Overview of the British Library:
No writer's trip to London would be complete without a stop at the British Library. As the national library of the UK, the British Library receives a copy of every publication produced in the UK and Ireland. Its collection of over 150 million items includes manuscripts, maps, newspapers, magazines, prints and drawings, music scores, stamps, and patents. Writers will be drawn to the literature section of the Sir John Ritblat Gallery, which is open to the public, but gems such as the Magna Carta, Leonardo da Vinci's Notebook, and Beatles manuscripts ensure that there is something for everyone.Explore the Building:
In 1996 the British Library began moving out of the British Museum and into a modern building at St. Pancras. Though the building's exterior has been widely criticized, it does offer much improved facilities to the 16,000 students, academics, writers, and bookworms who use the collection each day.You may take an audio tour of the building led by the architect or join a guided tour. (See the information desk for details.) Whether you take a tour or explore on your own, be sure to check out the King's Library, a six-story glass tower housing the library of King George III, located near the cafe.
View Original Manuscripts in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery:
When you arrive, pick up a treasures map of the gallery near the staircase or at the information desk. As you walk into the Sir John Ritblat Gallery, you'll see the literature section on your left. Here you may view things like manuscripts of Beowulf, Bronte juvenilia, and a draft of Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus. Stop at the audio station and listen to James Joyce reading from Finnegans Wake, Virginia Woolf on the BBC discussing her work, and Yeats's classic recitation of "The Lake Isle of Innisfree." If that's not enough, turn to your right, and you'll find Shakespeare's First Folio of 1623.Explore Electronic Manuscripts :
Scattered throughout the Sir John Ritblat Gallery, you'll find stations for viewing electronic versions of manuscripts such as William Blake's notebook, Alice's Adventures Under Ground penned by Lewis Carroll for young Alice Liddell, and Jane Austen's handwritten History of England, composed for her family "By a partial, prejudiced and ignorant historian." The library's award-winning Turning the Pages touch-screen system allows you to flip pages or turn a scroll with your fingertips. You may also zoom in on the page, see a transcription, or listen to audio commentary.Access the Reading Rooms:
Anyone may visit the exhibition galleries or tour the building, including the Sir John Ritblat Gallery, but to use the reading rooms, you must apply for a reader pass. To do this, go to the reader registration office with the appropriate identification: "original documents, one showing proof of your home address and one showing your signature." See the British Library site for hours. The Sound Archive Listening & Viewing Service and the Philatelic Collections Researchers' Room are available by appointment.British Library Facilities:
You may store belongings in the locker room or the cloakroom (for a suitcase, you will need a pound coin, which is returnable). When your stomach starts to rumble, stop in a cafe on either the piazza or on the ground floor -- or lunch in the restaurant on floor 1. Naturally, you'll want to stop in the gift shop on your way out.Exhibitions and Events:
Exhibitions in the Pearson Gallery and alongside the ground floor cafe change regularly, giving visitors a chance to see other items from the collection. Events include poetry readings, talks, and performances. See the information desk for an events program.Visitor Information:
British Library hours are: Mon.: 9:30-6:00; Tues.: 9:30-8:00; Wed.: 9:30-6:00; Thurs.: 9:30-6:00; Fri.: 9:30-6:00; Sat.: 9:30-5:00; Sun. and English public holidays: 11:00-5:00. Note that the reading rooms keep separate hours.You may easily reach the British Library by taking the tube to the King's Cross/St Pancras station, Euston station, or Euston Square station (get an Oyster card if you're in town more than a few days). You may also take the 10, 30, 73, or 91 buses or hail one of London's highly trained cab drivers.
Call +44 (0)870 444 1500 for more information. There's no charge to enter the building.
