British Library
The British Library welcomes anyone who needs to do research in their Reading Rooms in Yorkshire and London.
British Library, Boston Spa
The British Library at Boston Spa has a Reading Room which is open to the public. It allows direct access to a vast collection of British Library items in print and electronic formats.
As a result of a cyber-attack in 2023 many services and online collections are not currently available, however the Reading Rooms are open, where physical collection items can be consulted. Please visit the British Library’s website to find out what is currently available to visitors.
85% of the London Reading Rooms collection items are available by request to readers in Yorkshire.
Free minibus to the Reading Room
We provide a free minibus service once every two weeks to the Reading Room at Boston Spa for staff and students, on alternate Wednesdays throughout the year.
The minibus leaves from the car park in front of the Information Centre at 9.30am and leaves the Reading Room at approx. 4.15pm.
All seats must be pre-booked online no later than one week before your visit.
Watch this video for more information on what to expect at Boston Spa
British Library Reader Pass
You do not need to book a study space in the Boston Spa Reading Room, but you will need a full British Library Reader Pass (a photo-pass) to gain access to the Reading Room.
A British Library Reader Pass is free
If you don’t currently have a Reader Pass, registration will be done in person on your first visit. British Library staff will arrange this with you when you arrive.
Please ensure that you bring the correct ID. Full details of what we need you to bring with you can be found in the Reader Pass FAQ section
If you already hold a British Library Reader Pass but it has expired, you will need to renew this in person on your first visit.
Requesting physical material to use in the Reading Room
If you wish to consult physical material from the collections in the Reading Room, these must be requested online in advance of your visit. Find the items you wish to consult using the British Library’s catalogue.
How you request them depends on whether you currently have a valid Reader Pass or not.
If you have a Reader Pass which has been issued / renewed since 21 March 2024:
- Please request items online by following these instructions: How to request collection items
- This should be done no later than 48 hours before your visit.
- A maximum of 6 items can be requested per day.
If you do not have a Reader Pass, or it was issued / renewed before 21 March 2024:
- Email reader@bl.uk and include the following information:
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- Details of the items you would like to consult
- Your name, email address, and date you will be visiting Boston Spa Reading Room
- State that you will be visiting on the minibus and will register on arrival
- This should be done no later than 48 hours before your visit.
- A maximum of 6 items can be requested.
You will not be able to borrow any items to take away from the Reading Room.
British Library, London
The British Library in London welcomes researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs with a need to use their research collections.
From the Library's collection of over 150 million items you can view books, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, magazines, patents, prints and drawings, music scores, sound recordings, photographs, book bindings or stamps.
To use the London Reading Rooms, you also require a valid Reader Pass.