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LIBRARY

The society maintains a small specialised library which members can access at our monthly meetings



Books can be borrowed for one month and returned at the next monthly meeting. Requests for books to be set aside to be picked up at the next meeting can be made by emailing Librarian Sue Speck.

If you are unable to attend the next meeting to return a book please contact the Librarian or the Office and arrange to drop off the book so it can be borrowed by others.

The library is loosely organised into sections according to subject. 

  • Books 1-23 are  Bees
  • Books 29 -104  Beekeeping. from generalist to more specific and other related insects (some blurring in this section) 
  • Books 105-127  Bee health
  • Books 150 -167 Bee Products
  • Books 170-184 Bee Fiction and Personal Accounts Books 199- 214 Pollination Sources 

Our Current Catalog


1 The Golden Throng A Book About Bees Teale Edwin Way 1981
2 Bees (Stalin Prize 1951) Khalifman J 1951
3 The Life of the Bee Maeterlinck Maurice 1954
4 The Bee Stodart Eleanor
5 Honeybees Free John B 1978
6 The Junior True Book of Honey Bees Lewellyn John 1953
7 D.K. The Bee Book Chadwick et al. 2016
8 The Bee Book -2 copies? More Daphne 1976
9 The World of the Honey Bee
10 Bees and Honey Lau Joy 1976
11 Bees and Mankind John B Free
12 Bees and People Iorish Naum 1978
13 Guide to Bees and Honey (New Revised Edition) Hooper Ted 1983
14 Honey In the Hive A Beekeeper's Journal & Guide Nommensen Etta 1980
15 Beehive Source of Youth Vitality and Longevity Landis M S 1982
16 The World of the Beehive Powell John
17 The Hive and the Honey Bee Grout Roy A Ed 1963
17 The Hive and the Honey Bee Grout Roy A Ed 1963
18 Wonders of the Hive Lavine Sigmund A 1962
19 Health and the Honey Bee Mraz Charles 1995
20 The Lore of the Honey Bee Tickner Edwardes 1929
21 Honeybee Democracy Seeley Thomas 2010
29 The Beekeeper's Handbook fourth edition Sammataro and Avitable 2011
30 Backyard Beekeeping (2 copies) Scott William 1977
31 Discovering Beekeeping More Daphne 1977
32 Keeping Bees Beckley Peter 1977
33 The New Complete Guide to Beekeeping Morse, Roger A 1994
34 The Contented Bee (two copies) ABC Organic Gardener 2018
35 The Rooftop Beekeeper Paska Megan 2014
36 Beekeeping for Dummies Blackiston Howard 2017
37 Beginning Beekeeping Phillips Tanya 2017
38 ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture Root A I 1980
39 Practical Beekeeper Mace Herbert
40 Keeping Your Own Bees Redpath Norman 1978
41 Beehive Management in Australia Sloane Howard 1976
41 Beehive Management in Australia Sloane Howard 1976
42 The Australian Beekeeping Guide Rural Industries R&D Corporation. 2014
43 Beekeeping in Victoria Dept of Agriculture 1964
43 Beekeeping in Victoria Dept of Agriculture 1981
43 Beekeeping in Victoria Dept. Ag Victoria
44 Beekeeping in Tasmania - bulletin no.42 Dept. Ag in Tasmania
44 Beekeeping in Tasmania Dept Ag.Tasmania
45 The Australian Beekeeping Manual Owen Robert 2015
45 The Australian Beekeeping Manual -2 copies Owen Robert 2015
46 Bee Craft Apiary Guides Waring A&C
47 Bees And Honey 4th Edition Goodacre WA 1959
48 Bees and Beekeeping Irmgard Diemer 1988
49 Bees Beekeeping and Honey Gojmerac W J 1978
