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Collection items temporarily unavailable

British Library and Qatar Foundation digitisation project

There will be some disruption to the availability of items in our collection from January 2013 onwards, as a result of a major digitisation project the British Library is running with the Qatar Foundation.

These items will include archival material relating to the Gulf from the East India Company and India Office, and also some medieval Arabic scientific manuscripts.

We strongly advise readers to check the availability of materials online and to contact Asian & African Studies reading room staff for advice.

Once digitised the material will become available online in addition to being available for consultation in our Reading Rooms.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

British Library and Google digitisation project

A number of items from our collection will be temporarily unavailable to readers from December 2012 onwards, as a result of a major digitisation project the British Library is running with Google.

These items, which include books and pamphlets in English and other European languages dated 1700 to 1870, will be typically unavailable for 8-12 weeks while preparation and scanning take place.

From December 2012 to May 2013, items starting with the following shelfmarks may be unavailable:

  • 3000 to 3800 [e.g. 3000.bb.10. to 3756.e.19.(1.)]
  • 8206.e.18. to 08246.eee.2.(2.)
  • 8805.a.48. to 8902.bb.9.
  • 11303.e.28. to 11436.a.69
  • 11714.a.26. to 11737.i.46.(6.)
  • 12600.a.2. to 12699.a.11.

If you are planning to use an item that falls into this bracket, please place an advance request (from 1 - 7 days in advance only) via the Library's catalogue. Please note that if you place a request more than 7 days ahead, there is a much greater chance that we will be unable to deliver it.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused, and urge readers to check the availability of materials online before visiting the Library. As a result of the project, 250,000 books from our collections will be made available online for free via Google Books and, in due course the Library's website.

Some newspaper material affected by maintenance works

Essential maintenance works are being carried out in some of the newspaper storage areas from 18 February 2013 until further notice.

As a result, there will be no access to print copies of English and Welsh regional and local papers from 1831 to 1900.

A significant percentage of these newspapers have been microfilmed. The microfilm remains available for use.

If you plan to visit us to consult newspapers please contact Newspaper Public Services on +44 (0) 20 7412 7353 or email newspaper@bl.uk.

We apologise for any inconvenience this essential work may cause.