British Library

Address and Contact Info

Address: The British Library, St Pancras

96 Euston Road

London

NW1 2DB

The British Library, The Boston Spa

Boston Spa

Wetherby

West Yorkshire

LS23 7BQ

UK

Telephone & fax: General enquiries St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7676 Americas St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7743 Asia, Pacific and Africa St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7873 British & Irish (post-1914) St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7538 Business St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7454 Collection Care St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7847 Early Printed St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7676 Early Printed Collections St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7564 East European St Pancras +44 (0)870 444 1500 Manuscripts St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7513 Maps St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7702 Music St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7772 Patents St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7919 Philatelic Collections St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7635/6 Picture Library and Images Online St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7755 Register of Preservation Microforms St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7629 Science, Technology & Medicine St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7288/7494 Social Science, Law & Official Publications St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7536 Sound Archive St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7676 West European St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7572/7569 British Library Publications (Trade distribution) St Pancras +44 (0)1767 604955 Document Supply Boston Spa +44 (0)1937 546060 Freedom of Information St Pancras +44 (0)870 444 1500 Human Resources Boston Spa +44 (0)1937 546330 Leiths: Conferences & room hire St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 5526/7 Permissions Clearance St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7755 Research Service St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7903 Service Improvement St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7681 Teachers and young people St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7797 Adopt a Book St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7034 Collection Care St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7025 Development Office St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7013 Digital Preservation St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7549 Digital Preservation St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7152 Friends of the British Library St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7734 National Preservation Office St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7612

Images Online St Pancras +44 (0)20 7412 7614 Imaging Services (copying - accounts, payment) Boston Spa +44 (0)1937 546655 Imaging Services (copying - general and orders) Boston Spa +44 (0)1937 546060

Website: http://www.bl.uk/

Principal contacts for the collection:

Hours and Usage Restrictions

St. Pancras Opening Times

Closed Sundays and English public holidays.

Photography is not permitted anywhere.

Online Catalogs and Finding Aids

Molcat

Collection Summary

"The British Library holds the world's pre-eminent collection of manuscript and archival sources for the study and appreciation of British culture and history. It is also among just a handful of institutions able to boast substantial holdings of original documents of world import.

Within this whole - which encompasses the sciences as well as the humanities - particular strengths are represented by one of the most comprehensive collections of Western illuminated manuscripts in the world, unsurpassed holdings of early literary and secular manuscripts relating to Britain in particular (but not exclusively), manuscripts for the history of the development of Christianity in Britain and continental Europe, manuscript and archival sources for the study of all periods of British history (including the colonial experience), manuscripts and archives of individuals and groups prominent in national life, and extensive holdings of manuscript works and personal papers of celebrated British writers."

Collection Development Policy

The BL owns a copy of The Cecil Papers database, which includes a text searchable calendar and digitized manuscript images.

Usage Discussion

Suggestions for approaching the material:

Housing and getting by for less in the area:

Fellowships and Funding Opportunities

Eccles Fellowships