Terms and conditions

Entry and Use of Physical Sites

The British Library reserves the right to decline admission to our sites and buildings, including our Euston Road Piazza which may otherwise be open to the public. We reserve the right to ask a person to leave any of our sites or buildings if their behaviour is antisocial, or could constitute a source of nuisance or annoyance, or poses a danger to themselves or others.

When you enter our buildings, our Security staff may conduct bag searches and body scans. At times of heightened security these searches may also include a body search. Our Security staff may also carry out further searches of visitors leaving our exhibition galleries and Reading Rooms. Any person who is unwilling to be searched may be refused access to our buildings or asked to leave.

Reading Rooms and Reader Services

1. Definitions used in this section

Account Credentials means a Reader's personal details provided on registration as a Reader, Reader Pass number, and/or any user names and passwords associated with a Reader for the purposes of on-line Reader Services including without limit Remote Access.

Content means any content in any format, including without limit hard copy and digital versions, which the Library subscribes to, acquires, creates, receives by legal deposit or which is subject to open access, and that the Library makes available or accessible as appropriate from time to time.

Eresources means any Content provided electronically by a third party to which the Library subscribes or has purchased perpetual access rights.

Library means the British Library Board a statutory body incorporated by the British Library Act 1972 whose principal place of business is at 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB and/or the British Library, being the national library of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its premises for the time being, wherever situated, including without limit the Reading Rooms and in each case as the context may require from time to time.

Prohibited Items are items which could damage the Content or are otherwise inconsistent with the conducive use of Reader Services which the Library may in its discretion determine from time to time including without limit pens, sticky notes, adhesive tape, food, drink, liquids, chewing gum, scissors, knives, blades, portable scanners, adhesives.

Readers means those individuals and each and any of them of them holding a Reader Pass and using any of the Reader Services.

Reader Pass means a valid and current photo pass (or temporary alternative) issued to a Reader following successful completion of the Library's reader registration process from time to time.

Reader Services means each and any of those facilities and services that the Library makes available from time to time for Readers including without limit Reading Rooms, use of Content and Remote Access.

Reading Rooms means the Library's reading rooms and any of them situated at its premises at 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB and the British Library at Boston Spa, Wetherby, LS23 7BQ.

Remote Access means access to Eresources from non-Library devices.

Words, including defined terms, used in the singular shall include the plural and vice versa.

2. Applicability

2.1 These terms apply to the use of Reader Services.

2.2 All Readers are subject to these terms.

2.3 By each use or attempted use of Reader Services, Readers (and any other persons using or attempting to use Reader Services) confirm acceptance of these terms and agrees with the Library to comply with these terms as a Reader for the benefit of the Library, other Readers, other persons lawfully using the Library, and suppliers of Content.

3. Reader Registration and Reader Passes

3.1 Reader Passes are issued at the reasonable discretion of the Library in accordance with its application process and requirements from time to time.

3.2 Reader Passes are personal to, and for the exclusive use and benefit of, the Readers to whom they are issued.

3.3 Reader Passes remain at all times the property of the British Library.

3.4 Readers shall not:

• share their Reader Pass with any other person;
• allow any other person to use their Reader Pass;
• share their Account Credentials with any other person; or
• use their Reader Pass for the benefit of any other person.

3.5 Readers must advise the Library of any change in their personal details supplied on registration for a Reader Pass including without limit any name change, change of address or change of contact details.

3.6 Readers must report the loss (howsoever arising) or any suspected or actual unauthorised use of their Reader Pass or Account Credentials to the Library in writing without delay on becoming aware of such loss or use. Loss may be reported by email to: customer@bl.uk or electronic.services@bl.uk.

4. Access to Reading Rooms

4.1 Any person who requires special assistance to use Reader Services is invited to speak with a member of Library staff who shall engage reasonable assistance and guidance to facilitate use of Reader Services where practicable. Readers may bring their assistance dog into Reading Rooms where necessary.

4.2 Save in exceptional circumstances as agreed in writing with the Library, only Readers in possession of a Reader Pass may enter a Reading Room. Readers shall duly hand their Reader Pass to any member of Library staff who requests to inspect it.

4.3 Readers may take one small bag into a Reading Room together with one clear plastic bag for a laptop computer and/or other non-Prohibited Items. Clear plastic bags are available from the Library on request. Readers must not take any bag larger than 29 x 21 x 10cm into the Reading Rooms. The Library may inspect bags and personal possessions taken into a Reading Room (with or without notice to the Reader) and Readers shall provide all reasonable assistance to facilitate such inspection.

4.4 Readers shall not take any Prohibited Items into Reading Rooms.

4.5 Readers shall not take outdoor coats, jackets or umbrellas into Reading Rooms. The Library provides a cloakroom and lockers in which such items may be placed during a Readers visit to Reading Rooms.

