About the Library and Archives

Information on the IET Library and Archives services offered to members and non-members worldwide. Includes information on opening hours, the Virtual Library, bookshop, document supply and research service.

IET Library reading room, Savoy Place, London

The IET Library is a world-class collection of digital and printed resources on all areas of engineering and technology, containing 65,000 printed books and 3,500 print journals on these subjects. The library reading room is open to IET members and the general public Monday to Friday 9am–5pm GMT. IET members and library-only members have online access to our expanding electronic books and journals collections via the Virtual Library, which includes Books24x7, Ebsco, Faulkner, Key Note, Knovel and Wiley.

The IET Archives collects and preserves the IET’s records since its foundation in 1871, also holding collections related to the history of science, engineering and technology (SET) since the fourteenth century. It holds a range of media covering manuscripts, printed materials, films, photographs, technical drawings, maps and plans. The highlights of the collections include the papers of Michael Faraday, Sir Francis Ronalds and Oliver Heaviside. There is also a large corporate archive recording the activities of a number of engineering businesses since the early nineteenth century and the archive of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES).

Using the Archives - We ask that you make an appointment with the Archives before your visit as researcher space is limited.

Online catalogues

Library online catalogue is available to search for book and journal titles in our collections. Request, renewal and reservation self-service functionality is available for members once logged in on the IET website;
Archives online catalogue holds details of the collections, series and items within the National Archive for Electrical Science and Technology (NAEST), the Special Collection Manuscripts (SCMSS), and the Image Collection.

Further information and services

Book loans and free of charge global postal loan service;
Bookshop selling IET books and memorabilia;
Book stock reviews. Three books are picked from our library stock each month to be reviewed;
Document supply service for copies of articles, papers and extracts purchased for a small fee;
History of the IET’s Library and Archives includes details on holdings and resources available in the archival collections, including the IET’s own records, deposited collections and rare books;
Research service to locate information on technologies, market and company data, products and suppliers. More extensive research is available on request for a small fee;
Visit the Library and Archives provides information to help you plan your visit to Savoy Place and in using our facilities, including WiFi access, electronic access to databases INSPEC Direct, IEEExplore and the BSI online catalogue. You can also find out about arranging a tour of the Library and Archives facilities.

MLA designated status

MLA Designated Status logo This was awarded in 2006 to the IET Library and Archives by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) for all our collections, which have been recognised as being of outstanding national and international importance in the fields of science, engineering and technology.