About the Royal Society of Tasmania Library
	Description Location Access Catalogues Shelf Arrangement Loan Policy Photocopying Facilities Borrowing from University Library Collections Contacts

 Description

The Library covers the subjects of natural history, science and Tasmanian history. Books are mainly old standard historical works in the natural sciences.

There are about 5000 book titles, 45,000 serial volumes and 650 current serial titles including some rare books.

The Society's journal, Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania is held in the Royal Society Library, Launceston Library and Science Library.  A card index to the Papers and Proceedings is held in the Royal Society Library and covers from vol 1, 1849 to 1989. Papers and Proceedings is also indexed in many major scientific indexing and abstracting services and databases. 

Location

5th Floor, Morris Miller Library, Sandy Bay (Hobart) campus, University of Tasmania.

Access

Access to the Royal Society of Tasmania Library is available to members of the public under the same conditions which apply to University Library collections. Restricted loans are available to University staff and higher degree students. The Library is open between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday.  Please ask for assistance at the Morris Miller Library Information Desk on Level 2 of the building (entry level), or from the Senior Librarian, Physical Collections (on Level 5) or the Special Collecions Assistant.

Catalogues

Library materials are listed in one of two catalogues, depending on the time of cataloguing (or re-cataloguing).

1.  University Library on-line catalogue

Lists Royal Society materials received after 1993 and most items re-classified and catalogued from the old card catalogue.

2.  Card Catalogue (located outside the office of Senior Librarian, Physical Collections)

Lists some serial titles held prior to 1993.   An index to the Papers and Proceedings can be found in the same catalogue cabinet.

Shelf arrangement

1.  Monographs

The Library uses the Library of Congress classification for monographs and material is shelved in the same manner as other University Library collections.

2.  Serials

Serials are gradually being reclassified to Library of Congress call numbers. Serials not yet re-classified are arranged on the shelves either by:

title (e.g. Journal of zoology)
name of issuing body (e.g. Royal Society of New South Wales)
place (e.g. Greece. National Centre for Marine Research).

To trace title changes and to ensure the collection is accessed fully it is necessary to check the catalogue under the various possibilities.  Please note however,that material is being progressively reclassified and listed in the on-line catalogue and are found adjacent to the Library of Congress monographs. Current serials not yet reclassified are also listed in the on-line catalogue but still shelved in the alphabetical sequence of volumes.

Note:  Material in the Rare Book Room is often fragile and permission must be obtained to to photocopy any item.  Rare material may only be consulted under supervision.

Loan Policy

Serial Loans are restricted to Royal Society members, University staff and postgraduate students on the same basis as University Library policies.

Borrowing from the University Library collections

Members of the Royal Society may borrow from the University Library as Special Borrowers. No fee is charged for Members. Apply at the Service Desk for an application form (see conditions). 

Contact information

Telephone: (03) 6226 2231 (Librarian)  : (03) 6226 2222 (Special Collections Assistant)  6226 2229: (Information Desk)
Facsimile: (03) 6226 7642
E-mail the Royal Society Librarian: Graeme.Rayner@utas.edu.au