4.6 Readers must follow all emergency procedures as displayed in the Library as instructed by Library staff or emergency services, including without limit the evacuation of the Library buildings in the event of a fire, or fire drill.

4.7 Readers shall comply with the Library's stated operational hours and closures as prescribed by the Library from time to time.

4.8 Access to Reading Rooms is subject to capacity levels set by the Library from time to time.

5. Consideration of others

5.1 Readers shall at all relevant times:

• treat staff and other Readers and Library users with respect and courtesy;
• respect the privacy of others;
• behave in a manner so as not to disturb or inconvenience others at all relevant times; and
• not act in a threatening, disorderly or offensive manner whilst on Library premises.

5.2 When in Reading Rooms, Readers shall:

• talk only where necessary and then quietly;
• refrain from dictating notes;
• use personal headphones only at a level that does not leak sound;
• not take or make phone calls; and
• switch off or turn to silent mode all personal devices

5.3 Readers shall ensure that their use of Reading Rooms, Reader Services and Content is at all times lawful and in a manner that will not cause distress or offence to any person, including without limit when using the internet within Reading Rooms whether on Library or personal devices.

5.4 Readers shall at all relevant times have due regard for the safety of themselves and others.

5.5 Readers shall treat as confidential any data information or documents not clearly intended for unrestricted sharing.

5.6 Readers shall not smoke, use e-cigarettes or vape on Library premises other than where expressly designated for such purposes.

6. Use of Content

6.1 Readers shall not remove from Reading Rooms any Content unless expressly permitted in writing to the contrary.

6.2 Readers shall follow all Library procedures for the issue and return of Content and in particular shall return Content to appropriate Library staff at the end of use by the Reader or when otherwise requested to do so by Library staff at any time.

6.3 Readers shall not share Content issued to them personally with, or pass it to, any other person.

6.4 Readers are responsible for Content being used by or issued personally to them.

6.5 Readers shall not re-use Content for any commercial purposes unless expressly prior authorised in writing by the Library and then subject to such further terms as the Library may reasonably require.

6.6 Readers shall comply with any notified, displayed or reasonably apparent terms applicable to the use of any Content including without limit eresource, and including such terms as may be prescribed by the relevant rights holder(s) interested in such Content.

6.7 Readers shall comply with directions and requirements from time to time given by Library staff concerning the use of Content.

7. Care of Content

7.1 Readers shall at all times take utmost care of Content.

7.2 Readers shall comply with advice given by Library staff along with any guidelines displayed in the Reading Rooms regarding the care and protection of Content.

7.3 Readers acknowledge and understand that any deliberate damage, theft or unauthorised use of Content may constitute a criminal offence and result in prosecution.

7.4 Readers may use only pencils and, subject to these terms, personal devices for the purposes of writing and taking notes once inside Reading Rooms.

7.5 Readers shall not write in or otherwise make any mark on Content.

7.6 Readers shall not make rubbings or tracings of Content without prior express written permission from Library staff.

8. Copying Content

8.1 Where Readers wish to copy or photograph Content they shall comply with Library procedures as displayed in Reading Rooms or otherwise notified to Readers from time to time.

8.2 It shall be the responsibility of Readers to accurately assess the copyright status of Content prior to undertaking copying or photography.

8.3 Where Content is protected by copyright, Readers shall only copy in manner permitted by the law unless otherwise expressly permitted in writing by the relevant rights holder(s). Readers shall allow Library staff to inspect such permission upon request.

8.4 Readers shall be responsible and liable for any copying or photographing which they carry out or undertaken on their behalf which may infringe copyright, other intellectual property rights or proprietary rights of any person.

9. Computers and technical equipment in Reading Rooms

9.1 Readers must not connect any personal portable storage device or software to the Library network or computers.

9.2 Readers shall comply with directions and requirements given by Library staff concerning the use of personal devices and equipment.

9.3 Except where expressly prior permitted in writing by the relevant rights holder(s), Readers shall not download any Content onto external networks or personal equipment.

10. Remote Access to Eresources

10.1 Subject to these terms and any other requirements notified or advised to Readers from time to time Readers may be permitted Remote Access to certain Eresources.

10.2 Readers’ Remote Access to Eresources is conditional upon satisfactorily completing a secure authentication process adopted by the Library for this purpose from time to time and acceptance of such further terms and conditions applicable to the relevant Eresource as required by the Library and/or Eresource provider concerned.

10.3 Readers may access Eresources only for such uses as may be permitted under 10.1 and 10.2 of these terms.

10.4 Readers shall not systematically or programmatically download or print any Eresource. Readers may only extract, download and/or print such portions of any Eresource as may be permitted under 10.1 and 10.2 of these terms or under relevant intellectual property law. Such permitted extracts, downloads or prints shall be used and retained only as may be permitted under 10.2 and 10.2 of these terms or under relevant intellectual property law.

