96% of British Library Readers rate services as excellent
Of the readers using the British Library Reading Rooms, 96% rated the services and facilities as ‘excellent’ or ‘good ‘as reported in the British Library Annual Report 2005/6 published today at http://www.bl.uk/about/annual/2005to2006/introduction.html.
In addition to this success, visits to the Reading Rooms are up 17% and the number of items supplied and consulted was up by over 11% on the previous year. A MORI poll also recorded that 75% of Britons are aware of their national library and its role, an increase from 50% five years ago. The British Library’s exhibition and events programme has also increased awareness with visitor numbers growing by 3.6% during a period when most visitor attractions in London saw visitor numbers fall.
Improving user experience is one of the main strategic priorities for the Library and other successes include:
- Almost 12 million pages of digital material available to view over the web against a target of 4.25 million
- Over 6,000 Reader passes have been issued to researchers using the Business & IP Centre and exceeded the targets set by the London Development Agency attracting 45% female users against a target of 15% and 32% of researchers of black and minority ethnic origin against a target of 29%
- Agreeing a long-term strategic partnership with Microsoft with initial plans to digitise 100,00 out of copyright books
- Connecting to digital users - delivery of international research articles automatically online from British Library Direct through search results on Google Scholar
- Website usage with nearly 50 million hits by more than 4 million users
- Mozart’s Catalogue and Alice’s Adventures Underground are record breaking additions to the award winning Turning the Pages technology
- One of the largest grants ever made for conservation research in the UK has been awarded to the British Library
"Launching the British Library’s Annual Report 05/06", Chief Executive Lynne Brindley said, “It has been an extremely successful year with the British Library meeting record levels of demand and improving the experience of everyone who uses our services and facilities whether onsite or remotely. We continue to forge connections with our users and partners and show the relevance and value of the British Library to a wider public.
The feedback from our users has been excellent and we continue to strive to innovate and improve to ensure our relevance as a great library in the 21st century."
The British Library won the award by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy for its Annual Report and strategy ‘Redefining the Library’ for the second year running.
Notes for Editors
- The British Library’s Annual Report 2005/06 is available at http://www.bl.uk/about/annual/2005to2006/introduction.html.
- The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It exists for everyone who wants to do research - for academic, personal or commercial purposes. The Library was founded in 1972 by an Act of Parliament which brought together eight institutions including the British Museum Library, and the National Lending Library for Science and Technology.
Further information
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The British Library Press Office
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