Services for readers
Preparing for your visit
It is advisable to contact us in advance
of your visit in case the material you require needs to be ordered
in advance or is held by another department.
Please be as specific as possible about the area, date, scale
(or amount of detail), whether printed or manuscript, preferably
identifying individual maps by author, title and date. Use the Integrated Catalogue to confirm reference details.
Maps Reading Room facilities
Most items are kept in the basement and need to be ordered upon
arrival in the Reading Room.
Delivery times are dependent
on the time of day you place your order. Most frequently requested
items are kept on open access shelves.
The Maps Reading Room is supervised by a Curator and an Administrative
Officer who will be pleased to assist you.
Only pencils can be used at the reading tables.
Facilities for people with disabilities
The Maps Reading Room is accessible to those with disabilities.
There are raised tables for those with wheelchairs and induction
loops for the hard of hearing have been installed at the Reference
Enquiry and Issue desks.
Contact the Disability
Support Officer (Tel: + 44 (0)20 7412 7022) to discuss your
needs.
Organised visits
It may be possible to make special arrangements to accommodate
parties. Those interested should contact
Peter Barber, Map Librarian.
Services for remote users
You can contact Maps with questions about
the map collections. However, it is not possible to answer general
geographical and cartographical questions or to undertake lengthy
research. If an enquiry is likely to take more than 30 minutes a
professional researcher will be recommended.
You can use the Integrated Catalogue
to search the Map Collections. If you cannot find what you are looking
for please contact us.
You can order
Map reproductions.
Further information
The British Library
Map Collections
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
Tel: +44 (0)20 7412 7702
Fax: +44 (0)20 7412 7780
Email: maps@bl.uk