10.5 Readers shall not distribute, repurpose, re-sell, re-publish or otherwise make available or deal with any Eresource in any manner without the prior written permission from the relevant provider of the Eresource.

10.6 Readers shall not do or omit to do anything which may cause the Library to breach any agreement, arrangement or licence with Eresource providers. Where Readers have any concern about the permissibility or legal compliance of their proposed actions or inactions Readers shall seek guidance from Library staff as soon as practicable and in any case in advance of any such action or inaction.

10.7 Readers acknowledge and agree that:

• they shall be responsible for any use of Eresource made by them; and
• the Library may share Readers’ personal details and/or Account Credentials with relevant Eresource providers where there is an actual breach, alleged breach or suspected breach of use of these terms or other applicable terms and conditions for the purposes of investigation of and to allow redress for any breach, as further set out in our relevant Transparency Notice.

10.8 Remote Access is reliant on and subject to the availability and capacity of third party software and services.

11. Temporary suspension of Reader Pass

11.1 The Library may at its sole discretion acting reasonably for all proper purpose suspend a Reader Pass and prevent Reading Rooms access and/or Remote Access where a Reader Pass is reported lost or where the Library reasonably believes there has been or is likely to be any suspicious or unauthorised use of the Reader Pass or associated Account Credentials. Suspension shall be for an initial period of ten days to allow investigation of the matter concerned and thereafter such period as the Library deems appropriate to allow the investigation to be concluded.

11.2 Readers shall provide all reasonable assistance and co-operation in the investigation as the Library may require.

11.3 If on investigation the Library is satisfied that there has been no unauthorised access to Content or breach of these terms and that unauthorised access or breach of these terms is not likely to occur then the Library shall at its option re-activate the Reader Pass; or issue a replacement Reader Pass (on equivalent terms to that suspended).

12. Breach of these terms

12.1 In the event of breach of any of these terms by Readers the Library may at its option:

• temporarily suspend Reader Passes to allow a breach to be remedied where remediable, reactivating or issuing a replacement as the Library determines appropriate once remedied;
• terminate Reader Passes;
• remove Readers from the Reading Rooms;
• prevent Remote Access by Readers;
• recover from Readers reasonable costs and expenses (including legal and professional fees) incurred by the Library in investigating and managing the breach;
• recover from Readers any amounts ordered or reasonably agreed to be paid by the Library to any third party rights holder in respect of any Content subject to access in breach of these terms; and/or
• share personal details and Account Credentials of Readers with third party rights holders in respect of any Content accessed in breach of these terms to allow such right holders to enforce any rights they may have against any Readers and provide reasonable assistance to the third party rights holders in connection with enforcing their rights.

13. Complaints and feedback

13.1 Readers may provide feedback or raise complaints about our Reader Services under our Complaints Policy by telephone: +44 (0)1937 546060 or email customer@bl.uk.

14. Disclaimer

14.1 To the maximum extent permitted at law the Library shall not be liable for:

• damage to Readers' personal property or equipment howsoever caused (including by the Library’s negligence);
• loss incurred from access to, use of and reliance on Content;
• the operation of any third party software, services or websites;
• use by third parties of Readers' personal information provided by Readers to third parties; any loss incurred by Readers in the exercise in good faith by the Library of any of its rights under these terms; or
• any loss caused by any action or inaction (howsoever arising) of any other Reader, Library user or other person whosoever.

14.2 No warranty or guarantee is given by the Library in relation to:

• Content, its accessibility or its availability; or
• third party software or services.

14.3 The Library’s total aggregated liability to any Reader arising in connection with Reader Services shall not exceed £100.

14.4 Nothing in these terms shall exclude or limit the Library’s liability for death, personal injury or fraud.

15. General

15.1 Law These terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of England.

15.2 Jurisdiction The courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with the Reader Services and or these Terms.

15.3 Entire Agreement These terms and those matters and ancillary terms and policies of the Library referred in them, anticipated by them or capable of application to Reader Services including without limit “How to Guides” published by the Library from time to time constitute the entire terms applicable to the Reader Services and supersede and extinguish all previous terms, promises, assurances, warranties, representations and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to Reader Services.

15.4 Severance If any provision or part-provision of these terms is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, these terms shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make them valid, legal and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this term shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of these terms.

15.5 Third Party Rights No one other than Readers and the Library shall have any right to enforce any of these terms.

15.6 Privacy Policy In addition to the specific uses of personal details and Account Credentials set out in these terms, the Library’s Privacy Policy shall apply the use of Readers' personal information held by the Library. Readers accept that they are the Data Controller in relation to any use that they make of personal data within the Content, as further set out in our relevant Transparency Notice.

