The library service is delivered from the offices of the IFoA in London and Edinburgh. Each site offers quiet, comfortable study space, room for group work and free internet access in the members' lounge. Books covering all areas of professional practice and research are available to borrow.
The member lounge areas are open to visitors from 09.00-17.00 Monday to Friday. Students can access ActEd materials, past exam papers, examiners' reports and suggested further reading for the exams of the IFoA. For those who can’t visit in person, books can be borrowed by post free of charge to members anywhere in the world.
Access thousands of books, journals and online resources
The library service has developed a comprehensive range of online resources available to members 24 hours a day on PC, tablet or mobile device. The IFoA Libraries eLibrary is a gateway to Journals, papers and eBooks at the cutting edge of actuarial research.
Search the Library Catalogue has over 45,000 records including books, journal papers and online documents – please see ‘Library notices’ page about current service.
Enquiries, literature searching and document supply
We can compile reading lists of references on more specialist topics and carry out customised literature searches of both our own resources and those further afield. The library team offers information and document supply services, including tracing and obtaining materials, biographical information and assistance with sources for research papers, projects and dissertations. Please contact the IFoA Library Service who can search the library catalogue for a selected ‘Subject’ combined with recent publication date year to produce reading list of new books and research papers for you.
History and heritage collections
The IFoA's special library collections and archives relate to the origins, creation and development of actuarial science and practice, a history of some 350 years. Highlights include the historical collections of the Institute of Actuaries and the Faculty of Actuaries, and the Archive of the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
Contact Details
For any library enquiries please contact:
We try to respond to email queries within one working day. Researcher access to historical resources may require notice in advance of visit in order to retrieve items from storage.