Flinders Archaeology Blog

The British Library, with its wide variety of valuable resources, is a very significant institution. When seated at your desk or sitting for a coffee, you are surrounded by other researchers from a range of disciplines. You really get the sense that you and those around you are trying to seek a greater understanding of the world. On a personal level, the time spent in this library really helps you to develop as an individual researcher. You will learn to read and decipher historical texts; your approach to written volumes and your choice of keywords will become strategically focused; and above all, you get a sense of excitement when stepping back in time and reading first-hand accounts relating to your field of study. Together, this is what makes visiting so worthwhile.

Located in Kings Cross, London, the British Library is one of the largest libraries in the world (Figure 1). It holds around 150 million items, including books, films, audio recordings, newspaper articles and websites. The library is also a legal repository for items published in Britain—meaning each year thousands of new publications are automatically added to the library’s stores. Considering that such a wealth of knowledge exists in a convenient location, the British library is a must-see for anyone carrying out British-related studies. Below is a brief description to help those who visit in the future.

Figure 1. The British Library. (K. Bennett 2017).

To access this treasure trove of resources you have to apply for a reading room access pass. You can preregister online or wait until you arrive at the library. The application itself is rather easy and less intimidating than you might expect. Upon entering the registration room, you are greeted by staff who ask you questions related to why you wish to have access to the reading rooms. Then, they ask to see two ‘official’ forms of identification as proof of address and proof of signature. A helpful hint, take note of what is ‘official’ and make sure you come prepared. Official forms of identification can be your passport, driver’s licence, gas bill, etc. They must be originals and cannot be photocopies. A driver’s licence (postal address) and a bank card (signature) are both fine to use.

As a researcher who travels from another country to visit, make sure you have prepared your official documents, otherwise your frequent flier miles might increase exponentially. It also helps to show some evidence of your studies. For example, a business card or a letter of course enrolment are equally as good. Once you have been signed off, you have your photo taken and given your own access card. This permits you to enter all of the reading rooms within the library.

Before entering the reading rooms, there are a couple of things that you need to do. Firstly, you need to search and request items you wish to view. The Library’s website has a very user-friendly searchable catalogue (https://www.bl.uk/) (Figure 2.). As long as you have your keywords in check, then it should be a fairly straightforward exercise. Once you have identified materials to view, you add them to your basket and then request them to be sent to a reading room. Some documents can be sent to different reading rooms, while others are limited to one room. For example, the East India Company Records are only accessible in the Asian and African Studies room. Depending on what you request, you may find yourself moving around the library. Bear in mind, you are limited to nine requests per day, but in reality that is plenty.

Figure 2. British Library website, catalogue search (Retrieved 5 July 2017, http://explore.bl.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?mode=Basic&vid=BLVU1&tab=local_tab&).

Secondly, if carrying notebooks, a laptop, camera, or other materials for note taking, you need to place these in a clear plastic bag. These plastic bags are provided free and are located near the cloakroom on the lower ground floor. If you are carrying a personal bag, you will need to check this in to the cloakroom because only clear bags are permitted in the reading rooms.

There are seven reading rooms for you to choose from (Figure 3). Depending on your subject matter, however, you will find yourself resident in one or two. As you enter the reading rooms, you need to show your reading room pass to security. After, you need to find a vacant desk and take note of the desk number. Once you set yourself up with your personal research materials, you then approach the collections desk and do three things. First, ask for the number of books you requested. Second, show them your reading pass. Last, quote the desk number where you are sitting. Also, a smile helps a lot! The staff will retrieve your book(s) and then you take them back to your desk.

Figure 3. Example of a reading room entrance. (K. Bennett 2017).

Be aware that the records you are looking through are original and delicate and some materials require extra support. In this case, you should use a pillow to help support these special items. Once you have finished using your resources, return them to the same place you collected them from. You then repeat these steps for the duration of your research.

Kurt Bennett is a PhD candidate in the Department of Archaeology, Flinders University. He is currently visiting the British Library to find archival materials relating to English East India Company ship construction.