ZSL Prince Philip Zoological Library & Archives

Welcome to ZSL Library and Archives

Revised Opening Hours

Tuesday and Wednesday 10.30am-5pm only by appointment.

ZSL Library is closed on all public holidays, Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and at weekends.

Please email library@zsl.org 24 hours in advance to make an appointment to visit so we can reserve a desk for you.

If you plan to consult any of our 'special collections' i.e. Archives, historic books or art works, then please email a week before.We can then arrange to retrieve material ready for your visit.

Access to ZSL Library & Archives

ZSL Library & Archives is open to all, however members of the public must register for a reference ticket (this can be done on the first day that you plan to use the Library). Please refer to 'who can use the Library' for details

Fellows of ZSL and ZSL Members are welcome to use ZSL Library & Archives. Please see 'who can use the Library' for details

If you plan to visit ZSL Library with a group of four or more people, please contact us in advance at library@zsl.org , on 0207 449 6293 or via our online enquiry/feedback form

Library users below the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times when visiting ZSL Library.

Finding ZSL Library & Archives

ZSL Library is in the Zoological Society of London's main office building, situated on the Outer Circle of Regent's Park, approximately 200 yards East of ZSL London Zoo's main gate and adjacent to the ZSL Meeting Rooms.

View map Meeting room map

Library visitors do not have to enter ZSL London Zoo to use ZSL Library.

ZSL/James Godwin

External view of ZSL Library & Archives and Offices

ZSL Online Library Catalogue

Search the Library catalogue

ZSL Library Catalogue can be viewed online with details of all serial holdings, most-pre-1860 books and books published from 1993 onwards can also be found in the online catalogue.

Visitors may want to view this online catalogue before they visit ZSL Library in person.

Find out more about the ZSL online Library catalogue.

Wireless Internet Access

Free wireless internet access is available in ZSL Library. To connect your laptop to the wireless network you simply need to request a password from the Library desk (the password will be changed on a weekly basis).

Visitor wireless internet access policy (46.37 KB)

Please ask Library staff for further details when you visit ZSL Library.

Library information for Fellows and Members

Are you a Fellow or a member of ZSL? Find out more about visiting the library and upcoming tours here. 

Important points to note

• applications to consult 'special collections i.e. historic books, archives and art works should be made a week in advance
• school students under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult while visiting ZSL Library
• please bring your Fellowship or Membership card with you when you visit or proof of address and photo identification if you are member of the public visiting ZSL Library for the first time.
• ZSL Library is accessed via two flights of stairs. If you are not able to use the stairs please let us know in advance of your visit so we can provide assistance. We do have access via a lift. The lift is 65cm wide and 120cm deep but if you need to use this, please do contact us in advance.

ZSL Library is usually open to all - please see below for access details and limitations on usage.

Please email library@zsl.org to make an appointment to visit. We are open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

General Public

Members of the public who are not members of ZSL or the RES may request a Library reference ticket. Please note that you will be able to use the Library for reference only. No books may be removed.

Please bring proof of your address and photo identification with you on the day that you wish to join the Library: this is necessary even for day tickets. You will be asked to complete an application form on your first visit and a ticket will then be posted to your home address.

• If you do not bring the identification detailed above you will be refused access to the Library
• If you plan to visit ZSL Library with a group of four or more people, a please contact us in advance at library@zsl.org , on 0207 449 6293 or via our online enquiry/feedback form
• Library users below the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times when visiting ZSL Library
• ZSL library regulations for members and ticket holders (207.41 KB)

Fellows of ZSL

Fellows of the Zoological Society of London are welcome to use the Library and borrow up to six books at a time.

Since September 2011 Student Fellows have been able to borrow up to two books at a time.

Please bring your Fellowship card with you when your visit.

Libary regulations for Fellows & Student Fellows June 2019 (195.07 KB)

ZSL Members

ZSL Members are welcome to use the Library for reference only, no books may be removed. Please bring your membership card with you.

ZSL library regulations for members and ticket holders (207.41 KB) (207.41 KB)

Find out how to become a Member of ZSL

ZSL Visiting Library Scholars

Scholars from around the world are welcome to apply and receive privileged access to ZSL Library for a period of time, giving an opportunity to study rare or unique items in the collections.

Find out how to apply for an honorary position as a visiting library scholar. 

Special Collections

Please refer to our regulations for Special Collections if you wish to consult ZSL Archives, art works or images.

ZSL Library Regulations for use of 'Special Collections' (168.31 KB) (168.31 KB)

Find out how to become a Member of ZSL

Search the Library catalogue

Use our catalogue to search:

• All our serial (journal) holdings
• All books in our collection acquired since 1993
• Most books in our collection published before 1860
• ZSL Archives - see note below.
• ZSL Artwork collection
• Links to relevant online resources

For books published before 1993 it is advisable to check both this catalogue and the card catalogue in the Library Reading Room. We are currently adding details of all books in the Library, please see details of this project below.

Our art works have been catalogued with funding from the Michael Marks Trust. Artworks and artefacts are not all listed individually, some are listed as collections.

The catalogue contains a limited number of records for the ZSL Archives, if you cannot find what you want please check with our Archivist by emailing library@zsl.org .

View our Library catalogue Frequently Asked Questions. 

If you experience any problems with the catalogue please contact us at library@zsl.org

Retrospective Book Cataloguing Project

ZSL Library is pleased to announce that all the books within its Reading Room have been added to the online catalogue.  A Retrospective Book Cataloguing Project commenced in Summer 2010 after a generous bequest by former staff member, Connie Nutkins.

For many years ZSL Library has had a large gap in its online catalogue, where books published between 1860 and 1993 could only be located via the physical card catalogue located in the Library’s Reading Room.  The limited access to the Library catalogue meant that many researchers were not aware of the items held in this unique collection.  It had been hoped to for some time that a cataloguing project would help widen access to the Library, and it was only after Connie’s kind bequest that the project became a reality.

By the end of Autumn 2014 all the books in the Reading Room had systematically been added to the Library’s online catalogue, with the benefit of not only increasing access to the collection, but also giving Library staff an opportunity to perform a thorough stock check and perform conservation reports.

This was a key project in helping ZSL to deliver the strategic aim of facilitating access to zoological and conservation knowledge.

Thanks must go to staff and volunteers who have worked so hard on this project, and a special thank you to the late Connie Nutkins who made the project possible.