making the most of your collections request form can be found in our Researcher Handbook. Page 10 of the Handbook gives you some tips on how to make the most of your Collections Request.
Overseas Resources
Resources relating to places outside the United Kingdom
Topical resources not held onsite
Almanacs, armed forces (lists, regimental histories, medals), biographical dictionaries, family histories, professions/occupations, religions, state papers, universities/colleges/schools.
Microfilms
Quote the SoG shelf mark or FamilySearch film number in your Collections Request form and we’ll retrieve the film for you to view on a digital film reader computer.
CDs
We keep CDs onsite and can extract the files for you to view on a library computer.
Fragile and oversized items
These items may be in categories of works kept onsite, but they are too large, aged or fragile to keep on the open library shelves.
Parish register and monumental inscriptions for England, Scotland and Wales
These items have been digitised and we are gradually adding them to SoG Explore for members to access at home (copyright permitting). We have started with the monumental inscriptions and we are making good progress, which we report on in our newsletter and magazine. Until the project is finished, if you can’t find the resource you are looking for in SoG Explore you can use the Library Booking and Collections Request form to request the digital file to view on a library computer.
Featured Collections
Find the current featured collection on the shelves adjacent to the communal area.
Past Featured Collections include Hugenots, Roman Catholics, armed forces regimental histories, and professions/occupations.
Find out about our current Featured Collection in our monthly Collections Update, along with a book list for it.
