The Library: Transactions of The Bibliographical Society
The Library, the journal of the Bibliographical Society, is now available in both printed and electronic form. For more than a hundred years it has been the pre-eminent UK scholarly journal for the study of bibliography and of the role of the book in history. The Society’s journal, first published in 1893, was originally entitled The Transactions of the Bibliographical Society. In 1920 it took over the publication of The Library (which had appeared since 1889) and adopted that as the main title of the Transactions.
All aspects of descriptive, analytical, textual and historical bibliography come within its scope, including the history of the production, distribution and reception of books, both manuscript and printed; the history of collecting and of libraries; paper, printing types, book illustration, and binding; and the transmission of texts and their authenticity.
Each quarterly issue of The Library contains approximately 120 pages, illustrated where necessary. As well as articles and notes, each issue includes book reviews and lists of recent books and periodicals in the field.
Each year The Library invites a guest editor to make a selection of articles from back issues of the journal on a chosen topic. The articles are freely available to view for three months from December; the guest editorial is permanently available. See https://bibsoc.org.uk/virtual-issues-library/.
Publishers and others are asked to note that space in The Library for review is limited, and that only books of a definitely bibliographical character can be noticed fully. Brief, mainly descriptive notes will be published of relevant books received which cannot be given a full-length review. The Library does not deal with the techniques of modern library administration.
The Library is designed and produced by Jackie Maidment, Wetherby, and printed by Henry Ling Ltd, Dorchester.
From 1 January 2026, the online version of The Library will be published by Liverpool University Press.
Access for members of the Bibliographical Society will be via their login on the Members’ Portal.
The Library has been transferred to Liverpool University Press and is expected to be accessible before the end of January.
Members will receive notification when this is ready.
Until 31 December 2025, the journal had been published online by Oxford University Press.
Articles can no longer be downloaded from the OUP site via members’ personal logins issued by the Bibliographical Society.
Some earlier back issues of The Transactions and The Library are also obtainable; members should enquire of the Hon. Secretary as to availability and price.