15.7 Variation These terms may be varied at any time by the Library acting reasonably and shall be effective once notified in writing to Readers.

15.8 Waiver No failure or delay to exercise any right or remedy provided under these terms or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.

15.9 Compliance with law Readers and the Library shall at all relevant times comply with all relevant and applicable legislation and regulations including without limit the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, Legal Deposit Library (Non-Print Work) Regulations 2013, General Data Protection Regulation (to the extent applicable to the UK) and Data Protection Act 2018.

Websites and Online Services

The terms and conditions in this section apply to the use of all online services operated by the British Library, except where superseded by service-specific terms and conditions provided at the point of use of those services. In the event of any conflict, the terms on those specific services take precedence.

The British Library website (https://www.bl.uk/, and all associated pages, domains and online services, including public Wi-Fi provision on our premises) (“the Website”) is operated by the British Library Board (“The British Library”, “Library”, “we” or “us”).

The British Library is a body incorporated by the British Library Act 1972 whose principal place of business is situated at 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB. No British Library employee shall have any personal liability in respect of the Website.

1. Acceptance

Your use of the Website is subject to the following Terms and Conditions, which you are deemed to accept by using the Website.

2. Copyright

The audio, video, text, images, or other material made available on the Website by the Library are either protected by the copyright of third parties, are the copyright of the British Library Board, or are materials which are in the public domain or made available under a Creative Commons licence.

Where content is marked as public domain, the Library believes it to be in the public domain in most territories and is unaware of any current copyright restrictions on the content either because the term of copyright has expired in most countries, or because after reasonable efforts no evidence has been found that copyright restrictions apply. You are free to use this material as you wish, but please note that the Library does not warrant that use of the content will not infringe on the rights of third parties. It is your responsibility to determine and satisfy copyright and other use conditions before copying, transmitting, or making other use of the Content.

Where content is marked as Creative Commons content, either the British Library owns copyright or database rights and wishes to share the content in support of our mission to support access to knowledge, or else the content has been licensed by third parties under a Creative Commons licence. You may freely use such content for non-commercial purposes as long as you acknowledge the British Library Board or relevant third party as the owner of the material.

Please see our Freedom of Information page for more information about the Re-Use of Public Sector Information Regulations and details of how to apply for permission to use other content owned by the British Library Board.

All other content may only be used in line with a relevant licence or other terms of use granted by the relevant third party copyright holder

3. Prohibited use

You agree not to use the Website:

• to create a database (electronic or otherwise) that includes material downloaded or otherwise obtained from the Website except where expressly permitted on the Website or otherwise permitted in writing;
• to disseminate advertisements or for any other commercial purposes (which would include using the Website to promote or encourage the sale of your goods/services, except where under license to the Library or otherwise permitted in writing);
• to transmit or re-circulate any material obtained from the Website to any third party except where expressly permitted on the Website;
• in such a way so as to remove the copyright or trade mark notice(s) from any copies of any material made in accordance with these terms;
• to disseminate any unsolicited or unauthorised advertising, promotional materials, “junk mail," “spam," “chain letters," “pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation;
• to disseminate any material which is abusive, defamatory or obscene, may harass, offend or inconvenience any person, applauds, encourages or entices abuse, discrimination or criminal activity or which might restrict or inhibit the use and enjoyment of the Website by any person;
• to disseminate any material that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, damage, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment;
• in any way that might infringe third party privacy or other rights, is unlawful or that might bring BL into disrepute; or
• to post link(s) that take users to material that contravenes any of the above restrictions.

4. Information and availability

Whilst the Library takes every care to ensure that the information on the Website is accurate and complete, some of it may be supplied by third parties and we are unable to check its accuracy or completeness. You are advised to verify the accuracy of any information before relying on it. Further, due to the inherent nature of the Internet, errors, interruptions and delays may occur in the service at any time. Accordingly, the Website is provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis without any warranties of any kind and we do not accept any liability arising from any inaccuracy or omission in the information or interruption in availability.

5. No reliance

The Website contains general information based on English law and, although we endeavour to ensure that the content is accurate and up to date, users should seek appropriate legal advice before taking or refraining from taking any action. The contents of the Website should not be construed as legal advice and we disclaim any liability in relation to its use.

6. Linking to our Website

We welcome hyperlinks to the pages of our Website. However, you may not display the contents of our Website (or any page from it) or allow it to be displayed, surrounded, framed, or otherwise surrounded by material not originating from us without our consent. You may however freely use any ‘embed’ features made available on our Website, for example via our Universal Viewer or Sounds pages.

