IMPORTANT NOTICE

From 8 August until early November we are continuing vital work to improve our automated systems. This may result in delays to deliveries to the Reading Rooms in St Pancras. Please check My Reading Room Requests before coming to the Library. We apologise for any inconvenience.

We’re redeveloping our Boston Spa site, which means some items may not be available while they’re being moved. Please check My Reading Room Requests before you before you set out, to make sure your items will be here when you are.

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About Explore Archives and Manuscripts

Use the Archives and Manuscripts catalogue to find and order from the Library’s unique collection items including:

  • Manuscripts and unpublished documents
  • Personal papers, correspondence and diaries
  • Family and estate papers
  • India Office Records and Private Papers
  • India Office Prints, Drawings and Paintings
  • Photographs

More catalogues

Gates at the British Library St Pancras building

Explore the British Library

Use Explore the British Library to search, view and order items from our main catalogue of circa 80M records, or search the contents of the Library's website.

Illustration from the ten birth tales or the last ten jatakas

Digitised Manuscripts

View digitised copies of selected manuscripts and archives

Detail of a miniature of the author writing his book from Roman de la rose

Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Find and view descriptions and selected images of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts

View all online catalogues

News & notices

Some of our collection items are temporarily unavailable

26 October 2021

Stay updated on any disruption to the availability of items in our collection.