Research and Access for Researchers
Making an appointment
All of the collections are available to researchers by appointment.
It would be helpful to the curatorial staff and the researcher if
an outline of the work being undertaken is given, so that the full
range of material can be made available, including that not mentioned
here. While it is advisable to give as much notice as possible when
making an appointment, arrangements can sometimes be made at short
notice by telephone. The Researcher's Room is available from 10.00
to 16.00 and appointments can be made for Monday to Friday (except
public holidays). Researchers must hold a current British Library
Reader Pass (for details see Admissions
/ Reader Registration)
Philatelic Researcher's Room Regulations:
- Admission to The Researcher's Room is granted subject to these
regulations and failure to comply with them may result in suspension
or withdrawal of admission. The supervising Curator may terminate
any appointment at any time under these circumstances.
- Researchers wishing to see material in the Philatelic Collections
must hold a British Library Reader Pass and make an appointment
with a member of the curatorial staff of the department. Reader
Passes are issued by the Readers Admissions Office. Philatelic
material in the Philatelic Collections may only be seen in the
Philatelic Collections Researcher’s Room. Non-philatelic
material from the Philatelic Collections may be seen in other
Reading Rooms to which these and other regulations apply.
- The Researcher’s Room is available from 10.00 to 16.00 Monday to Friday (not Public Holidays). The room may be closed at certain times of the year. When attending for an appointment the Researcher should ask for the supervising Curator (by name), at the appointment time, at the Information Desk in the Entrance Hall, when he / she will be met and taken to the Researcher’s Room. Under normal circumstances only one Researcher may view philatelic material at any one time. In special circumstances more than one Researcher may see material with the advance agreement of the supervising Curator.
- Researchers will be required to complete a form giving details
of their name or title; address, telephone number(s), fax number(s),
e-mail address (both in the United Kingdom and abroad, as appropriate);
and Reader Pass number.
- All Researchers will be supervised. All Philatelic Material, including all sheets or album pages, protectors, albums or bindings or boxes, etc, must be handled with care. At no time may any open album, book, etc have any object placed upon it. No sheet or album page with a protector may have its protector removed without permission. Permission for the closer examination of material must be sought.
- Researchers must not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum, etc.
- Pencils only may be used.
- The use of any tweezers, magnifying glass, lamp of any description, ruler, perforation gauge, etc. will require approval.
- Researchers must not write upon, damage or make marks upon any item, sheet, or album page nor binding etc. Tracing is not allowed.
- No cameras or copying devices may be used in the Researcher’s Room.
- No philatelic material, book, manuscript or other property of the British Library Board or items in its care, may be taken out of the Researcher’s Room.
- Researchers may bring philatelic material for comparison, on the condition that this is made known to the supervising Curator at the commencement of the appointment and his or her approval is given for such comparison. This approval may be withdrawn at any time.
- These regulations also apply to non philatelic material from the Philatelic Collections which may be studied, by appointment, in other British Library Reading Rooms.
Philatelic Literature
The Library holds a major collection of philatelic literature covering
every discipline of the subject, and this numbers over 30,000 volumes.
Included in this holding is the Crawford
Library. All philatelic literature is available to researchers
in the Reading Rooms. A Reader Pass is required.
Integrated
Catalogue
Introduction
Philatelic Exhibition
Collections
Research and Access
Background Research Materials
Philatelic Rarities online exhibition
Services
Valuations
Collection Development Policy
Contact Information & Articles
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