50 A Beekeeper's Year Luke Janet
51 Garden Ways - Practical Beekeeping Tompkins& Griffith
52 The Backyard beekeeper 3rd edition Flottam Kim
53 Backyard Bees - a Guide for the beginner beekeeper Purdie Doug
54 Keeping Bees with a Smile - A vision and practice natural a Lazutin Fedor
55 Beekeeping for Business & Pleasure NSW Agriculture & Fisheries
56 Beekeeping Chauncy Nan 1967
59 Honey Bee Hobbyist Gary Norman 2010
58 Practical Beekeeping R.J.&W.E. Howe 1980
60 Gleanings in Bee Culture Dec.1965 vol.93 No.12 Happ Jack ed
61 Some Useful Hints on Beekeeping from USA Various 1973
62 Some Important Operations in Bee management Johansson 1978
63 How to Keep Bees and Sell Honey Kelley Walter 1971
63 How to Keep Bees and Sell Honey Kelley Walter 1978
64 Bee Keeping Up-to-date Flower AB 1977
65 Bee-Sieged - bees in warfare Jones Ray
66 Scottish Beekeeper's Association - The Early Years Robertson una
67 Beekeeping In South Africa Anderson et al 1973
67 Beekeeping In South Africa Anderson et al
68 Bee Keeping in the Mid West USA Jaycox Elbert 1976
69 Beekeeping in cold climate zones APIMONDIA 1974
70 The Archaeology of Beekeeping Crane Eva 1983
71 Sixty Years with Bees Sims Donald 1997
72 Bee Keeping at Buckfast Abbey Brother Adam 1974
73 Australasian Queen Rearing 1973
74 Rearing Queen Honeybees Morse, Roger A 1979
75 Bee Breeeding by Brother Adam and AGFACTS Ward Bruce 1983
76 Contemporary Queen Rearing Laidlaw Harry H 1979
77 Queen Rearing Laidlaw Harry H 1950
78 Instrumental Insemination of the Queen Bee (2nd ed) Ruttner Friedrich 1976
79 Queen Bee Breeding AG Guide NSW Primary Industries 2016
80 Balanced Beekeeping 1 building a top bar hive Chandler Phil 2013
81 Balanced Beekeeping 2 managing a top bar hive Chandler Phil 2013
82 Top-Bar Beekeeping Crowder &Harrell 2012
83 Better Beekeeping Flottum Kim 2011
84 Bee Ag Skills NSW Department of Primary Industries 2018
85 Healthy Bees (2 copies) NSW Department of Primary Industries 2016
86 Pollination Using Honey Bees NSW Department of Primary Industries 2018
87 Honey Harvesting and Extracting NSW Department of Primary Industries 2017
88 Queenspotting (2 copies) Kearney Hilary 2019
98 A Guide to Native Bees of Australia Houston Terry 2018
99 South Australian Native Bees Richards Suzanne 2011
100 Introduction To Australian Native Bees
101 The Lives of Wasps and Bees Andrewes Christopher 1969
102 The World of the Wasps Spoczynska Joy O I 1975
103 Social Insects at the Turn of the Milleninium Proceeding of The XIIth Congress of IUSSI 1998
104 Bees & Wasps Cloudsley-Thompson J L 1974
105 Anatomy and Dissection of the Honey Bee Dade HA 1962
105 Anatomy and Dissection of the Honey Bee Dade HA 1962
106 Bees their Vision, Chemical Sensors and Language von Frisch Karl 1950
107 Biological aspects of Nosema Disease APIMONDIA 1974
108 Varroasis A honey bee disease APIMONDIA 1977
109 The Diseases of Bees Aughterson W 1957
110 Notes on bees and Bee Diseases No. 2.74 Dept of Ag Journal
110 Notes on bees and bee diseases No. 1824 Lumsden Gordon
111 Bee Health Hasain Walji 1996
112 Honey Bee Brood Diseases Hansen Henrik
113 Feasibility Study into In-Hive Fungal Bio-Control of Small Hive Beetle Leemon D & McMahon J
114 Insect Pollination of Crops Free J B 1970
