British Library (London)

...and since I'm at the British Library at least twice I week, here goes! What follows isn't meant to be comprehensive; more of a taster.

WEBSITE
Before visiting the BL, it's well worth a visit to its website at www.bl.uk. Here you can search the library catalogues, see what events and exhibitions are on, check the hours of opening for the bit you need, check the online shop for BL publications and even apply to adopt a book in ...
...also the portal for other British Library catalogues such as the Newspaper Library (in a different building so I won't write about it here) and Molecat, the manuscripts catalogue.

GETTING THERE
Check the website for information on this. The BL is easily accessible by Tube, bus, and rail. It's next to St Pancras station. Be warned that construction around Kings Cross might cause delays however you're travelling. Thameslink services ... more

They say, write what you know and since I'm at the British Library at least twice I week, here goes! What follows isn't meant to be comprehensive; more of a taster.

WEBSITE
Before visiting the BL, it's well worth a visit to its website at www.bl.uk. Here you can search the library catalogues, see what events and exhibitions are on, check the hours of opening for the bit you need, check the online shop for BL publications and even apply to adopt a book in need of conservation. The website is easy to navigate. As a part-time bibliographer I use the main book catalogue (www.blpc.bl.uk) almost daily and it has not failed me yet. Maintenance times to the catalogue are announced well in advance. See the website also for information about pre-ordering materials. This is a service I have yet to use but others have said it works. The main homepage is also the portal for other British Library catalogues such as the Newspaper Library (in a different building so I won't write about it here) and Molecat, the manuscripts catalogue.

GETTING THERE
Check the website for information on this. The BL is easily accessible by Tube, bus, and rail. It's next to St Pancras station. Be warned that construction around Kings Cross might cause delays however you're travelling. Thameslink services (my way of getting there) may be a bit dubious at some weekends.

THE BUILDING
Is impressive! A combination of red brick and marble which despite its huge size is mostly invisible when you walk down the Euston Road. You will know you are there when you see it. A bit like a fortress on the outside but a breezy plaza once you're inside. A small coffee shop is open sometimes (never when I need it!) and another small refreshment shop occupies the plaza when weather permits. The whole is dominated by a statute to love or hate by Edward Paolozzi after Blake of Isaac Newton. A conference centre is separate from the main library. (Quite nice, I went there for a conference about a year ago.) Finally, pick one of three main front pairs of doors. Most people including me are addicted to the automatically opening doors in the centre. The others are quite heavy!

Inside to the left is a well-stocked and pleasant if often crowed book shop. A post box is next to it. I assume it's for sending post cards but it's equally good for sending the bills you forgot to post on the way in. Continue on for the exhibitions.

EXHIBITIONS
The BL has two types. There are temporarily exhibitions on book related themes. Currently 'The Magic Pencil' offers the original art work for many classic childrens' books. There is also a permanent exhibition of some of the true treasures of literature. From ancient religious works to Shakespeare's First Folio to Jane Austen's juvenilia to the Beatles. Well worth a look.

Any questions? Ask at the main information desk. You'll see it when you come into the building - straight on.

ADMISSIONS
On the other side of the front of the building is the admissions department.

As with any library, you'll need to prove who you are and where you live. The BLs admissions policy is given in detail on its website. You will need to provide proof that your work cannot be accomplished anywhere else. I won't go into all the details here; there are many reasons for visiting the BL and many different ways of doing so. My advice is to be specific. When I first applied for membership, I wasn't specific enough and was only given a pass for 3 months. I am an independent biographer with no academic links and my desire to 'see the Sloane Manuscripts' was not specific enough although I announced myself as Sloane's biographer. Far better when I went to renew this pass and could say (and had the contracts to prove it) that I was writing articles for the Dictionary of National Biography. I now have a 5 year pass. If you are an independent researcher of any sort do check to see that the material you want is not available somewhere else. I can almost guarantee you will be asked this!

Once you pass the admissions hurdle you will be equipped with a pink library pass - same colour as a Boots Advantage card - with your photo on it. Mine's among the worst photos ever taken of me and I'm always faintly distressed when it grants me access to the reading rooms or helps me have my books delivered.

THE READING ROOMS
The British Library is a deposit library which means if it's published the BL gets a copy. So, in theory, anything you want should be there somewhere. (I say in theory because there are exceptions to every rule. Like the time I was after something which had been destroyed in WWII.)

