ZSL Library and Archives are open on Tuesday to Thursday.
ZSL Library and Archives are pleased to be welcoming visitors. We are welcoming a limited number of visitors by appointment only, we are open 10.30am to 5pm on Tuesday to Thursday.
Extended Christmas closure - our last day open in 2024 is Thursday 19th December. We will then reopen on Tuesday 4th February 2025.
Please email library@zsl.org 24 hours in advance to make an appointment to visit so we can reserve a desk for you. If you plan to consult any of our 'special collections' i.e. Archives, historic books or artworks, then please email a week before. We can then arrange to retrieve the material ready for your visit.
Once you arrive please press the buzzer or telephone 0207 449 6293 so one of the Library Team can let you into the building.
Our Reading Room is accessed via two flights of stairs. If you would like to visit but this would cause you a particular issue, please let us know so we can consider if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make for you.
Library Tours for Fellows and Patrons
We will be staying open slightly later on the evenings of in-person ZSL Talks so Fellows and Patrons can call in then without making an appointment. Additionally we will be staying open later on the evening of ZSL's AGM.
We are taking part in London Zoo Vet's Tour for Fellows and Patrons. The tour begins with a visit to ZSL Library and Archives followed by a visit to the Vet Hospital. Tickets must be pre-booked and space is limited.
Do enjoy our film which will talk you through the key features of the Library:
Latest News
ZSL Archives Catalogue
We have launched our new ZSL Archives catalogue and website to search our institutional archives and to find out more about ZSL's history.
The new ZSL Archives catalogue and website includes a ‘News’ page where we will post updates about the Archives, blog posts and information about upcoming events. ‘About the Archives’ provides a general overview of ZSL’s Archives collections. ‘Explore Archive Topics’ provides information about famous ZSL animals, people and architecture. ‘How to search’ includes handy tips for searching the catalogue. Finally there is a link to ‘Search the Archive’ and delve into the history of ZSL and the zoos it owns: London and Whipsnade Zoo.
Legacy archive data has been transferred from the ZSL Library catalogue to the new AtoM (Access to Memory) open-source software and the records are being enhanced to make them as accessible as possible.
This is a great achievement for ZSL Library and Archives ahead of ZSL’s 200th anniversary, and will open up the collections to anyone interested in the history of ZSL. As we approach the anniversary, the catalogue will continue to be enhanced and developed.
Thank you to Max Communications for designing and developing the new catalogue and website, and to Sarah Broadhurst, ZSL’s former Archivist who started work on the new catalogue.
Additionally you can search our Annual reports in the Archives catalogue
Earlier this year we were involved in the launch of History Hive, an appeal for memories and artefacts as we approach ZSL's 200th anniversary. Watch the film of the launch.