On Demand Christmas and New Year Operating Hours

British Library Boston Spa Christmas Tree

The British Library will be closed from Friday 23 December to Tuesday 27 December inclusive and on Monday 02 January 2023.

Published date:

While we are closed we will be unable to supply On Demand orders from our physical collections and third-party suppliers. You will still be able to order items from our electronic stores for immediate download. The reading room at Boston Spa will also be closed and Customer Services will be unavailable.

Key times and dates:

All Document Supply services will be closed on the following dates

Christmas: 16.00 on 22 December – 08.00 on 28 December (UK time)

New Year:  16.00 on 30 December – 08.00 on 03 January (UK time)

  • Document Supply services (excluding immediate downloads) will be closed from Friday 23 December to Tuesday 27th December inclusive and on Monday 02 January
  • The Boston Spa Reading Room will close at 15:30, on Thursday 22 and Friday 30 December
  • Customer Services will be unavailable from Friday 23 December to Tuesday 27 December inclusive and on Monday 02 January
  • Customer Services will close at 16.00 on Thursday 22 and Friday 30 December.

Christmas:

  • We will not process any requests received after 16.00 (UK time) on Thursday 22 December until our Document Supply service reopens Wednesday 28 December at 08.00 (UK time). This includes any requests for the 2 hour service.
  • All requests received at the British Library after 16.00 on 22 December will be timed from 08.00 on 28 December.
  • Articles available for Immediate Download will continue to be delivered during this period.

New Year:

  • We will not process any requests received after 16.00 (UK time) on Friday 30 December until our Document Supply service reopens on Tuesday 03 January at 08:00 (UK time). This includes any requests for the 2 hour service.
  • All requests received at the British Library after 16.00 on 30 December will be timed from 08.00 on 03 January.
  • Articles available for Immediate Download will continue to be delivered during this period.

The British Library On Demand team and Customer Services would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2023. We would also like to thank you for using the British Library and we look forward to working with you in the New Year.