115 The Pollen Loads of the Honeybee Hodges Dorothy 1964
115 The Pollen Loads of the Honey Bee Hodges Dorothy 1952
116 Pollination Five-Year R&D Plan 2009-2014 Rural Industries R&D
117 Securing Long-Term Floral Resources for the HoneybeeIndustry Paton
119 Bee Research Association 1949-74 A History of the first 25 Years 1974
120 XXVIth International Congress of Apiculture ofAPIMONDIA APIMONDIA 1977
121 XXIInd International Bee Keeping Congress Munich APIMONDIA
122 XXVIIth International Congress of Apiculture APIMONDIA 1979
123 First Australian Bee Congress APIMONDIA 1972
124 XXVth International Apicultural Congress International papers 1975
125 Toxicity of Agricultural Chemicals to Honey Bees 1969
126 Biosecurity Manual
127 Pollinator Protection- a bee & pesticide handbook Johansen & Mayer 2014
150 About Honey -Nature's elixir for health and energy Norris PE 1970
150 About Honey - Nature's elixir for health and energy Norris PE
151 Honey Nature's Golden Healer (2 copies) Havenhand Gloria 2010
152 The Magic of Honey Perlman Dorothy 1974
153 Honey A Comprehensive Survey Crane Eva 1976
154 Honey Farmiing Manley Rob 1985
155 Honey Identification Sawyer Rex 1988
156 Beeswax Craft Battershil N et al 1996
157 Beekeeper's Lab -family friendly activities Lehman Kim 2017
158 The Honey Connoisseur Marchese C & K Flottum 2013
159 The Compleat Meadmaker Schramm K 2003
160 Backyard Beekeeper's Honey Handbook Flottum Kim 2009
161 Honeybee Lessons from an accidental beekeeper Marchese C.Marina 2011
162 Honey for Health Tonsley Cecil 1973
163
164 The Story of Honey in Australia Nicholls Catriona 2006
170 The Bee Rustlers Needle Jan 1983
171 The Honey Flow ( alternate pages blank) Tennant Kylie
172 The Bees Laline Paul
173 A Sting in the Tale Goulson Dave 2014
174 A Buzz in the Meadow Goulson Dave 2014
175 Bee Quest Goulson Dave 2017
176 Choosing Eden Langman Adrienne 2007
177 The History of Bees Lunde Maja 2015
178 How To Bee Mac Dibble Bren 2017
198 Taller Eucalypts for planting in Australia Nicholle Dean 2016
199 Smaller Eucalypts for planting in Australia Nicholle Dean 2016
200 Native Eucalypts of South Australia Nicolle Dean 2014
201 Bee Friendly- A planting guide for European honeybees an Leech Mark 2012
202 The Bee Friendly Garden Purdie Doug
203 It's Blue with 5 Petals - wildflowers of the Adelaide Region- Prescott Ann
204 Flowering Ecology of Honey-Producing Flora in South-East Australia Birtchnell M & Gibson M
205 The Honey Flora of Queensland Blake S T and Roff C 1972
206 Gum, The Story of Eucalypts and their Champions Hay Ashley 2002
207 Eucalyptus, An illustrated guide to identification BrookerIan and Kleinig David 2001
208 Australian Eucalypts Mullin B
209 Australian Plants for Adelaide Gardens Russell Laurie
210 Native Trees of South Australia (2 copies) Boomsma C D 1972
210 Native Trees of South Australia Woods & Forests Dept 1972
211 The Honey Flora of South Eastern Queensland Blake ST & Roff C 1958
212 A Key to the Eucalypts- Blakely 1965, 3rd edition. Blakely W F
Plants and Beekeeping Howes F N
Bee Friendly/Australian Beekeeping Guide/Biosecurity Man Downloaded various 2017
EQIP Queen catcher +marking pen purchased 07/2018 2018
Bee Journal- May 2017 Victorian apiarists Association 2017

