The Library’s holdings comprise more than 120,000 books and pamphlets and 4,000 journal titles, of which around 1,500 are current. The journal collection, which is indexed by the Anthropological Index Online, is particularly strong for Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. The Library also contains maps, newsletters, reports and a significant pictorial collection.
Geographically the scope is worldwide, with particular emphasis on the Commonwealth, Eastern Europe and the Americas, notably Mesoamerica. All aspects of anthropology are covered: cultural (with an emphasis on material culture) and biological anthropology, archaeology and linguistics, together with related fields such as history, sociology, description and travel.
Fellows and Members are encouraged to make use of the Library’s wide ranging resources at the Anthropology Library and Research Centre at the British Museum. The online catalogue can be searched here.