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Visiting the Library
The BFI Library's unique and extensive collection of materials on film and television is available free of charge to all who wish to use it for research. The majority of items in our collections can be accessed on the day, but offsite materials need to be pre-ordered.
Please note the BFI Library is now closed and will re-open at BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XT on Tuesday 12 June.
Up to 5 requests per person may be retrieved from our basement stacks on the hour. Retrieval times will be at 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm, and 6pm. On Saturday retrievals will be at 12am, 1pm, 4pm, and 5pm.
At busy times, the maximum waiting time Tuesday to Friday should be no longer than 90 minutes, depending on what time you submit your order.
Opening Hours, contact and location
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | 10:30 - 19:00 | 10:30 - 19:00 | 10:30 - 19:00 | 10:30 - 19:00 | 10:30 - 19:00 |
The Library is closed on Sundays and all public holidays. Temporary changes to opening hours are posted on the library home page.
Access to Special Collections is by appointment, though unpublished scripts and pressbooks may be consulted during the library's normal opening hours.
Access
The library is committed to ensuring that all members can make full use of our services and facilities. If you wish, please call us to discuss your access needs before you visit the library. This will help us ensure that you get the best out of your visit.
- The library counter is fitted with an induction loop system.
- Some computer terminals are low level, and designed for seated users.
- We have a range of assistive technology for users whose sight is impaired. These include magnifiers of varying strengths.
- If any member is unable to make copies of material they need, staff on duty will be willing to make those copies on behalf of the member, or arrange to do so. Normal copying legislation, charges and conditions will apply.
Group Visits
The BFI Library holds the world's largest collection of written materials about film and television. The collection includes books, periodicals, press cuttings, festival materials, annual reports, published scripts, press materials and audio interviews that span the history of the moving image. Some visual content can also be accessed via the BFI's Mediatheque, Screenonline, and InView platforms.
We welcome applications for study visits from schools, colleges, and other groups. We do try to accommodate as many groups as we can, but due to space restrictions, this is not always possible.
Accessing the collections, Requesting Materials
Before coming in to the Library we ask that you observe the following:
- Bags, food, and drink (including water) must be left in lockers.
- We ask that mobile phones are switched off, or at the very least switched to silent during your visit.
Due to the limited amount of space in the Reading Room, the majority of our collections are on closed access and must be requested. This means that, with the exception of the books and periodicals located in the Reading Room, you will not be able to browse the shelves or retrieve the materials yourself.
- As you register, ask staff at the counter for an introduction to the library, its collections and resources.
- Search our databases (Library catalogue for books, BID for periodicals, Idealist for Special Collections) to discover what materials we hold and how to access them.
- Request items not held on open access in the Reading Room by filling in the appropriate request slips - limited to three items at a time - and handing them to a member of staff.
- Please note that digital photography (camera or mobile phone) is only permitted on completion of a copyright declaration form. The use of scanners is currently not permitted.
At busy times, the maximum waiting time Tuesday - Friday should be no longer than 90 minutes, depending on what time you submit your order.
Requesting material in advance
Materials held in our Basement Stack, or off-site at the Berkhamsted Paperstore, can be requested in advance of your visit to the Reading Room by using the Requests email. Please bear in mind the following guidelines:
- You may request up to 5 items in advance. If we have received your email by 5pm we shall endeavour to have your items waiting for you from 10.30am on the day of your visit.
- Berkhamsted Paperstore items must be requested at least 5 working days in advance.
- We reserve the right to issue your requested materials to other researchers in your absence.
Making copies in the BFI Library
Policy and copyright
Much of the collection of the BFI Library can be copied. However this must be within existing legal requirements.
As advised by CILIP (Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals) the key requirement is that only a single copy is made of any item for the purposes of private study or non-paid research.
The legal copying limits are:
- journal or periodical: one article from any one issue;
- published work: one chapter or 5% of extracts.
Due to the delicate nature of some material held and their bindings, some of the collection is not available for copying and these are usually clearly marked. Likewise, some unpublished materials, e.g. theses, are not available for copying as permission has not been granted by the author.
If you are unsure about what you may or may not copy, please ask a member of library staff for guidance.
Where copying from web pages the same criteria as those stated above apply; however please respect any additional copyright notices and any copyright statements attached to individual works.
Contractual copyright conditions may also apply to material available via subscription databases.
Please consult a member of library staff for further information relating to specific items when you visit.
Equipment and costs
The library reading room has three photocopying machines, able to make black and white A4 and A3 copies only.
The library also has a number of microfiche and roll film readers suitable for accessing the collection of cuttings and publicity information, and for publications and periodicals held on microfiche and roll film.
Copying charges:
- £1 for 8 units
- £5 for 40 units.
There is no extra charge for A3 copies.
Printing from microfiche and roll film readers will be charged at two units per copy.
Where copying from machines other than the dedicated copiers, an honesty box is provided for donations.