7. Links to other Websites

On the Website you may be offered links to other websites, which have been recommended by our expert curators for their relevance, suitability, and usefulness. Whilst we hope you will be interested in those websites, you acknowledge that the content on those pages is not subject to the Library’s control, their owners may be independent from us, and we do not endorse or accept any responsibility for their content.

We do not enter into agreements for reciprocal links.

8. Computer viruses

The Library will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that the Website does not contain or promulgate any viruses or other malicious code. However, it is recommended that you should virus check all materials downloaded from the Website and regularly check for the presence of viruses and other malicious code. The Library excludes to the fullest extent permitted by applicable laws all liability in connection with any damage or loss caused by computer viruses or other malicious code originating or contracted from the Website.

9. Trade marks

The Library has various Domain, text, and protected marks registered in certain jurisdictions. No use of these or any other trade marks of the British Library may be made by you except for the purpose of referring to the Library or its associated brands lawfully and in good faith only. If you would like to license our material, please contact our Brand Licensing team.

10. Registration

On certain parts of the Website we may require you to register and provide certain information about yourself and where you do this you agree to: (a) provide true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself as prompted by the relevant registration form (such information being the “Registration Data”) and (b) maintain and promptly update the Registration Data (by sending an appropriately worded email to customer@bl.uk to keep it true, accurate, current and complete.

11. Submission of information/data

Where information (including sensitive financial or personal information) is provided to the Library (whether directly through the Website or otherwise) you accept that these methods of communication cannot be 100% secure. The Library cannot accept any responsibility or liability for any damages (other than liability for death or physical injury arising out of the negligence of BL or its officers or any liabilities that cannot, as a matter of law, be excluded) arising from the misuse or loss of data or information in transit and submitted by you to the Library, whether directly through the Website or otherwise. The provision of personal information by you and use of it by the Library is subject to the Library’s Privacy Policy, which is incorporated in these Terms and Conditions.

12. Your username and password

Where you are invited to register on the Website, you will be allocated with a unique username and/or password that gives you access to your Website account. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your username and password, and are fully responsible for all activities that occur through your Website account. You agree to (a) immediately notify the Library if you become aware of any unauthorised use of your password or Website account or any other breach of security by sending an appropriately worded email to customer@bl.uk, and (b) ensure that you exit from your Website account at the end of each session. We cannot and will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with these requirements.

13. User generated content

If you send any text, images, audio, or other content (including ‘favourites’, personalised galleries, and metadata tags) to the Website you accept that such content, and all rights therein, become the sole property of the Library and that we shall have the right to use that content in perpetuity, throughout the world, in all known and discovered mediums and for all purposes and we shall have the right to make it available to the public on the Website and otherwise. We may require you to confirm the rights granted in this paragraph and where requested to do so you shall provide all reasonable assistance to the Library. You warrant that you have full right, power, and authority to provide such content, and that it does not infringe any third party rights, and you hereby indemnify the Library against actions brought against us for any alleged infringement of such rights arising from your use of the Website.

All user generated content must comply with our Rules of Acceptable Use for User Generated Content; we reserve the right to remove any content that does not comply. Any decision to remove such material is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

You acknowledge that any content posted to the Website is done so at your own risk, and that in some cases your name may be displayed alongside your user generated content.

The Library does not guarantee that your user generated content will continue to remain available on the Website.

14. User generated content - rules of acceptable use

Any discussion forums or pages of the Website where you are capable of posting material are provided for your private and non-commercial use and for the exchange of lawful, relevant, fair, and appropriate information, opinions and comment. Use of the Website that is inconsistent with those stated purposes is strictly prohibited. Further, your use of these forums and the Website generally is subject to the provisions of paragraph 3 above.

User generated content that you post to our Website (or other online services where allowed) must:

• be in the English language (unless otherwise specifically permitted by the page or service in question)
• not contain email addresses or other contact information
• not be deliberately misleading, or deliberately impersonate another user of the Website
• be relevant to the context to which it is posted
• not replicate existing content.

In relation to this content, you acknowledge and agree:

• That the Library accepts no responsibility for any statements, material or other submissions placed on our online forums by you or any third party, or for any loss or damage resulting from your breach of the restrictions set out in paragraph 3 above; and
• To indemnify the Library and its representatives, partners and employees from any and all claims and liabilities (including legal fees) which arise from your statements, contributions or other submissions to our online forums, from any unauthorised use of material obtained from our online forums or otherwise from your breach of the restrictions set out in paragraph 3 above.

15. Removal of content

In making material available online the British Library acts in good faith. However, despite these safeguards, we recognise that from time to time material published online may be in breach of copyright laws, contain sensitive personal data, or include content that may be regarded as obscene or defamatory. If you are concerned that you have found material on our website, for which you have not given permission, contravenes privacy laws, is obscene / defamatory and in terms of copyright law is not covered by a limitation or exception, please contact us at noticeandtakedown@bl.uk stating the following:

• Your contact details.
• The full details of the material.
• The exact and full URL where you found the material.
• If the request relates to copyright, provide proof that you are the rights holder and a statement that, under penalty of perjury, you are the rights holder or are an authorised representative.
• The reason for your request including but not limited to copyright law, privacy laws, data protection, obscenity, defamation etc.

