On Demand

Search and order from around 170 million items in the British Library’s published collection through our discovery service Explore the BL. If you don’t find the specific volume/part you need, you can still send a request, it’s likely that we will have it.

You need an On Demand organisation/business account to use these services. If you don’t have one yet, email customer@bl.uk to register. If you need an item for yourself, see ‘Request items for myself’ for more information.

You can use this service to get whole items on loan, or to get copies for non-commercial research or private study (under Library Privilege copyright terms), copies for judicial proceedings and copies for teaching and learning in Higher Education (under EHESS terms). 

We are unable to directly process requests for copies for a commercial purpose/copies under Copyright Fee Paid terms at the moment. However, these are some alternative suppliers that may be able to help:

• Copyright Licensing Agency find suppliers who hold a CLA Document Delivery licence
• Document Delivery from CCC provides access to the most comprehensive collection of scientific, technical, and medical content on any mobile or desktop device
• Research Solutions delivers articles, book chapters and practically anything worldwide, quickly and affordably, with full copyright clearance.

Some other things to know when using our service:

• All copies will be sent electronically
• Loans must be returned after 12 weeks (we are unable to renew loans, you will need to return items and re-request if still needed)
• We aim to ship most items within 4 days
• Cancellations can be made within 24 hours of requesting (send an email to customer@bl.uk with the subject line ‘Cancel request’ and include your document supply account number and your request reference number)
• You will be sent an invoice at the end of the month.

Get a copy for non-commercial research or private study, or a whole item on loan

Email your request to customer@bl.uk (one request per email) with the subject line ‘Copy request’ or 'Loan request', and include the following information:

1. Your document supply account number
2. Your document supply account name
3. Your request reference number
4. Describe your item of interest (as much as possible, e.g. title, title editor/author, edition, year, publisher, issn/isbn, volume, part/issue, article author(s), article title, pages)
5. British Library shelfmark (if known)
6. Delivery address. If requesting a copy, please provide a delivery email address. If requesting a loan, please provide your organisation department postal address (include the first line, postal/zip code and country).

Get a copy for judicial proceedings

You need a judicial proceedings indemnity to use this service. If you don’t have one, email us at customer@bl.uk.

Email your request to customer@bl.uk (one request per email) with the subject line ‘Judicial proceedings request’ and include the following information: 

1. Your document supply account number
2. Your document supply account name
3. Your request reference number
4. Describe your item of interest (as much as possible where applicable, e.g. title, title editor/author, edition, year, publisher, issn/isbn, volume, part/issue, article author(s), article title, pages)
5. British Library shelfmark (if known)
6. Delivery email address.

Get a copy for teaching and learning in Higher Education (under EHESS terms)

If you manage your digitisations through the DCS you can place an order through the DCS 'Order from EHESS' button as usual. Otherwise, email your request to e-hess@bl.uk (one request per email) with the subject line 'ehess request' and include the following information:

1. Your document supply account number
2. Your document supply account name
3. Your request reference number
4. EHESS service required (‘Copyright Fee Paid’ or ‘Outsourced’)
5. Describe your item of interest (as much as possible, e.g. title, title editor/author, edition, year, publisher, issn/isbn, volume, part/issue, article author(s), article title, pages)
6. British Library shelfmark (if known)
7. Delivery email address. 

Read more about our partnership with the CLA (Copyright Licensing Agency), to support teaching and learning in Higher Education.

We can only supply copies of articles and chapters from content that is out of copyright (published more than 100 years ago) at the moment. Alternatively: 

• Contact your local library. If they have an On Demand account, they may be able to order items on loan or get copies for you
• You may be able to get loans or copies through your workplace or university if they have an On Demand account
• You may be able to view items in one of our Reading Rooms in Yorkshire or London.

You may be able to get copies of articles or chapters through these alternative services:

• CCC Marketplace provides access to the most comprehensive collection of scientific, technical, and medical content on any mobile or desktop device
• Research Solutions delivers articles, book chapters and practically anything worldwide, quickly and affordably, with full copyright clearance. 

Get a copy of an article or chapter from content that is out of copyright

Email your request to customer@bl.uk (one request per email) and include the following information (do not send your card details, we will contact you to securely take payment by credit or debit card):

1. Your name
2. Your contact details (email address and telephone number)
3. Describe your item of interest (as much as possible, e.g. title, title editor/author, edition, year, publisher, issn/isbn, volume, part/issue, article author(s), article title, pages)
4. Delivery email address.

Send an email to customer@bl.uk, tell us what you need, and we will contact you (we will need to ask you to sign a DDA declaration).

We can help you and your users access the British Library’s vast and diverse collection to get the most out of their research.

From academic communities, health services, government, law, public libraries, museums, charities and industry, we support research across the world. We can supply loans of whole items to your library, or we can scan and send articles and chapters to your users wherever they are.

We can supply copies under Library Privilege copyright terms and we also offer special terms for key non-commercial sectors in the UK.

Content

From healthcare to history, law to literature, through On Demand you can search and order from around 170 million items in the British Library's published collection. This includes:

• Millions of books
• Hundreds and thousands of journal titles
• Millions of research reports and official publications, with strengths in British, US Federal Agency and international agency publications
• Conference papers and proceedings
• Music scores covering reprints of medieval manuscripts to the latest pop hits.

To find out more or to register your organisation you can email us at any time at customer@bl.uk, or you can telephone us on +44 (0)1937 546060, or speak to us instantly on Chat, open Monday to Friday 09.30 – 16.00.

To register your organisation/business send an email at any time to customer@bl.uk, and we will contact you to get you started.

GBP*

Copy: £15.50 (UK and overseas)

Loan: £22.65 (UK), £31.80 (overseas)

USD

Copy: $22.30

Loan: $45.65

EUR

Copy: €19.85

Loan: €40.90

*A discount will be applied for UK public good organisations.

Our usual opening hours for processing requests are Monday to Friday 08.00 – 17.00, but you can send requests at any time.

Terms and conditions.

We have expert information professionals on hand if you need help to find the content you need. You can send us a message at any time, or speak to us instantly on Chat, open Monday to Friday 10.00 – 17.00.