Help

Access manuscripts and archives

Accessing manuscripts and archives and obtaining a Letter of introduction or recommendation

Access our resources on a personal device

If you have a Reader Pass you can access a number of our electronic resources on a personal device, wherever you are.

Ask the Reference Enquiry Team

Contact details for our Reference Enquiry Team who can help you with short research enquiries

Beta services at the British Library

Now and again we make beta (development) systems available to you to try out

British Library Online Account

You need a British Library Online Account to use many of our services.

Can I copy material in the Reading Rooms?

What you need to know about copying British Library collections in our Reading Rooms

Can I take photographs of British Library material...

You can take photos of our collection items yourself in British Library Reading Rooms

Electronic resources

We collect thousands of electronic journals, books and websites and hundreds of databases. You need to come to the Libra...

Explore the British Library: How to order collecti...

We may have more than one holding, or item, of a title you wish to see; you choose which item to order.

Family history: a guide to sources

A guide to sources for family history and genealogy research, and where to find them.

FAQs for the Remote Eresources service

Find answers to and guidance on our most frequently asked questions about the Remote Eresources service.

Find and request Lord Chamberlain's Plays

How to locate items in our largest single manuscript collection

Find Arabic manuscripts

Details of Arabic manuscripts are to be found in a number of catalogues

Find charters, rolls, and seals

How to access medieval and early modern European documentary collections

Find Chinese manuscripts and printed books

There are several catalogues for our Chinese material