Upon receipt of notification our ‘Notice and Takedown’ procedure will then be invoked as follows:

• The British Library will acknowledge receipt of your complaint by email or letter and will make an initial assessment of the validity and plausibility of the complaint.
• Upon receipt of a valid complaint the material will be temporarily removed from the British Library website pending an agreed solution.
• The British Library will contact the contributor who deposited the material, if relevant. The contributor will be notified that the material is subject to a complaint, under what grounds, and will be encouraged to assuage the complaints concerned.
• The complainant and the contributor will be encouraged to resolve the issue swiftly and amicably and to the satisfaction of both parties, with the following possible outcomes:
• The material is replaced on the British Library website unchanged.
• The material is replaced on the British Library website with changes.
• The material is permanently removed from the website. If the contributor and the complainant are unable to agree a solution, the material will remain unavailable through the British Library until a time when a resolution has been reached.

The Library will not view or edit or pre-screen any contribution that you or anyone else make to the forums or to the Website generally and therefore, unless we are specifically notified of the nature of any item of content, you cannot assume that we are responsible for having made it available on the Website. We, and others that we designate, shall have the right (but not the obligation) at our sole discretion to refuse or remove any content that is posted to, or available on, the forums or the Website without the need to give any reasons for doing so.

16. Content objections

If you object to the publication of any material placed on our online forums (or anywhere else on the Website) on any grounds other than those listed in Section 15 above, please let us know by sending an appropriately worded email to noticeandtakedown@bl.uk and we will take whatever action we deem appropriate.

17. Severability

In the event that any term of these Terms and Conditions is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of these Terms and Conditions shall remain valid and enforceable.

18. Variation of these terms and conditions

These terms and conditions were last updated on 08 October 2018. The Library reserves the right to vary these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Such variations become effective immediately upon the posting of the varied terms and conditions on the Website. By continuing to use the Website you will be deemed to accept such variations.

If, for any reason, the Library believes that you have not complied with any of these Terms and Conditions, the Library may, at its sole discretion, cancel your access to the registration areas of the Website immediately and without giving you any advance notice.

Further, the Library reserves absolutely the right to withdraw or suspend the Website where it deems this to be necessary without notice and will not be liable to you for such unavailability.

19. General

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall restrict or exclude any liability that we have to any party which cannot be excluded by law and in particular, and notwithstanding any term of these Terms and Conditions, our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence shall not be limited or excluded in any way.

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by English law and the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

Ticketed Events and Box Office Transactions

1. Purchasing your ticket

You may book up to 10 tickets per transaction.

E-tickets will be sent to you as a single pdf document attached to an email.

We offer concessionary rates to exhibitions and selected events for those senior 60+, 18–25, under-18, students, receiving Jobseekers Allowance, those with a disability and carers. We reserve the right to ask you for proof of eligibility for such concessions.

If you wish to book one of our dedicated wheelchair spaces in our main venues, please contact the Box Office. We are unable to offer wheelchair spaces for sale online.

Each ticket is unique and is only valid for the admission of one person only and should not be duplicated. Please note that seats, where applicable, are allocated on a first come, first served basis. We cannot guarantee that groups will be seated together.

If you have not received your e-tickets or are experiencing any technical difficulties please check your spam inbox. E-tickets come from the address customer@bl.uk and this email can be used for further enquiries.

If you cannot open or find your electronic ticket, please contact the Box Office prior to the performance to arrange a ticket replacement.

2. Cancellation or changes

By you:

Please note that you have no statutory right to amend or to cancel and receive a refund for an event you have booked. However, if you cannot attend due to exceptional circumstances, please contact our Customer Services team who may be able to help you. We are only able to consider requests for refund or replacement that come in via email.

By Us:

It may be necessary in some circumstances for us to cancel your ticket without notice. If this happens, we will where possible offer you an alternative ticket, or an exchange or a refund equivalent to the cost of the ticket, but we will not reimburse your travel or any other expenses, or any donation made at the time your ticket was purchased.

You do not have to return your e-ticket if you don’t attend. We will invalidate the e-ticket.

3. Admission

Please ensure that you bring your ticket or e-ticket with you, together with proof of eligibility where required for concessionary rates when you attend for your event. We cannot grant access without a valid ticket.

We advise you to arrive 10 minutes before your event is due to start. Latecomers' admission cannot be guaranteed. Where possible we will try to admit you at a suitable break in the event. If this is not possible, no refund will be provided.

