The APRL has one of the world's largest and most accessible collections of philatelic literature. Its nearly four miles of shelving containing more than 23,000 book titles and 5,700 journal titles as well as catalogs (general and specialized), government documents, auction catalogs & price lists, stamp show programs & palmares, exhibits (copies of philatelic exhibits), CD- and DVD-ROMs, and research and archival collections.

Accessing the Library Collections:

• Search the library holdings of the APRL and twelve other philatelic libraries using the David Straight Memorial Philatelic Union Catalog

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TUTORIALS

• Introducing the Union Catalog
  • Read About It HERE    See Video HERE
• Searching the Union Catalog
  • Read About It HERE    See Video HERE
• Making A Request in the Union Catalog
  • Read About It HERE    See Video HERE

Library Services

Researchers are welcome to visit the library at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte. For those who cannot travel to Bellefonte, the APRL offers full library service remotely (scans, borrowing, research) by phone and e-mail. Only APS members may borrow books either in-person or remotely directly by mail. To learn more about our services and fees view library services fees.

Search the used books sale 

Buy high quality philatelic literature at discounted prices, made possible by the donations of members and the hard work of volunteers.

Subscribe to the Philatelic Literature Review

The APRL publishes a biannual journal, the Philatelic Literature Review. View the current table of contents and on-line articles. This research journal contains articles about research, subject-area annotated bibliographies, roundtable discussions, philatelic library updates, reviews of new books and other literature, news from the APRL, and more. Readers can sell literature or publish literature want lists via “The Clearinghouse.” The basic U.S. subscription is just $21 per year. Other membership levels are available; amounts exceeding the basic subscription fee help to defray the Library's operating costs and are tax deductible. Subscribe today! (Please note: you will need to register for a free account on the APS website in order to subscribe to the Philatelic Literature Review online.) Subscribers can log in and read the latest issues of the PLR, below.