We have manuscripts dating back to the 17th century, early printed books, newspapers and periodicals, and modern research-level publications in the humanities and social sciences.

Collection guides

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Help

Readers at desks in the Asian and African Reading Room

Asian & African Studies Reading Room

  • Find information on the shelves
  • Access online databases and electronic books and journals
  • Order collection items to the Reading Room via our catalogues

If you need help, just ask our Information Specialists at the Reference Enquiry desk or contact the Asian & African Studies Reference Team.

We offer a range of free Reader sessions and 1-2-1 consultations to help you make the best use of the Library's collections.

You’ll need a Reader Pass

Mon: 10.00 – 17.00
Tue – Sat: 09.30 – 17.00
Sun & English Public Holidays: closed

Opening hours for all Reading Rooms

Projects

Red silk brocade with woven-in gold ornaments in floral shapes. On top of it are bundles of gilded palm leaves and a wooden board with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay.

Manuscript Textiles in the Southeast Asian Collections

Researching manuscript textiles from Southeast Asia

A Malay manuscript written in Arabic script, with decorated frames in red and green on both opening pages.

Bollinger Singapore Digitisation Project

Making Singapore related material at the British Library available online.

A drawing of a young tapir from Sumatra, with white stripes against black hide.

Raffles Family Collection

Introducing the Raffles Family Collection at the British Library.

All projects

External links

The British Library is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

South East Asia Library Group

Scholars and librarians concerned with library provision for South-East Asian studies

Southeast Asia Digital Library

Provides researchers with a wide variety of materials

Shop

Front cover of Buddhism Illuminated

Stunning publication on illustrated Buddhist manuscripts from Southeast Asia.

£50

Front cover of Buddhism: Origins, Traditions and contemporary life

Exhibition catalogue for the Buddhism exhibition at the British Library, 2019.

£25