What's currently available

Online catalogue
This includes the majority of our printed collection items and some freely available electronic resources. Please note this only includes records up to April 2023 and we will not be adding new records for the time being.

Incunabula Short Title Catalogue  

Archives and Manuscripts catalogue 
Printed catalogues and handlists are available in our Reading Rooms, or you can also try searching the National Archives Discovery catalogue and filtering by “Other archives only”.
Work underway to restore in 2025

Catalogue of Illuminated Manuscripts

Catalogue of Photographically Illustrated Books

English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC) and OPAC
You could try estc.printprobability.org, an external alternative to ESTC

Evanion catalogue

Register of Preservation Surrogates
A microfiche version is available, please ask our team for help

Sloane Printed Books catalogue

Sounds catalogue
Work underway to restore in 2025

Electoral registers
Several are searchable through printed catalogues and handlists, please contact us or speak to teams in the Reading Rooms. Find out more in our guide.

Microfilm and microfiche 
Please check with the Reference team for further details about access

Parliamentary papers
Several are searchable through printed catalogues and handlists, please contact us or speak to teams in the Reading Rooms

Physical archives
Several are searchable through printed catalogues and handlists, please contact us or speak to teams in the Reading Rooms. You can find some of our collections using the National Archives Discovery catalogue and filtering by “Other archives only.”

Physical manuscripts
Several are searchable through printed catalogues and handlists, please contact us or speak to teams in the Reading Rooms. You can find some of our collections using the National Archives Discovery catalogue and filtering by “Other archives only.”

Printed newspapers
These are included in our online catalogue. You can consult hard copy newspapers in our Newsroom in London, and our Boston Spa Reading Room in Yorkshire. Where possible we will provide the requested newspaper on microfilm, as some of our collection is restricted due to its fragile state.

Printed books
The majority is included in the online catalogue

Printed journals and serials
The majority is included in the online catalogue

Printed maps
The majority is included in the online catalogue

Printed music scores
The majority is included in the online catalogue

Rare books
The majority is included in the online catalogue

Visual arts content
Some available. Please contact us to make an appointment

Digitised manuscripts
Over 1,000 available online, with more to come

Digitised books
Over 700,000 digitised books from our collection are available on Google books. Find out more in our guide.

Endangered Archives Programme

Sound collections
Some of our audio collections can be accessed onsite in St Pancras by making an appointment. Please contact us so we can help you identify what you need.

Born digital content

Broadcast news

Business and Management Portal

Databases and eresources
Work underway to restore in 2025

Database of Bookbindings
Selected images are on Wikimedia commons. Find out more in our guide.

Database of Italian Academies  

E-books
Work underway to restore in 2025

Electronic Table of Contents (ETOC)  

Social Welfare Portal  

India Office Family History Search   

Microform Research Collections 

Electronic Legal Deposit (NPLD)  
This is currently unavailable in all Legal Deposit Libraries
Work underway to restore in 2025

Online journal articles and serials 
Work underway to restore in 2025 

Open Access content in the catalogue   

National Radio Archive content

Social Welfare Portal  

Sounds website

Video and moving image content

Web Archive
Work underway to restore in 2025

Requesting collection items, including advance requests 
Via online form at bl.uk/research

Enquiries
Our team can answer your questions and help you find accurate and relevant information. You can speak to us in the Reading Rooms, send us a message at any time, or speak to us instantly on Chat, open Monday to Friday 10.00 - 17.00 

Adaptive technology
Please speak to a member of staff for assistance or contact accessibility@bl.uk

CD-Rom access
This includes Chemical Abstracts on CD-Rom

Printing and scanning facilities
Work underway to restore in 2025

Reading Room PCs
Work underway to restore in 2025

British Library On Demand  
An online service for existing business accounts

Images Online
Images of collection items to purchase

ISNI and ISSN services 
Please contact us at isni@bl.uk and issn-uk@bl.uk

MARC and ISIL 
Please contact us at uk-isilmarc@bl.uk

Research guides

Research repository

Teaching and learning resources
Some available using Padlet

WiFi  
Free to use, no need to register

Bibliographic Retrieval Service

Ethos
Work underway to restore in 2025

Imaging services and digitisation

My Reading Room Requests  
Check the status of your item orders by contacting itemrequests@bl.uk

My Workspace