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About the British Museum Library
The British Museum Library is a reference collection of over 335,000 titles dedicated to the research of human cultures – past and present – across the globe.
The library collection is organized in the study spaces of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, Asia, Britain, Europe and Prehistory (including Horology), Coins and Medals, Egypt and Sudan, Greece and Rome, Middle East, Prints and Drawings and Conservation and Scientific Research.Plan your visit:
Check the library catalogue on this page by using either the 'Search' or 'Advanced Search' functions, and send a list of materials you wish to consult to Library@britishmuseum.org by providing the following information:
- title
- author
- ISBN or barcode
- item type
- collection
- call number
Please allow two weeks for staff to check the list and provide research advice and confirmation of a consultation appointment.
When registering for the first time please bring photo identification (e.g., a driving licence or passport).
Please note that at the moment the library space utilizes a public wifi network for patrons that is not WPA2 encrypted. This is the same public network you would access throughout the British Museum.
Request new material:
British Museum staff can request new materials by logging into their account and navigating to their account/user/summary page. There they will be able to find the link to our acquisitions form. This form is also available via the staff intranet.
Please note that at the moment the library space utilizes a public wifi network for patrons that is not WPA2 encrypted. This is the same public network you would access throughout the British Museum.
Reservations:
The library is currently trialing a request system via the library catalogue. Sign into your library account and search the catalogue. Reserve one or more items by using the check boxes to the left of the record in search results, or by creating a custom list. For both options, simply click the 'place a reservation' button in the toolbar and enter the relevant information in the notes box before clicking 'confirm'.
You can check your reservations by clicking on your username → 'Your account' → and, on the 'Your summary' page, by clicking on the 'Reservations' tab.
The two week retrieval period still applies.
Instructions can be found here (PDF file, 475KB)
Instructions can be found here (PDF file, 475KB)
Request new material:
British Museum staff can request new materials by logging into their account and navigating to their account/user/summary page. There they will be able to find the link to our acquisitions form. This form is also available via the staff intranet.
How to get here:
The main library enquiry desk is in the Anthropology Library and Research Centre (ALRC) on level -1 below the North Stairs (PDF map, 297KB).
Opening hours: 10.00-17.00: Monday–Wednesday, Friday
13.00–17.00: Thursday