History, foundation and function

The British Library aims to support scholarship, research and innovation. Combining a national heritage role with ongoing support of science, business and industry, it is both the custodian of the nation's cultural memory and a major information resource for today's users.

The British Library has strong roots in the past. Under the terms of the British Library Act 1972, the British Library Board began to operate on 1st July 1973.

The inaugural national library brought together:the library departments of the British Museum, founded in 1753, which had their greatest period of expansion following the appointment in 1837 of Antonio Panizzi as Keeper of Printed Books. The Copyright Act of 1842 ensured all British Publications were deposited in the Library the Patent Office Library (founded in 1885) which became part of the British Museum in 1966 the National Central Library (founded in 1930 as successor to the Central Library for Students) the British National Bibliography (founded in 1950) the National Lending Library for Science and Technology based at Boston Spa Yorkshire the Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Later additions were: the India Office Library and Records (1982) the British Institute of Recorded Sound, later the National Sound Archive (1983) and then the British Library Sound Archive (2002) the Library Association Library (1988)

Since its inception the British Library's internal organisation and management structure has undergone various changes. Today it operates from two major centres in London and Boston Spa, Yorkshire. The new building in London's St Pancras opened to the public for the first time in November 1997.

The British Library Act sets the framework for the Library's activity.

Today, the British Library's extensive portfolio of services, based on its outstanding collections of more than 150 million items, includes:Internationally important reading room and enquiry services The world's most prestigious and most used document supply services - for copies of patents, journal articles, pictures, reports, conference papers and other key items Specialist information services in key subject areas Essential services for the library and information community, including the provision of catalogue records through a range of bibliographic servicesExciting facilities for a wider public, including exhibition, publishing, training, education and events programmes

The British Library is what is called a 'Non Departmental Public Body' funded by a Grant in Aid from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. This funding enables access to the reading rooms and basic enquiry services to remain free while other services are offered on a cost-recovery or profit-making basis. As a result the British Library earns a higher percentage of its total income than any other national library. The British Library published its strategic objectives for the year 2000 in 1993. In 1998 it initiated a review of those objectives, seeking external views on the scope of its collection and services in the light of current and future shortfalls in funding. Comments received from the consultation exercise are now helping the Library construct a new strategic framework.