Subjects

These subject guides will help you to research selected subjects. They do not cover every subject, or everything the British Library has.

To find material relevant to your research, please search our main catalogue Explore the British Library or our specialist catalogues.

The British Library collection of maps, plans and views is one of the largest in the world, numbering some 4.5 million

British historical and literary manuscripts, 600–1600

Manuscripts, printed books, newspapers and journals from the Middle East, Iran and Central Asia

British history from 1600 to the present

The British Library has a world-famous collection of music

Print and online documentation from governments worldwide

You’ll find British and overseas newspapers dating back to the 1600s and we have growing collections of radio, television and web news

Interviews on a wide range of subjects relating to British life and experience

Stamps and postal history items from around the world

Printed material in a range of formats for current researchers and future generations

Our collections in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Modern Greek cover a broad range of subjects

Our resources support the needs of specialists working in academia and business, and can support multidisciplinary research interests.

Resources for the study of Slavonic countries past and present

Research resources on politics, economics, law, sociology and other subjects.

Sound and video recordings from all over the world

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