LSE’s library is the British Library of Political and Economic Science, the major international library of the social sciences. While you are studying at LSE you will probably spend more time in the Library than in any other part of the School.
It contains over four million books and journals in 50km of shelving. The Library has been recognised by the Higher Education Funding Council as one of only five National Research Libraries in England and its collections have been designated by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council as being of 'outstanding national and international importance'.
The Library is an aesthetically pleasing space, where students enjoy a range of study areas in light and airy surroundings.
“Having the largest social science library in the world means there's ample resources and space to accommodate your learning at LSE.” Shalen Sehgal, BSc Mathematics and Economics
Collections
The main stock of the Library covers the social sciences in the widest sense. There are rich collections of government publications from nearly all the countries in the world, a wealth of statistical materials, important collections of manuscripts and rare books and long runs of a large number of journals. The School also has a separate collection for general literature and music which is housed in the Shaw Library in the Old Building.
Study spaces
Every student has their own way of working, and the Library endeavours to provide study spaces for every preference. There are silent and quiet zones; group work zones; and a variety of seating, for those who prefer a bean bag to a traditional desk!
There are over 2,000 study spaces in the Library, with this number increasing during the busiest times, so you won’t struggle to find somewhere to work. The Library is open 24 hours a day during the exam period.
Library services
Academic support librarians work with every academic department at LSE to ensure that students can make the most of the Library’s extensive collections during their research. These specialist librarians will help you develop skills to find, evaluate, use and create information.
The Library has an extensive digital infrastructure. The Library’s collections are all searchable online, and many books and journals are available as e-resources. Training is provided on all our digital resources, and students learn how to complement the Library’s physical collection with digital research. The Library also loans out laptop computers for use within the building.
As an LSE student you will also have access to most libraries of other colleges of the University of London.
“The research facilities are excellent, including the huge range of resources and help we get at the LSE library. LSE also houses some of the world's leading centres in academic research, and students here have many opportunities to attend high-profile seminars and talks.” Grace Lim, BSc Econometrics and Economics