About the collections

Collections development policy

Here is our current Collections development policy (PDF), which sets out how we will keep our collections up to date. If you would like to discuss the policy or have any feedback on our collections, please contact library@quaker.org.uk and you will be directed to the relevant staff member to discuss further.

If you are interested in offering us any material for the Library collections, please contact us in advance to discuss with relevant collections staff. Please do not send material to us without discussing it in advance.

Collections information

Harmful Language in Collections and Catalogue Records

The Library of the Society of Friends (LSF) holds collections spanning more than 350 years. These collections may contain ideas, images, and language which are offensive and harmful.

We are actively working to make our collections as accessible and inclusive as possible and to avoid perpetuating systemic discrimination in our collections management. We are committed to reviewing our catalogue data with the aim of ensuring all our catalogue descriptions, subject terms and finding aids use appropriate language. If you have any concerns about any collections or other issues, please contact us: library@quaker.org.uk / 020 7663 1035

If you encounter material in our collections which causes harm or distress, please talk to a member of staff. There are also resources under 'emotional support' on the Cultural Heritage Terminology Network website: https://culturalheritageterminology.co.uk/resources/#decolonisation-initiatives

Books and pamphlets

The Library has over 80,000 books and pamphlets, including a unique collection of 17th century Quaker and anti-Quaker material. It is a reference collection, although we will sometimes loan duplicate copies of books less than 75 years old to registered readers in the UK only.

Periodicals

Over 200 titles are regularly received that are mainly Quaker related. They range from academic titles such as Quaker Studies and The Journal of the Friends Historical Society, to special interests such as Towards Wholeness (Friends Fellowship of Healing) to the newsletters and journals of other Yearly Meetings. We have complete runs of many titles, plus older titles that no longer exist.

Archives and manuscripts

The Library houses four broad categories of archival materials. They are:

• the archives of Britain Yearly Meeting and its committees. These are committees responsible for the work of Friends in Britain and overseas.
• the archives of London & Middlesex Quaker meetings
• the archives of Quaker organisations that are not part of Britain Yearly Meeting, such as Friends Ambulance Unit; and a few non-Quaker organisations, such as Central Board for Conscientious Objectors
• manuscript collections and papers of a wide variety of significant Friends, such as Margaret Fell and Elizabeth Fry.

Most collections are subject to a 50 year closure period. Some collections may be closed for longer in line with Data Protection legislation or other issues of confidentiality.

Meeting records

Records of Quaker meetings outside the London and Middlesex General Meeting area are not held in the Library, but are deposited in the appropriate local archives and libraries around the country. The National Archives have information on local archives and libraries on Discovery: National archives discovery (offsite link).

Visual Resources

The Library's visual resources collection includes photographs, lantern slides, paintings, drawings, prints, posters and some museum objects and costume. Subjects consist mostly of group and individual portraits of Friends, meeting houses and aspects of Quaker work at home and abroad. Most of our Visual Resources collections can only be viewed by appointment. Email library@quaker.org.uk for more information.

For more subject guides see the other links on this page.

For enquiries about our collections Contact us.