Conditions of use of the British Library Reading Rooms

• Conditions of use - Windows Media Format (6.19mb)

The British Library must:

• safeguard the collections for present and future users
• ensure that our staff are able to work in a safe environment
• maintain an environment in which Readers can study our collections effectively
• carry out its legal duties.

As a British Library Reader we require you to accept the following conditions. Readers who do not comply with the conditions may have their Reader Pass withdrawn.

If you are a Reader with disabilities who may need special assistance to use the Reading Rooms, please speak to a member of staff.

Consideration of others

1. You must be considerate towards other Readers and behave in a way that doesn't disturb them. Please try to make as little noise as possible. If you have to talk, please do so quietly.
2. You must not make or receive calls on your mobile phone. Mobile phones and pagers must be turned off or on silent mode when in the Reading Rooms.
3. Library staff have the right to work without fear of abuse or rudeness: please treat staff with courtesy and respect.

Looking after the collections

4. Please observe these guidelines for the use of collections. More detailed guidelines are displayed in the Reading Rooms, and these must also be followed.
5. You must take the utmost care of all material in the Library's collections. Damage to or theft of Library material is a criminal offence and may result in prosecution.
6. You must not remove any collection item from the Reading Rooms.
7. Items that could harm the collections are not allowed in the Reading Rooms. These include, but are not limited to: pens, food, drink, sweets (including cough sweets), chewing gum, glue, bottles of ink, correction fluid, cleaning liquids, scissors, knives (including craft knives and razor blades), highlighter pens, scanner pens, adhesive tape and umbrellas.
8. You may not:

• write on or mark any items from the collections
• use personal scanners or copying devices on any item from the collections
• smoke anywhere in the building.

9. You may not make tracings or rubbings of any collection item, unless given prior written permission by the Library.
10. You must comply with the arrangements for the issue and return of collection items; instructions are clearly displayed in each Reading Room.
11. You must return all collection items to a member of staff at the desk from which they were issued.
12. You are responsible for the safekeeping of collection items at all times when they are in your use.
13. You must not pass collection items issued in your name to another person.
14. You must not use items issued to another Reader.
15. You must give back collection items when asked to do so by any member of Library staff.

Safety matters

16. You must follow all emergency procedures, including the evacuation of the site in the event of a fire, or a fire drill.
17. The Library may undertake safety checks of your technical equipment at any time.

Security matters

18. Passes

• You must have a valid Pass to go into the Reading Rooms.
• Your Pass is for your exclusive use and you must not lend it to anyone.
• You must show or give your Pass to any member of Library staff on request.
• You must tell the Library immediately:
• if you lose your Pass
• if you change your name or address
• if your Pass is stolen.
• You must take care of your Pass: the Library may decline to replace your Pass if you repeatedly lose or mislay it.

19. Personal possessions

• No bag larger than 29x21x10cm may be taken into the Reading Rooms.
• In addition to the above, no more than one clear plastic bag may be taken into the Reading Rooms, and, if required, a clear plastic bag for a lap top computer.
• You must comply with all requests for inspection: staff may open and inspect your personal possessions (including bags, sealed envelopes, folders, personal computers etc) as you enter and leave the Reading Rooms.
• You may not take outdoor coats into the Reading Rooms. Outdoor coats include overcoats, waterproof clothing of any length, outdoor jackets e.g. bomber, quilted, sheepskin, puffer, fleece and leather jackets etc.

Computers and other technical equipment

20. Personal equipment may only be used in designated areas.
21. If the use of your equipment disturbs other Readers, we will ask you to stop using that equipment or to move to another desk.
22. Headphones can only be used if the sound issuing from them is not audible in the Reading Room.
23. Please do not connect your personal equipment to the British Library's network.
24. You must not use your own disks, re-writeable CD-ROMS or software with the Library's computers or electronic collections.
25. The Library's electronic collections may be viewed only on our designated computers. Under no circumstances may the Library's electronic collections be viewed on or downloaded onto your personal equipment.

Copying the collections

26. You must comply with current UK copyright legislation.
27. You must ensure that any information obtained from our unpublished collections relating to living individuals is used in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act, 1998.
28. You must follow the copying instructions displayed in each Reading Room.
29. Copies of Library materials may only be made using the Library's copying facilities.
30. You must not make 'double page' copies of any item from the collections.
31. You must not copy or transcribe any part or the whole of any sound recording or musical score without permission from the Library and the holder of any relevant copyrights.
32. You must not bring cameras into the Reading Rooms.

Complaints and disclaimers

33. We aim to provide an excellent service. If you want to comment on or complain about anything please use our service improvement procedure, details of which are available in the Reading Rooms and on the web.
34. The Library does not accept liability for the loss of, or damage to, personal property or equipment, however caused.

April 2006