A group of six students in a grand room hung with portraits, looking at a geological map of Cornwall on a table

Library Tours & Training

Get to know your Library with online and in-person training

The Library runs regular training sessions for members. Sign up to our next online session, or visit in person for an introductory tour.

Library Showcase Day 2026

Date: Thursday 2 July
Time: 10.30am OR 2.30pm
Location: Burlington House, London

Fellows and Student Members are invited to join us for our annual Library Showcase Day on Thursday 2 July.

This is an opportunity to find out more about one of the prime benefits of your membership, and how the Library can help with your research. On the tour you’ll be introduced to our book, journal and map collections and our e-resources and geological databases. You’ll also be able to visit our Map Room which holds over 40,000 geological maps covering the entire globe.
 
The tour will include a display of treasures from our Archives and Special Collections. 

All members are welcome to attend, though it may be of more interest to those who have not used the Library before.

To register please email library@geolsoc.org.uk, stating your preferred time of 10.30am or 2.30pm.

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Online Training Sessions

Next session: TBC

Open to: Fellows and Student Members

Email library@geolsoc.org.uk to register

The online training session will introduce you to the Library's collections and the wide range of services we offer, with a focus on making the most of our e-books and e-journals.

Topics covered include:

  • Introduction to Library collections
  • Online access to e-books and e-journals
  • Accessing the ScienceDirect platform
  • Borrowing items and requesting copies
  • GeoRef database
  • The Map Room
  • Archives and special collections

The training will take place on Zoom and last approximately 1 hour, including time for questions.

Upper Library of the Geological Society, with books and maps on wooden tables, with sunlight falling on them

In-person Training

Open to: Fellows, Student Members, Associate Members and employees of Corporate Patron companies

If you visit the Library in person we would be very happy to arrange an in-person induction.

As well as covering the topics in the above online training, an in-person session is an opportunity to find out about the wide range of services we offer before browsing our world-class collections in the Library at Burlington House. You can have a go at searching the GeoRef database, visit the Map Room, and meet the Library staff.

We offer these sessions any time during normal opening hours. Please get in touch to arrange a date and time. Email: library@geolsoc.org.uk

 

Historical Tours

The Library can offer historical tours of the building and collections to small groups, subject to staff availability and other events taking place in the building. Please contact us for further information: library@geolsoc.org.uk