The British Library is divided into several reading rooms. All BL reading rooms require you to show your pass upon entry. When you leave, any belongings you have with you will need to be searched. This is painless, but I do advise that you try to avoid doing it at the same time as everyone else (e.g. 4:55 on Friday) if you don't like queuing. Here, in no particular order, are the rooms I've used.

MANUSCRIPTS
Light and airy in appearance and feel, this is where you, as the name suggests, go to look at manuscripts. In addition to the electronic catalogues to find things there are also extensive bound finding aids. Fill in a slip from the desk when you know what you want. Your manuscript will be delivered to you either by returning to the desk within a set time or by being brought to you. Some fragile ones may mean you have to sit at specific desks. (Do chose a desk before you order - if you need to change the staff will let you know.)

RARE BOOKS AND MUSIC
Again, the name gives it away! This is where I am most of the time. If you want to look at something old but printed, it will be here.

Pick a desk when you come in. This is very important as you'll need the desk number to order books. Leave something on the desk to indicate that it's taken. Nothing of value obviously. A notebook does the trick.

Book ordering is done from the in-house online catalogue. This is divided into sections such as books printed before 1975 or after 1975, open access materials (you won't need to order these an it's always quite nice if what you want is on a shelf), science books, periodicals, and 'Document Supply Centre' books. The last I usually order for use on another day since same day delivery can't be guaranteed. I personally find this version of the catalogue more difficult to use than the online version at www.blpc.bl.uk. Luckily, ordering by shelf mark is possible. I usually take along printouts I've run off at home. You can order up to 15 items a day. (And you'll get a warning when you're getting close to the limit.) Follow all the directions on the screen and in an hour or less you'll have the books you need. A light goes on at your desk when your items are ready for collection at the desk. If it's not on after about 45 minutes, it's worth checking at the collection desk anyway. It depends where you sit some days, I think!

Friendly and helpful staff will hand over your materials when you show your pass. Delivery problems are quickly and efficiently resolved in my experience. There's usually a good reason if something has gone wrong and this will be explained.

Other facilities in the Rare Books and Music section include electronic resources, a copy service, microfilm readers (quite easy to use), and a reference librarian who can help with enquires on locating materials. There is a separate desk for the Music section which I confess I have not had occasion to use.

HUMANITIES 1
This is where modern books and journals can be ordered and read. Much larger than Rare Books or Manuscripts and often busier. A good selection of reference books lives on the open shelves here. Ordering is the same as described above. Like the RBAM there are copying facilities, electronic resources, and helpful staff.

HUMANITIES 2
Periodical land. I haven't used it often but it's very useful for finding out when periodicals were published. Other than that I'm not really qualified to say.

PATENTS ROOM
Good fun this one! The records of the Patent Office and advice on patenting. If you're lucky you might get to see some mad scientists wandering around. (Only joking!) Staff here saved my bacon once on some enquiries I was doing. And put up with me repeatedly bothering them for an afternoon for some books stored behind the desk. Models of professionalism and courtesy.

SCIENCE/PERIODICALS
Only visited once but awe struck by the amount of loaded shelves of open access material. Want to browse an obscure journal? Here's where you need to go. A very studious seeming place. Great if you want to work in peace. Not that the other rooms are nightclub-like in any way.

PHILATETIC ROOM
Haven't visited.

OTHER BITS

LOCKER ROOM
Free lockers are available. You will need a £1 coin which is returned when you leave. There is a change machine outside the locker room.

CLOAKROOM
I never bother. My coat and bag fit into a locker.

EATING AND DRINKING IN AND NEAR THE BL
The BL Restaurant is very pricey! It looks very nice but I can't afford it. Hot meals for around £8, smoothies £2.50 (I think), coffee in a tiny portion and not all that nice £1.50 plus depending on what type. Apparently there's a small room somewhere upstairs with cheaper (but still not very nice) coffee and vending machine snacks. Pack a lunch if you're working all day and meet some friends after work in the Pizza Express opposite the main gate if food is important. Or try one of the coffee shops on the plaza. There's also a Starbucks opposite. The Euston Flyer pub is also opposite acceptable. Big and loud but it's in the Good Beer Guide.

A NOTE ON SIR HANS SLOANE (1660-1753)
Don't forget to look out for his statute on the way upstairs. It's down to him that there's a BL at all. His will spurred the government to take action in 1753 to preserve his collection as well as several others called 'the Foundation Collections'. The result was the British Museum which used to house the books and manuscripts of the British Library.

Thanks for reading if you've made it this far! I hope this will be of help if you're visiting or wishing to use the British Library anytime soon.
 

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