Recent book reviews

  • 21 Feb 2022 3:48 PM | James FIELD (Administrator)

    This edition is one of several produced for the Department of Primary Industries and these books are also available as eBooks that can be purchased online for immediate download. See our librarian, Sue Speck, for assistance.

    In this book beekeepers who are considering supplying honey bees for pollination to plant industries such as almonds will find information on how to:

    • identify ideal foraging conditions for honey bees
    • assess risks to bees at the pollination site
    • assess hive strength
    • prepare a commercial contract

    For growers there is information about the conditions required for the welfare of bees and the optimum environment for their pollination activity. It talks about:

    • a water supply for bees
    • pollen and nectar for bees – there may be advantages in having other flowering plants nearby
    • access roads
    • a site plan and map
    • safety information for workers
    • knowledge of the risk to bees from pesticides
    • a commercial contract

      However, this book serves as a good general modern guide pertaining to beekeeping relative to all Australian states.

      The clearly defined chapters contain concise and well-referenced information suitable not only for the novice beekeeper but also the experienced one who wants to gain further knowledge about important aspects such as pesticides, orchard design and management, hive management, plant structure and so on.

      Appendix 2 contains an invaluable, detailed list of plants benefiting or relying on honey bee pollination, and describes their individual qualities and value to bees.

      Edited by Barbara Horwood

      Produced by Education Delivery, Tocal College (NSW) for the Department of Primary Industries (NSW Government), 2018


    • 21 Feb 2022 3:46 PM | James FIELD (Administrator)

      The author describes this book as “52 family- friendly activities and experiments exploring the life of the hive”. The “labs” in the book contain a list of materials, step-by-step processes, ways to extend the activities, suggestions for young children, and facts about honeybees.

      Although the labs are stand-alone projects, in many cases they complement and enhance each other. Because some of the items required for the labs are the products of the hive (honey, pollen, propolis, and beeswax) the beekeeper can collect, gather, scrape and extract these materials from his/her own hive. Non-beekeepers can purchase the requirements from a local beekeeper, health food store or online.

      The activities in this book are ideal for enhancing the exploration, curiosity and learning about bees and beekeeping as a family.

      Reviewed by Barbara Horwood


    • 21 Feb 2022 3:44 PM | James FIELD (Administrator)

      This spiral-bound book is a planting guide for bee forage and describes planting choices “from the backyard to the bush” – and to the farm – and will assist with increasing available bee food.

      It is written at a time when the world has become aware of the plight of the honeybee, and this book has been written in the context of providing guidance for planting decisions in favour of plants that benefit honeybees and native pollinators. That point is made, however, that some plants are listed as weeds should not be planted. Your local nursery can provide you with advice as to whether a plant is a listed weed.

      The book covers information relating to urban sites in general, domestic gardens, garden species selection, streetscapes and species, urban open spaces, rural areas and species; in addition, a chapter is devoted to non-migratory beekeeping – the basic backyard beekeeper. Large colour photographs, together with useful information about climatic and soil conditions relating to geographic areas, as well as maps, enhance the overall presentation.

      Generally, this guide gives ideas and choices of species to bring about improved outcomes for honeybees and the Australian pollen- and nectar- using fauna, including mammals, insects and birds.

      Reviewed by Barbara Horwood

      An Australian Government publication –Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, 2012

      A PDF of the entire publication can be downloaded from our gardening page. 

    • 21 Feb 2022 3:42 PM | James FIELD (Administrator)

      The introduction to this book states, "This book is not intended for personal medical guidance nor is it meant to be a substitute in any way for proper medical care." The current spate of beauty treatments relating to "bee venom" indicates a reasonable level of interest in the community. Whilst this book by Charles Mraz is not about beauty "treatments", it does look at the therapeutic application of bee products, or apitherapy - an ancient practice that has found its way into modern medicine.

      The author has had a leading role in the use of bee venom to treat auto-immune diseases, particularly arthritis and multiple sclerosis, and he provides anecdotes and case histories based on his experiences as a practitioner of bee venom therapy. It's an interesting read on a somewhat controversial topic.

      Reviewed by Barbara Horwood

      Charles Mraz, (1995), Queen City Publications, Burlington, VT (USA) ISBN 0-9642485-0-6 Soft cover, 87 pages Level: Intermediate


    • 21 Feb 2022 3:41 PM | James FIELD (Administrator)

      This soft-covered guide has been written by Howland Blackiston, the former president of the Backyard Beekeepers’ Association. He is also an international lecturer on bees and beekeeping. As is usual with most “Dummies” books, this is a hands-on guide to beekeeping. It covers all that is needed to be known from starting and managing a backyard colony to the latest tools and techniques. It is a useful guide not only for the “newbie” but also for those who have been practising beekeeping for some time and require an additional or a different perspective on practical application.

      This edition also has helpful information on managing a top bar hive, a topic not often covered by some beekeeping manuals. The book is generously peppered with explanatory diagrams and photographs to support the comprehensive information provided, together with useful tips and pointers, charts and graphs.

      The appendix at the end of the book provides some helpful resources as guides to websites, vendors, associations and journals for further reading. This is a well laid-out comprehensive guide which would be an asset for any beekeeper wishing to manage honey production at any phase.


