Collections
The Linnean Society of London is the world’s oldest biological society and has in its care several important collections, including those of the Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus, and the Society’s founder, Sir James Edward Smith.
Designated a collection of outstanding national importance by the Arts Council England in 2014, the holdings of the Linnean Society (which include library, archive and biological material) provide an unsurpassed resource for the study of natural history.
Due to the current government lockdown restrictions, the Library is closed until further notice.
We are still providing postal loans for our Fellows and replying to enquiries about our collections, although, as staff are mostly working from home, these services may take a little longer than usual.
The Library is open to Fellows and members of the public by appointment only due to the multipurpose use of the building. We are a small team, and if we know in advance what material you are interested in, this will help us to prepare and retrieve material to make your visit more successful.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm
Contact: +44 (0)20 7434 4479 EXT 223 | library@linnean.org