Visiting the Library

The BFI National Library’s unique and extensive collection of materials on film and television is available to all who wish to use it for research purposes. Membership can be purchased either on the day, or in advance of your visit.

Users need to buy daily, weekly or annual passes for the Reading Room, and annual passes for the Special Collections room. We also offer Information Services for written and telephone enquiries and research, for which there may be a charge.

We are a reference library, which means that all materials have to be consulted in the Reading Room and may not be borrowed. A small part of our collections are available to browse. All others must be requested from staff at the Reading Room Counter. N.B. If requesting material held off-site we advise that you do so well in advance of your visit.

While we aim to make using the Reading Room as straightforward as possible the nature of the collection means that we do not operate as either a public or University library.

There are always staff at hand to help with any questions you might have.