We're experiencing a major technology outage as a result of a cyber-attack. The outage is affecting our website, online systems and services, as well as some onsite services, however, our buildings are still open as usual. We anticipate restoring more services in the next few weeks, but disruption to certain services is now expected to persist for several months.
Having confirmed that this was a ransomware attack, we now have evidence that indicates the attackers might have copied some user data, and additional data appears to have been published on the dark web.
We will continue to work with cybersecurity specialists to examine what this material is and we will be contacting our users to advise them of the practical steps they may need to take.
If you have a password for British Library services that you use on other websites, we recommend you change it elsewhere as a precaution. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides guidance on staying secure online, including how to create a strong password, and specific guidance for individuals who may have been impacted by a data breach.
In the meantime, we've taken targeted protective measures in response to the attack to ensure the integrity of our systems. We're also undertaking a forensic investigation with the support of the National Cyber Security Centre, the Metropolitan Police and cybersecurity specialists.
What is currently available?
The Library's buildings remain fully open but some services are limited, including access to collection items. We're regularly updating our blog with the latest information on what's currently available online and onsite so please check this before you visit.
If you have purchased tickets for our exhibition, Fantasy: Realms of Imagination, you can still use them. Exhibition tickets can also be booked via See Tickets. Our free exhibition, Malorie Blackman: The Power of Stories, is open and no booking is required.
All upcoming public events are going ahead as planned and you can find more information on our events blog update. We're continuing to welcome schools and families too, as well as adult learners to our courses.
Business & IP Centre (BIPC) in St Pancras is open to support businesses as usual but digital services onsite are unavailable. You can also join BIPC events and webinars and access one-to-one support. Read our BIPC blog update to find out what help and advice we can offer during this time.
Contacting us
While our systems are offline, you can contact us by emailing customer@bl.uk We'll do our best to answer your queries but please bear with us. This inbox is reviewed between 08.30 to 16.30 Monday to Friday. We're experiencing a high volume of enquiries so it may take us some time to respond. We'll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.