| Administrative history | During the 19th Century only Fellows could access the Royal Society library and loan books from it. Further regulations governing the use of the library can be found in a document dated 16 Dec 1898, at the front of MS/401/5. The role of librarian was typically held by one of the Secretaries of the Society.
Non-Fellows had to have special permission from the President or Council of the Royal Society to access the library. Correspondence referring to access to the library for non-Fellows may be found in the New Letter Books (outgoing correspondence from the Royal Society 1885-1931). |