BFI Reuben Library

Our library at BFI Southbank is available to everyone, free of charge. It contains a huge collection of books, journals and digitised material about the world of film, television and the moving image. Our priority is comprehensive coverage of the UK, but the collection is international in scope.

BFI Reuben Library Photograph by Morten Odding

Christmas closure

The BFI Reuben Library will be closed from Wednesday 24 December and will reopen on Friday 2 January. We apologise for any inconvenience and wish all our visitors a happy festive season.

Temporary notice

Access to digitised film stills via BFI Collections Search is temporarily unavailable in the library due to essential system upgrades. We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

Visiting the library

How to find the library, access information and request materials in advance.

Find out more

Search the collections

Search our database of the films, TV, images, scripts, books and journals we hold.

Search the collections

Digital library on demand service

Request scans of book chapters or journal articles if you can't visit in person.

Make a request

Library reading room

The Edwin Fox Foundation Reading Room is open to anyone – from BFI Southbank cinemagoers to researchers.

Find out more

Events programme

We host a range of talks and events throughout the year.

Explore the Library events programme

Library policies

Our acquisition and donations policies, and our commitments to helping visitors and researchers.

Find out more

We would like to thank our generous supporters.

Principal funders
The Reuben Foundation

Major benefactors
The Edwin Fox Foundation

Additional support
The Hintze Family Charitable Foundation