Help

There are some restrictions on the way you can use images from the British Library. You may need to clear permissions before you can use them in the way you want.

You can use the images you order from British Library Imaging Services for personal, non-commercial purposes. This includes using them for your own reference or including them in an assignment for school or university. It also includes criticism, review and news reporting. Unless it’s impractical, you should acknowledge the source of the image.

Permission to reproduce our images

If you want to reproduce the images you’ve ordered from us, for example in a publication or broadcast, you'll need to apply for permission from the Library. You may also have to clear permission with the rights holder of the material you want to reproduce if it’s still in copyright or contains copyrighted material.

You can apply for permissions from the British Library through our online form.

The Library will charge a fee for permission to reproduce our collections. This will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis based on our current permission fees schedule.

Credit us when reproducing our images

When reproducing images from the British Library, you should credit us using the phrase: “By permission of the British Library”. The credit should also include the British Library shelfmark or manuscript number.

Please refer to and comply with the terms and conditions when using Imaging Services.