Napier House library

The library at Napier House, Oxford, is closed.

The libraries at Staple Inn and Maclaurin House remain open as usual and offer all services previously offered at Napier House. Please telephone 020 7632 2114 (London) or 0131 240 1311 (Edinburgh) and continue to direct enquiries by email to libraries@actuaries.org.uk.

We look forward to providing improved library facilities to visitors at Staple Inn over the next few months and will keep members updated.

The formation of an actuarial library was one of the original objectives of the Institute. In January 1990 current books and periodicals moved to Napier House, Oxford, to form a teaching and research library.

The collections

The Profession's library aims to acquire core information on actuarial science together with information on insurance (life and non-life), reinsurance, pensions, employee benefits, social security, investment, corporate finance, health and care, risk management and other new areas into which actuaries are moving. The library also acquires statistical publications on demography, economic indicators and market information. The majority of the library's materials are in English, although other languages are represented. We produce a monthly list of accessions and publish it on the website.

Serials

We hold sets of the UK, North American, Australian and Scandinavian actuarial journals, together with other statistical and insurance research journals. Journals of other overseas actuarial bodies are held at Staple Inn. Transactions of the International Congress of Actuaries are held from the 17th (1964) onwards together with Proceedings of the AFIR Colloquia. A full list of journals and their locations can be downloaded. Members can now access many journal online via the Athens portal.

Demographic statistics

The Library subscribes to the series published by the Office for National Statistics which provide data on fertility, mortality, morbidity and population projections. Population Trends offers further analyses and commentary. We hold life tables for many countries. Where no life tables are available, limited mortality data can be provided from the UN Demographic Yearbook. UK Interim Life Tables are also available via this link.

Economic statistics

RPI figures can now be obtained from the Bank of England and extensive economic data can be found in UK National Accounts ('The Blue Book'), Annual Abstract of Statistics and Economic Trends, all published by the ONS. Sources of commentary include Economic Trends, Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, and Bank of England Inflation Report.

Market data

The library maintains a file of FTSE Actuaries Share Indices and FTSE UK Gilts Indices. Historical figures for FTSE Actuaries Share and FTSE Government Securities Indices (originally Actuaries Investment Indices) are available on microfilm from 1928. A long term perspective is provided by the Barclays Equity-Gilt Study and Pension Fund Indicators published by UBS Global Asset Management.

Social statistics

The Library subscribes to General Household Survey, Health Statistics Quarterly, Population trends, Mortality statistisc, Cancer statistics, and other statistical material.

Law and regulation

Looseleaf compilations include  Financial services law and the Pensions legislation service (also available on CD-Rom). Also: Securities & Financial services law, Bodily Injury awards study, etc.