We are the national library of the UK. Our shelves hold over 170 million items - a living collection that gets bigger every day.

Tell us your story/detailed overview

Although our roots extend back centuries, we collect everything written today, tomorrow, and decades into the future. We have millions of books, but we have so much more. Our London and Yorkshire sites have everything from newspapers to sound recordings, patents, prints and drawings, maps, and manuscripts. We work with partners and other libraries to make sure that as many people as possible have the chance to use and explore our collection. From fostering an early love of learning with local schools, to livestreaming events for audiences joining us from across the UK, to helping researchers around the world find the information they need. Our spaces are open for research and study, to find business support, as a place to meet friends, or to get inspired by visiting our galleries.

Neighborhood

St. Pancreas

Any need to know/rules & guidelines

We truly appreciate your presence in our community, and your support means the world to us. As a café, we’re grateful when you savor our delicious offerings and share your appreciation through generous tips. Your kindness helps us keep our mission alive. Here are other tidbits for you: We're a bit different to your local library. We house the national collection, with many unique items. You can't take books home, but you can use our Reading Rooms in London and Yorkshire for personal study and to access our collection. All you need is a free Reader Pass. You can also use our public spaces in London for personal study, but you can only consult collection items in our Reading Rooms. Some rooms have a special focus, where you consult a particular type of material, others are more general reading areas. All of them have comfy seats, free Wi-Fi, and staff you can ask for advice. Embrace your place—this is where you truly belong!

Website

https://www.bl.uk/