We advise you to leave coats and bags in our cloakroom and locker room facilities. Please note that we also reserve the right to request that you leave phones, coats and bags in these facilities for certain events. (Further details will be provided in the description of the event, if necessary.) Please be aware that bags larger than airline carry-on size (56cm x 45cm x 25cm) are not allowed into the building, and our cloakroom cannot accept items exceeding 50cm in any direction. Oversize items such as prams or pushchairs can be left in the locker room.

Unless otherwise specified in the details of the individual event, children can be admitted to our events and exhibitions. Children under 11 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

By attending an event you:

• agree to comply with our Conditions of Entry; and
• consent to filming, photography and sound recording which may include you as a member of the audience, and its use for any purposes in private and commercial distribution without payment or copyright. Wherever possible, tickets and signage in the building will state whether events will be filmed and provide instructions about how to avoid being recorded or photographed if you do not wish to be.

You may not consume food or drink whilst in the event.

Unless otherwise stated in the description of the event, cameras and recording devices are not normally permitted at ticketed events. Please contact the Events team at your earliest convenience if you wish to seek exceptional permission to use any of these devices. Please note that such permission will be granted solely at our discretion.

Membership

By submitting the membership application and paying the Membership Fee you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions in this section. Acceptance of your membership application will take place when the British Library notifies you that it has been accepted. This creates a valid and binding contract between you and the British Library.

1. Definitions

• 1.1 In this section, the following words have the following meanings:
• British Library means the statutory corporation established under the British Library Act 1972 with its principal place of business at 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB;
• Foreseeable Loss and Damage means loss or damage where it is obvious that it will happen or if, at the time the contract was made, both the British Library and you knew it might happen;
• Member means you and/ or any other member of the British Library Membership Scheme (depending on the context in which it is used). Please note that these terms and conditions apply to all members;
• Membership Benefits means the benefits set out in clause 4
• Membership Card means the card or cards provided to you by the British Library confirming that you are a Member;
• Membership Cardholder means the holder of a Membership Card (therefore in the case of Joint Members will include each Member);
• Membership Fee means the money you have paid to the British Library to become a member, such Membership Fees are set out on the British Library website or on the membership application form;
• Membership Period means the date from which British Library acknowledges your membership following receipt of your Membership Fee to the date on which your Membership expires. This will usually be 12 months from the date that we acknowledge receipt of your Membership Fee. The term of your Membership Period is set out on your Membership Card.
• You or you means the person named on the membership application (and in respect of Joint Membership both names listed on the membership application)

2. Your details

• 2.1 Any personal information that you provide to the British Library will be processed in accordance with all relevant legislation as set out in our Privacy Policy.
• 2.2 The British Library will use the information you provide to us to provide you with your Membership Benefits. In particular, the British Library will contact you by email and post with information that will help you access these benefits, for example, by providing advance notice of exhibitions or events, or informing you of new products and special offers in our Shop.
• 2.3 As part of your Membership, the British Library may also send you information about other British Library activities where we feel these may be of interest to you.
• 2.4 You may opt out of receiving communications from the British Library (other than those directly related to the creation and maintenance of your Membership account) at any time. If you do so, some aspects of your Membership Benefits may become harder to access; for example, you may not receive notification of Events and Exhibitions in sufficient time to exercise your right to reserve tickets. If you do not wish to receive communications from the British Library then please inform us by email at customer@bl.uk, or by calling +44 (0)1937 546 546.
• 2.5 You are responsible for informing us of changes to your personal details.

