The International Astrology Library
Incorporating the Philip Graves Library with the Astrological Association Library and Archive
How to visit the International Astrology Library
The International Astrology Library, incorporating the Astrological Association Library and Archive with the Philip Graves Library, is located in Newport, South Wales, with easy access off the M4 motorway, and just 20 minutes’ walk from Newport railway station [100 minutes from London].
To arrange a visit, first email Philip at archive@astrologicalassociation.com
Saturdays and Sundays are usually available. For extended research over a whole weekend, night stays are available at hotels in the city centre, while self-catering accommodation on a budget is available at Newport Student Village, just ten minutes’ walk from the library.
Visits for research are free of charge to Astrological Association members.
Non-members can also visit by prior appointment, at a cost of £10 per hour, or £40 for an entire day.
If you cannot come in person, Philip is happy to help people living anywhere in the world with information and research support. Please note that he is not permitted by law to photocopy copyright-protected materials, so all such requests will be denied. With this proviso in mind, email him your requests at archive@astrologicalassociation.com
Accessibility
There is limited wheelchair access because the library currently inhabits a two-storey private house from the early 20th century with no lift, a threshold to cross at the entrance door, and some narrow internal doorways, but if you are a wheelchair user, Philip may be able to make special arrangements – please advise him as to your needs.
Rules for visitors to the International Astrology Library
We ask visitors to abide by the usual library rules below
- Bags, coats and jackets must be left in the entrance hall for the duration of your visit. You may however take your own laptop computer, tablet and / or mobile phone with you throughout the library to assist you with your research and note-taking if you wish.
- Unless you have a medical exemption, shoes should be removed in the front hall, in order to keep the library room floors clean, dry and free from grit in all weathers.
- All books and periodicals should be treated as archival materials and handled with care accordingly. Pick them up with proper, even support to prevent strain to the binding, hold them carefully to avoid the risk of bumping or dropping, put them down gently, and turn pages carefully.
- Take extra care with older magazines and with all books printed before 1960, which are generally clearly demarcated from the more modern printings by being kept in their own shelves. The older materials often have fragile covers, pages and bindings, any of which can easily be accidentally torn or damaged by friction at the point of pulling them out of shelves or replacing them in shelves. Some older books and magazines even have detached covers. Unless you are highly experienced at safely handling such fragile volumes (for example if you have worked as a professional archivist yourself), please ask for help, and the librarian will both bring them to one of the reading tables for you and replace them in the shelves afterwards.
- Ensure your hands are both clean and completely dry before you start to handle any books or other items in the library. Running water and paper towels are provided both in the downstairs kitchen and in the upstairs WC.
- Please be peaceful and respectful in your conduct. No violence or threats will be tolerated. Any visitors displaying physical or verbal aggression towards the librarian, the building and fixtures, or any of the items housed in the library, may be asked to leave immediately and barred from visiting again.
- No weapons, knives or other metal implements except for jewellery may be carried on the person or otherwise brought into the building.
- No items that do not belong to you may be removed from the house without the librarian’s express prior permission. Any thefts will be reported to the police and pursued to the full extent allowed by the law.
- All library materials situated in the two upstairs library rooms are the property of the Astrological Association of Great Britain. They may be carried across from one room to the other as needed for study, but they may not be brought down the stairs or mixed up with any of the books found downstairs.
- Most library materials situated in the downstairs library rooms are the private property of the librarian. They may not be taken out of the rooms they are in, and may only be browsed in those rooms.
Tea and coffee will be made freely available in the downstairs kitchen. Visitors wanting milk with their drinks should bring their own, as this will not be routinely provided. To avoid spillages, drinks must be just in the kitchen or back garden and may not be taken into any other room in the house.