Our eLibrary, launched on 31 March 2025, is the RSAA’s latest initiative to help deliver the Society’s core mission of advancing knowledge of Asia.

The eLibrary contains long-established classics of Asian studies as well as up-to-date scholarship and fiction. It reflects the current focus of the RSAA’s activities and will evolve with them.  Themes from the current affairs, culture, history and literature of Asia, from the Society’s events, from Asian Affairs and from the Asian Review of Books are all reflected in the eLibrary.

The eLibrary is provided for the RSAA by Libby, a mobile app that you can use on desktop computers, phones and tablets running Windows, Apple or Android software and some Amazon Fire tablets.  Using Libby you can search the RSAA’s eLibrary, reserve or borrow books.  Once books are checked out, the app serves as an ebook reader.

You can download the Libby app from the Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Appstore.  If you use a Windows or Mac computer, or a Chromebook, you can use Libby in your web browser.   Click the Libby logo on the right to go straight to Asian Library.  We recommend that you read the Quick Start Guide first.

The Library will grow with use.  RSAA members can borrow up to three books to download or read online and reserve up to two books for later borrowing.   And you don’t need to worry about returning books on time.  Libby does that automatically when your loan period expires.

Not a member?  Join now to get immediate access to the eLibrary.