Collections and resources

The BFI National Library collections date from the age of the pre-cinema magic lanterns to today's global entertainment industry. These are diverse in scope and format, and in many cases they are also unique. Researchers, students, job seekers and moving image enthusiasts of all ages utilise the library's collections and resources daily.

We are a research library promoting and preserving the knowledge of moving image culture in the UK. Our collections focus mainly on British film and television but they are complemented by material in over fifteen languages which is international in scope.

They include Books, Journals, Annuals, Press cuttings, Audiotapes, Festival information, Electronic resources, Distribution catalogues, Theses, and Pre-cinema.

View our Visiting the Library pages for information on how to access the collections.

New Acquisitions

The BFI National Library displays a selection of new books every week in the Reading Room. A bulletin is produced of those titles, and other acquisitions added to stock.

• Subscribe to our weekly bulletin of acquisitions
• Search the catalogue

Some useful listings

• Current Periodicals List (PDF, 237k)
• Early film periodicals list (PDF, 383k)
• Early British film periodicals list (PDF, 363k)
• Early US film periodicals list (PDF, 339k)
• Early Film & Television Annuals (PDF, 25k)
• Special Collections A-Z

Books

We hold over 62,000 books and pamphlets, the first being from the mid-1600s. These include general reference works, memoirs and biographies, academic texts, film and TV tie-ins, published scripts, theses, broadcasting policy, conference papers, technical manuals, economic reports and many more.

They are divided into two main subject areas: film and television, but also include some material on mass media, popular culture, radio, theatre and other related areas of study.

Journals

We hold over 6,000 journal titles in all. These date back to the earliest years of cinema in the 19th century. We currently subscribe to over 250 titles, including academic, popular, fan, and industry. Most are invaluable to researchers and some are truly unique being the only copies available in Britain. Where the originals are in a fragile condition we ask that you use alternative formats, such as microfilm or fiche, and respect our photocopying restrictions.

Annuals

Over 1,820 titles - 9,000 plus individual volumes - of directories, almanacs, handbooks, catalogues, annual reports, guides, and yearbooks make up the Annuals collection. Use these to research industry facts and figures, film and television production, company information, and general filmographies.

Press cuttings

We hold over 2,000.000 cuttings from the UK national press and a small number of other publications, dating from the 1930s to 2010. This is an invaluable research resource, arranged by Film/TV Title or Name.

In 2003 we acquired, from the ITC (now Ofcom), a large quantity of newspaper cuttings relating to the broadcasting industry. This material has been digitised and is available to Library users via a designated terminal.

Audio

There are three main collections of audio tapes, which can be accessed in our Reading Room (tape deck and headphones will be provided):

• National Film Theatre (NFT) interviews - Lectures and debates from the past 40 years featuring some of the greatest names in film and television history.
• Denis Gifford Collection - Around 60 recorded interviews and programmes.
• BECTU History Project - Tapes and transcripts of over 500 interviews of BECTU members involved in British film and TV productions in a technical capacity.

Festivals information

One of the best sources for finding information on the latest international productions and restorations, their distribution, and up-to-date filmographies of upcoming new talent. The last 5 years are held at Stephen Street, all previous years are held off-site and must be requested in advance.

Electronic resources

We offer an increasing number of electronic resources for use via dedicated terminals in our Reading Room. These range from subscription sites to databases, moving image, and digitised collections and include full access to the Mediatheque, BFI Screenonline, and the BFI Stills, Posters and Designs databases.

Please note that CD-ROMs, DVDs, and CDs acquired with their respective books may currently only be accessed by using your own equipment, such as a laptop.

Distribution catalogues

Over the years the Library has acquired a sizeable collection of distributors' catalogues - mainly 16mm and 35mm, though also some video. Despite having only a basic record on the library catalogue these are available to researchers and may be requested in the normal way. Please note that catalogues housed off-site must be ordered in advance of your visit.

Theses

We hold several hundred theses and dissertations dating back over the last thirty years. This collection is a unique resource for researchers, often covering subjects that have yet to be touched upon in published works, and including the formative works of leading academics in the field.

Pre-cinema collection of printed matter

This collection was acquired for the library from a specialist book dealer, collector and film historian in the late 1980s. The name reflects the greater part of the collection, which covers the various processes which come together to make moving pictures, but some of the collection covers the period of silent film and a small part the sound era. The materials are pitched at all levels, from scientific pieces in Boy's Own to trade items and ephemera, as well as textbooks. It consists of over 1,000 lantern readings & lectures, and almost 900 books, catalogues & ephemera.