    • 21 Feb 2022 3:39 PM | James FIELD (Administrator)

      The author, Kim Flottum has been at the helm of “Bee Culture magazine for about 25 years. He is the author of “The Backyard Beekeeper” and “The Backyard Beekeeper’s Honey Handbook”. He keeps bees, gardens, and writes for a variety of publications about both of these subjects, but mostly about bees and beekeeping. He is an experienced writer and, though this book has an American focus, its general content and information is universal to beekeepers, and extremely informative.

      This book is embellished with numerous colourful photographs and detail supporting his 15 comments. It’s extremely easy to read with well set out chapters covering all the essential aspects of beekeeping, so is an invaluable aid to the novice beekeeper. However, in this book, he takes serious beekeepers past the beginning stages and past the learning curves where everyone learns by their mistakes.

      He looks at beekeeping through a different perspective in today’s modern world and offers commentary on migratory beekeeping, pesticide- polluted fields, monoculture crops, and unpredictable queens; then he has suggestions about solutions and rewards for keeping bees a better way – a good read for “any beekeeper who is ready to think outside the box”.


    • 21 Feb 2022 3:37 PM | James FIELD (Administrator)

      From honey experts, authors C. Marina Marchese and Kim Flottum together give a comprehensive introduction to the origin, flavour, and culinary uses of more than 30 varietals of honey. The Honey Connoisseur teaches consumers everything they need to know about how to taste, select, and use a diverse selection of honey. After a brief explanation of how bees produce honey, the authors introduce the concept of terroir, the notion that soil, weather, and other natural phenomena can affect the taste of honey.

      The book goes on to give a thorough course in the origins of honey and lays it all out on the table the whole story including the dark side of honey imports. The reader may never look at processed honey in the same way ever again. This book is an easy read and stands alone in its’ description of flavours in relation to region and flora.


    • 21 Feb 2022 3:33 PM | James FIELD (Administrator)

      A Beekeeper’s Year follows the progress of three novice beekeepers with three different types of hive, as they navigate their way through their first year of beekeeping. Follow their journey as they set up and manage their Top Bar, Warre and Flow hives – from obtaining bees to inspecting their hives, extracting honey and closing down the hive for the winter.

      A Beekeeper’s Year is an ideal introduction to backyard beekeeping, with everything you need to know about what equipment is required, managing your hives, keeping your bees healthy and pest and disease control. It is packed with stunning yet practical photographs to help you understand these fascinating creatures that are essential to the production of our food. An enjoyable book and should be on everyone’s list.


    • 21 Feb 2022 3:29 PM | James FIELD (Administrator)

      Bee keeping isn’t just for the professional farmer—bees can be kept in any situation from the simple backyard patio and garden to large expanses of farm land. This comprehensive and attractive beekeeping guide, from Hobby Farm Press, the same people who bring you Hobby Farms and Hobby Farm Home magazine, Beekeeping takes readers from finding their bees, housing them, collecting honey and using their produce for pleasure and possible profit. This colorful book, including entertaining chapters on the history of bees and beekeeping, serves as an extensive introduction to help novice beekeepers fully understand this exciting hobby!

    • 21 Feb 2022 12:01 PM | James FIELD (Administrator)

      Robert Owen was introduced to the world of beekeeping in 2002 and hasn’t looked back. At first beekeeping was a hobby but it has now evolved into a family business, Bob’s Beekeeping Supplies, that offers beekeeping equipment and education. This book is the culmination of his own years of expertise and experience and also draws on the individual tales he has heard of the challenges and successes of managing honey bees in various environments

      The book is aimed at both the novice and experienced beekeeper in Australia and explains in detail the steps required to manage colonies of bees. Supported by over 350 photographs and drawings, each action to be performed is explained in detail with photographs showing the steps as well as the final result. Many potential beekeepers are unclear about the equipment they need to buy and how to obtain their first colony of bees. The first chapters in the book explain in detail the equipment needed as well as equipment that may be useful later on as their confidence and experience grows. The chapter `Your First Bees’ explains how to obtain bees, where to locate them in the garden, and the basics of colony management. In addition to chapters on keeping bees, there are detailed chapters on the life cycle of the honey bee, extracting honey, the bee-friendly garden, how to enter honey into competitions, native bees and rearing queens. The result is a comprehensive manual that includes material not available in other Australian, North American or European books and is the ultimate Australian reference source.

    Beekeepers’ Society of South Australia Inc.
    P.O. Box 283, Fullarton SA 5063
    office@bees.org.au
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