Library

Library services

Please see our study spaces and opening hours. 

We provide services for our member and course students including:

• postal loans (see below)
• access to ejournals, ebooks and databases
• free literature searches
• document delivery and inter-library loans.

We provide public services including:

• on-site reference access to print and electronic materials
• access to rare books and archives
• exhibitions and events; our current exhibition is 'A cabinet of rarities’: the curious collections of Sir Thomas Browne.

Collections

Our print and electronic collections to support today’s physicians focus on:

• medical leadership and management
• health service provision
• health policy and public health
• teaching skills and learning theory
• medical ethics
• MRCP(UK) exam revision
• the RCP's specialties.

We also have an extensive collection of historical resources with particular strengths in:

• the history of the RCP
• the history of medicine
• the development of the RCP’s specialties
• medical biography.

Loans

• The majority of items younger than 100 years old are available for loan.
• Ten items at a time may be borrowed by RCP course students, members of the PCN or FFLM, and those in the following RCP membership categories:
  • associate
  • physician associate
  • affiliate
  • collegiate
  • fellow.
• Three items at a time may be borrowed by RCP foundation year members, student members and physician associate student members.
• The public may borrow items via their own library using an inter-library loan.
• You can request items via the library catalogue, by emailing us, or in person. You can collect items from the Library Reading Room or MERC.
• We will post loans to you if you are within the UK. This is free for packages weighing under 2 kg (returns are at your own expense).
• Items are lent for 4 weeks. Up to three renewals are allowed - in person, by email or telephone unless they are reserved.

Donations

Offers of donations are always appreciated, but restrictions on space and other resources mean they cannot always be accepted. All offers are reviewed with reference to both RCP policy and professional guidelines. A decision is usually made within 1 month. Please refer to our 'Library donations policy' document for further information.