Visiting the library
The library is open to all RUSI Members one day per week. You are welcome to drop in without booking on those days (although letting us know in advance helps with planning etc). The library is a beautiful and calming workspace and tables are available for you to work, read or just enjoy the space! In this frenetic world, our library is an oasis of calm and much cheaper than a spa day!
If you have not visited the library before, contact the library ([email protected]) to arrange an induction tour.
Library session dates
- Friday 6 March 2026: 09:00 - 17:00
- Monday 9 March 2026: 09:00 - 17:00
- Monday 16 March 2026: 09:00 - 16:00
- Monday 23 March 2026: 09:00 - 17:00
- Tuesday 31 March 2026: 09:00 - 17:00
- Wednesday 1 April: 09:00 - 17:00
- Wednesday 8 April: 09:00 - 17:00
- Monday 13 April: 09:00 - 17:00
- Wednesday 22 April: 09:00 - 17:00
- Tuesday 28 April: 09:30 - 17:00
- Wednesday 6 May: 09:00 - 17:00
- Tuesday 12 May: 09:00 - 17:00
- Monday 18 May: 09:00 - 17:00
- Tuesday 26 May: 09:00 - 17:00
- Monday 1 June: 09:00 - 17:00
- Friday 12 June: 09:00 - 17:00
- Wednesday 17 June: 09:00 - 17:00
- Monday 22 June: 09:00 - 17:00
- Monday 29 June: 09:00 - 17:00
- Wednesday 8 July: 09:00 - 17:00
- Monday 13 July: 09:00 - 17:00
- Thursday 23 July: 09:00 - 17:00
- Monday 27 July: 09:00 - 17:00
- Monday 3 August: 09:00 - 17:00
- Friday 14 August: 09:00 - 17:00
- Tuesday 18 August: 09:00 - 17:00
- Thursday 27 August : 09:00 - 17:00
To enter the building, please make sure you bring photo ID with you (e.g. passport/drivers’ licence/citizen card) which matches the name registered on your RUSI membership profile. When you arrive at 61 Whitehall, please check in with Reception, where you will need to sign in and show your photo ID. You will also be asked to leave coats and bags in our cloakroom, although you can take writing materials into the library.
Volunteering
We are providing opportunities for RUSI Members to volunteer their time to help us organise our impressive collection. We are currently working on a project to ensure all of our 24,000 titles are available on our online catalogue. We also began our ‘Rare book’ project to organise and publicise our rare books and to highlight their narratives and how they still relate to situations in the present day.
Volunteers have been working on classifying books, cataloguing rare books and transcribing items in our archive. If you are a member of RUSI and would like to volunteer please contact Amanda Sheppard for more details at [email protected]. No experience is necessary, just enthusiasm. You can find out more and signup to a volunteer session below.
Opportunities for RUSI Organisation Members
We can provide bespoke tours of our library for your employees. Apart from gaining a better understanding of the history of the beautiful library, employees will have a chance to explore some of our fascinating artifacts and rare books. Tours can be tailored to a specific historic period, topic or subject area. This is free as part of your membership and can be for up to 30 people per session.
We can also provide half-day or full-day hands on sessions, where your team can learn to preserve books by making bespoke archive boxes, learn how to handle rare books and have a go at transcribing and archiving old documents. People attending these sessions have found them to be a great way to relax, socialise and learn a new skill whilst helping to ensure the preservation of historical objects. These sessions are free for RUSI Organistional Members to book for up to 20 people per session. (Please note that lunch is not included).
To discuss a tour or creating a bespoke library visit, please contact Amanda Sheppard at [email protected].