Reopening the British Library and Digitisation Services

From 1 September we're reopening more of our public spaces. You'll be able to visit our galleries, Members' Room and public spaces once more by pre-booking tickets online. We've been working really hard to ensure you can visit the Library safely. Find out more about how and what we're reopening.

Digitisation Services are also beginning a phased return to our buildings and we are working on plans to gradually resume limited services as soon as we are able to. Currently we are unable to access BL collections or do any digitisation work.

Please do bear with us during this period of transition and regularly check here and follow us on twitter for our latest updates. Our Customer Service team will be offering a limited support service should you require assistance.

We send colleagues and customers our best wishes.

Images of some of our collections are already digitised and available for delivery straight away, please contact our Customer Service team for more information.

For copies of contemporary research content, such as journal articles and book chapters, please use British Library On Demand.

Our Services

We offer a wide range of specialist digitisation services, including:

- High Quality Printing (PDF Download)

- Location Photography (PDF Download)

- Metadata Enrichment (PDF Download)

- Multi Spectral Assessment (PDF Download)

- Personal Collections (PDF Download)

- Specialist Scanning Services (PDF Download)

- 3D Imaging (PDF Download)

What you need to know

Imaging-digitisation

Bulk digitisation

Find out how our digitisation experts can help you and your organisation digitise your archives

Digitisation of rare manuscript

Ordering images

All you need to know about ordering scans or photographs of British Library collection items

Digitisation of specialist material

Specialist digitisation

We have specialist expertise in handling a range of material types and managing complex preservation requirements

News

British Library St Pancras building

Coronavirus notice

26 May 2020

To keep our users and all our staff safe and healthy we’ve taken the decision to close our physical sites in London and Boston Spa for the time being, and suspend our public events.

Digitising the Malmesbury Bible

British Library digitises 600-year old Malmesbury Bible

23 October 2019

The Friends of Malmesbury Abbey commissioned the British Library to digitise four volumes of its bible, known as the Malmesbury Bible, this summer. Malmesbury had one of the most important libraries in Europe in the Middle Ages and was home to 12th-century historian and monk William of Malmesbury.

British Library, St Pancras

Accessing British Library online content and services

19 March 2020

We’re gradually reopening our spaces to keep everyone safe, but we’re always open online.

Case studies

Signatures in the Hertford House visitors’ book
…“It is intended that this work and our collaboration with the British Library will continue, so as to make an increasing part of our Library and Archive resources available to a much wider public.” Helen Jacobsen, Senior Curator, Wallace Collection …

Sir Richard and Lady Wallace’s 19th Century visitors’ book digitised and made accessible online

James Blackhouse Digitisation Father
…“Thanks to the British Library and the West Bank Heritage Trust, priceless photos, correspondence and fascinating items from my great, great, great, grandfather’s travels and life have been preserved for everyone to view.” Antony James Backhouse Lambert, James Backhouse family member …

West Bank Park Heritage Trust commissioned us to digitise and preserve the priceless 19th century scrapbook of James Backhouse, a Quaker missionary, botanist and nurseryman who documented, amongst other things, Australian plant specimens

Table top scanner digitisation
…"In addition to being a source for rare material, the British Library’s scanning services are excellent, producing high-quality images to the specifications we require" Paul Waldock, ProQuest…

In addition to being a source for rare material, the British Library’s scanning services are excellent, producing high-quality images to the specifications we require, thereby enabling projects to move forward in a smooth and efficient way

Digitising at Birmingham Oratory
…“As custodians of this invaluable Elgar manuscript, it’s a joy to open up access to it online. We were very impressed by Eugenio’s meticulous handling of the score and the two Newman manuscripts of the poem and are delighted with the final images.” Daniel Joyce, Librarian & Archivist, Birmingham Oratory …

One of our cultural heritage photographers uncovered discarded draft sections to Elgar’s score whilst digitising the original manuscripts on location at Birmingham Oratory

The Malmesbury Bible on Display
…"We were delighted with the British Library service offering onsite photography at our convenience: it was efficient and enjoyable, and produced the most beautiful images." John Sunderland, Friends of Malmesbury Abbey…

Malmesbury and its Abbey, had one of the most important libraries in Europe in the Middle Ages, and the famous historian William was from Malmesbury. The Friends of Malmesbury Abbey commissioned the British Library to digitise four volumes of the bible, known as the Malmesbury Bible earlier this summer.

Help

Ordering images

Using your images

Other copying services