The Library

Welcome to the Library of the Religious Society of Friends

The Library is one of the largest collections in the world relating to Quakers and their activities. It is an inspiring resource for understanding peace, prison reform, humanitarian assistance, and the anti-slavery movement as well as Quaker history, faith, thought and practice.

It is free and open to everyone. 

Founded in 1673 the Library's collections include books, periodicals, manuscripts and pictures, as well as the archives of the central organisation of Quakers in Britain, known as Britain Yearly Meeting.

Today we aim to collect and preserve Quakers' historic and continuing recorded heritage, increase access to information about the Society of Friends and encourage study in Quaker and related activities.

The Library also supports meetings, managing Quaker records and meeting libraries.

• Quakers Living Adventurously : The Library and Archives of the Society of Friends, a talk by David Blake, Head of Library and Archives, given to Gresham College, 23 January 2013. 
• Library blog, Quaker Strongrooms 
• Online Exhibition: Quakers and the Temperance Movement
• "The London Friends' Meetings by William Beck and T. Frederick Ball. An introduction to the new and expanded reprint" talk by Peter Daniels
  

Closed week, 21-24 May 2013

The Library reading room is closed to researchers between Tuesday 21 and Friday 24 May 2013. It will reopen on Tuesday 28 May at 10am.