National Philatelic Society Library (NPSL)
c/o The British Postal Museum & Archive
Freeling House, Phoenix Place
London
WC1X 0DL
T: 020 7239 2571
W: www.ukphilately.org.uk/nps/
Visitor Information
Open
11am-3pm Tue, Wed, Thur
The National Philatelic Society Library (NPSL) goes back over 100 years, but since 2007 it has been based in the Search Room of the British Postal Museum & Archive, Clerkenwell, where reference books, catalogues, recent philatelic periodicals and books classified under "Great Britain" are housed. NPSL items not in the Search Room and older philatelic periodicals (non-GB related literature) will usually be produced within 30 minutes, unless held offsite (mainly rarely consulted old English and foreign language periodicals, auction catalogues and exhibition holdings), when four weeks' notice or longer is required. Over 7,000 books, 1,100 periodical titles, plus philatelic exhibition material held by the Library can be accessed using the on-line search facility available on the Society's website www.ukphilately.org.uk/nps and on the public catalogue terminals in the BPMA Search Room.
For many, the library is the prime reason for belonging to the National. It is a superb research facility, whether you just want to skim through the latest stamp magazine or catalogue, or wish to undertake a lifetime of researching. New material is being added daily from around the world and it caters for collectors at every level of the hobby and for those with all types of philatelic interest, however obscure these may be.
Members of the National Philatelic Society may borrow books in person or by post, but the public may use the Library for reference purposes when NPSL personnel are present i.e. 11am-3pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, except in December when the BPMA Search Room is closed for stock-taking and between Christmas and New Year. The BPMA Search Room itself is open to the public at other times as indicated on the BPMA website www.postalheritage.org.uk