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Using the Library

Library Opening times

Service Alert: Please see the webpage link for news about searching the catalogue for E-books and E-journals  (scroll to the bottom of the page)
Library training events

Library Opening Hours

Monday to Friday: 8:00am to 11:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9:30am to 10:00 pm

Further information about opening hours at key dates and opening times webpages.

Existing members

External members with valid SOAS Library card they do not need to book to visit SOAS Library.

If you don't yet have an up-to-date membership, please fill in this form to apply for membership. We will contact you to arrange an appointment for you to collect your new ID card when it is ready.

Special Collections Reading Room

Visitors wishing to use SOAS Special Collections should read our guidance before arranging their visit. We regret that visitors without a booking will not be admitted. For information about joining SOAS Library if you do not already have a valid membership card 

Brunei Gallery

For further information see Brunei Gallery website

Where to find us

The Library is located in the main SOAS site (College Buildings/Philips Building) at Thornhaugh Street which is just off Russell Square:

To visit the Library enter the College building and you will find the Library located towards the back of the building.

Getting to SOAS Library by Tube/Train

The following stations are all within walking distance:

  • Russell Square (Piccadilly Line)
  • Goodge Street (Northern Line)
  • Tottenham Court Road (Central and Northern Lines)
  • Euston (Victoria and Northern Lines, London Overground & Mainline trains)
  • Euston Square (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan)
  • Kings Cross / St Pancras International (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Piccadilly, Victoria lines & domestic and Eurostar trains)
  • Warren Street (Victoria and Northern lines).
Getting to SOAS Library by Bus

The following buses serve the local area: 

Getting to SOAS Library by Bicycle

SOAS has ample bicycle parking outside the main SOAS entrance; and also has TFL cycle hire/parking nearby

More information

SOAS Library Online public access catalogue

Service Alert

Use SOAS Library catalogue to search for books, journals and journal articles in SOAS Library

Our library catalogue is generally working as expected. However we have seen a temporary issue with finding some publications from Taylor and Francis

When you search for a book or journal, if you see a result that  looks like the picture below - when searching for an item published by Taylor and Francis please use these alternative sources:

for Ebooks - Please search for the book on https://www.taylorfrancis.com/collections and log in "with Shibboleth or OpenAthens" link to log in

for Ejournals please use https://www.tandfonline.com/