Library

Book collecting and the exchange of academic journals were core components of the RSE’s early history and helped shape the foundation of the RSE’s library. Below is information about the collection’s contents and where it is held.

On this page: Library Academic journals Exchanged periodicals

Royal Society of Edinburgh Library

If you would like to consult our collections, please ensure you are making an appointment with the repository holding the material you require. When booking, please specify the items you would like to consult.

Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh

Residual Library of the Royal Society of Edinburgh

To make an appointment, please email archives@theRSE.org.uk or call 0131 240 5000. Please note that appointments must be scheduled in advance.

National Library of Scotland Special Collections Reading Room, George VI Bridge, Edinburgh

Library of the Royal Society of Edinburgh

To book an appointment, follow instructions on the National Library of Scotland’s website: https://www.nls.uk/visit/george-iv-bridge/

RSE’s academic journals

The Royal Society of Edinburgh has been publishing academic journals since 1788, when the first issue of Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh was launched. The full back catalogue of the RSE’s journals have been digitised made available for research:

Search all issues of Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (now Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh): https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/earth-and-environmental-science-transactions-of-royal-society-of-edinburgh/all-issues

Search all issues of Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh A: Mathematics: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-royal-society-of-edinburgh-section-a-mathematics/all-issues

Search all issues of Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh B: Biology: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-royal-society-of-edinburgh-section-b-biological-sciences

Find out more about RSE journals

Periodicals received by exchange

Since the late 1700s, the RSE has acquired a large collection of periodicals and scientific journals. Many of these were received in exchange for the Society’s own publications with learned institutions all over the world. Today the collection stands at over 5,000 titles, with many of the titles not held anywhere else in Scotland. The collection covers every aspect of pure science.

In 1981, the RSE transferred its foreign periodicals to the National Library of Scotland. Today, these periodicals can be viewed by appointment with the National Library of Scotland.

More information about the collection can be found: https://www.nls.uk/collections/science-and-technology/collections/rse-periodicals/

The catalogue can be searched here: https://search.nls.uk/primo-explore/search?vid=44NLS_VU1

Appointments to visit the National Library of Scotland can be made here: https://www.nls.uk/contact/