One may wonder why a library requires a blog, especially an entirely unofficial one?  The RNS and BNS have maintained a joint library for many years.  It resides in the basement of the Warburg Institute on the south side of Gordon Square.  When I was a PhD student in the 1990s I regularly used the library.  At that time, one could access the library whenever the Warburg was open by showing one’s RNS membership card at reception and getting the key.  Sadly, thefts from the library led to it being closed most of the week.  It is now only open on Tuesday afternoons when a team of volunteers open up for a few hours.

The library, however, seems to be a well-kept secret.  The newly revamped RNS website, for example, makes no mention whatsoever of a library, or that members have the right to borrow up to four books.  As a result, the library is an underused resource.  A small number of people, myself included, use the library regularly, but the vast majority of members do not.

The aim of this blog is to make the members of the two societies more aware of the fantastic collection they have access to, and to encourage them to make more use of the library.  I will be highlighting new books and old, as well as posting notices and information about the library when and as it comes up.

This blog is entirely unofficial and represents my views, not the views of the councils of either Society.