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Library and information services

Access to electronic and print resources focused on veterinary science and animal health and services to support your study and keep up to date with clinical research.

Awards and prizes

Our awards celebrate achievements and build knowledge that contributes to evidence-based veterinary medicine.

History

We hold a unique collection of books, archives, artefacts and memorabilia which together offer an insight into the evolution of the British veterinary profession.

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Our resources

The library has a range of electronic and print materials on all aspects of veterinary science. Our focus is on providing electronic access to material which is made available to library members.

Print collection

Our print collection contains books, journals, conference proceedings, and reports, including a large collection of publications from commonwealth countries. We also hold a collection of Fellowship theses submitted to the RCVS from 1896 to 2018.

Our rare book collection contains approximately 3,000 books tracing the development of veterinary art and science from 1514.

You can search our library catalogue for our print books, journals and reports.

Electronic resources

These include:

Library members are able to search our electronic journals and access individual articles via our Discovery platform using their OpenAthens library login.

Discovery

Discovery is a search tool that pulls together most of our electronic resources allowing you to find them in a single search.

With Discovery you can:

Anyone can use Discovery but only library members can access full text articles requiring a subscription.

Discovery frequently asked questions

How do I access Discovery?

The easiest way to access Discovery is via the library login option. You can also access Discovery directly here.

What is an OpenAthens account?

An OpenAthens account allows library member to access resources from many different providers using the same username and password.

What is my OpenAthens login?

Your OpenAthens username is your email address. You will need to create your password when you activate your account. If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it here. 

Can I log into resources directly?

You can use your OpenAthens login to access subscribed content directly from the publishers using the links below: 

  • Science Direct - Click sign in and select OpenAthens login 
Is there an advanced search option in Discovery?

Yes, this is available from the Discovery homepage – click on the Advanced search link above the search box. The advanced search allows you to combine search terms or search statements using Boolean operators, and to select search limits.

For advice on how to search Discovery and advanced searching techniques.

How do I access VetMed Resource when using Discovery?

To access VetMed Resource click on the link on the left-hand side of the page.

Where can I find a list of journals available through Discovery?
How do I use the enhanced features on Discovery to organise my work?

Discovery allows you to create project folders, save searches, and set up alerts. Find out more about saving searches and creating alerts. 

Do you provide training on using Discovery?

We offer workshops on a one-to-one basis to show you how to use our electronic resources, these can be delivered in person or online. Please contact us at library@rcvsknowledge.org if you are interested. 

Thanks again so much for all your help. I found lots to add, and lots to inspire my PhD idea!

Sarah Batt-Williams RVN Senior Teaching Fellow in Veterinary Nursing, Royal Veterinary College