3. Subscription fees and payment

• 3.1 All Members will pay an annual Membership Fee. British Library reserves the right in its absolute discretion to change the Membership Fee each year.
• 3.2 Your Membership is valid immediately from the day that your Membership is acknowledged by the British Library (following receipt of the Membership Fee by the British Library in cleared funds) and will usually be valid for 12 months unless, for example you have purchased a longer Membership Period. If you do not renew your Membership it will expire automatically at the end of the Membership Period unless it is renewed in accordance with clauses 3.4 or 3.5 below.
• 3.3 Upon expiry of your Membership you will no longer be a Member and you will no longer be entitled to receive any Membership Benefits.
• 3.4 Renewal by Direct Debit: When each Membership Period comes to an end, the British Library will send you a renewal reminder. If you do not wish to renew your Membership you must inform the British Library at the earliest opportunity and preferably at least 10 days before the end of your Membership Period to prevent funds being debited from your account. If you do not inform the British Library otherwise, your membership will automatically renew at the end of each Membership Period.
• 3.5 Renewal by cash, and credit/debit card: When each Membership Period comes to an end, the British Library will send you a renewal reminder, and your Membership will be cancelled unless and until a further Membership Fee payment is received from you.
• 3.6 In order to comply with HMRC guidelines the British Library is not able to accept CAF cheques as payment for membership.
• 3.7 The British Library reserves the right in its sole discretion to refuse you or terminate your membership if in its reasonable opinion you behave in a way which is considered to be harassing, causing distress or inconvenience to other members, any visitor to the British Library, any member of the British Library staff or any directors, trustees, patrons, donors or other supporters of the British Library or you breach any of these terms and conditions.
• 3.8 Subject to any statutory right to cancel, your Membership Fee is non-refundable once payment has been received by the British Library. If you join online or via the phone you may change your mind and cancel your membership provided that you tell the British Library within 14 days starting the day after you join which will be the date of the British Library’s acknowledgement of your membership. You can do this by contacting us as set out in these terms and conditions or by using the model cancellation form attached to these terms and conditions. British Library will refund to you in full any Membership Fees paid (unless you have made use of the Membership Benefits during these fourteen days in which case you expressly acknowledge that you will be responsible for a proportion of the Membership Fee in relation to the services that we have supplied during this time and you will therefore not receive a full refund of all amounts paid). Please note that this early cancellation right does not apply if you join in person.
• 3.9 Membership rights are not transferrable.
• 3.10 Membership rights shall cease on a Member’s death or an individual ceasing to be a Member.

4. Your Membership Benefits

• 4.1 You can purchase either a Membership or a Joint Membership. Further details regarding the types of membership are set out on the British Library website.
  
  As a Member or Joint Member of the British Library you are entitled to the following membership benefits (Membership Benefits):
  • 4.1.1 Membership Card(s) (if you purchase a Joint Membership then you will receive two Membership Cards, with each Membership Cardholder receiving the Membership Benefits as set out in this clause 4);
  • 4.1.2 Unlimited access to eligible special exhibitions advertised as such in the What's On cultural programme (listing guide) and the British Library website, and the right to bring one guest with you to such exhibitions (one guest per Membership Cardholder); advance booking for exhibitions may be required.
  • 4.1.3 Exclusive access to the Members’ Room for you and one guest within public opening hours and in line with last admission times.
  • 4.1.4 What’s On cultural programme (listings guide) sent to you direct four times per membership year.
  • 4.1.5 Priority booking for eligible general public events, as advertised on the British Library website.
  • 4.1.6 The opportunity to redeem up to half price tickets for select events.
  • 4.1.7 Invitations to exclusive member events and previews.
  • 4.1.8 20% discount in the shop, cafes and restaurants. Subject to certain limitations and exclusions.
• 4.2 Membership Benefits are subject to the following:
  • 4.2.1 Guests are not eligible to receive membership benefits. Guests must be accompanied by a Member and cannot visit exhibitions, the Members’ Room independently of a Member. Please note that some exhibitions may not be suitable for children under the age of 16. Advance booking for exhibitions may be required. We cannot guarantee walk-up entry without an advance booking.
  • 4.2.2 Membership cards and Membership benefits are non-transferrable.
  • 4.2.3 We reserve the right to exclude certain events from the Members priority booking period. Some activities and venues are subject to capacity limits and admission may be withheld/refused at any time.
  • 4.2.4 Priority booking applies to events selected by the British Library in its sole discretion. All eligible events will be advertised as such in the What's On cultural programme (listing guide) and on the British Library website.
  • 4.2.5 Up to half price event tickets are redeemable on events selected and priced by the British Library in its sole discretion. All eligible events are advertised as such in the What's On cultural programme (listing guide) and on the British Library website and are subject to limitations and availability. Even tickets are issued in accordance with British Library ticketing terms and conditions.
  • 4.2.6 Up to half price tickets are unlimited across the membership year and are redeemed by selecting the appropriate Member ticket when booking the event.
  • 4.2.7 Shop, cafe and restaurant discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other special offers or discounts. Discounts are not applicable to: postage, gift vouchers, prints on demand, stamps, sale items, book tokens, magazines, and newspapers, additional Memberships and gift memberships or alcohol. Members’ discount is pre-applied to prices in the Members’ Room.
• 4.3 You must present your Membership Card on every visit to obtain the Membership Benefits. Any loss of Membership Card must be reported to British Library immediately. British Library reserves the right to make a reasonable charge for replacement Membership Cards.
• 4.4 You must not allow anyone else to use your Membership Card. Allowing someone else to use your Membership Card outside these terms and conditions may result in your membership being cancelled without notice. No refund for Membership Fees will be given under these circumstances.

5. Publications and other materials

• 5.1 Unless stated otherwise, copyright and all other rights in all publications and materials supplied to you by the British Library is owned by the British Library. Members may not reproduce, transmit, distribute, sell or commercially exploit these materials without the prior written consent of the British Library or to the extent expressly permitted by law.

6. Liability

• 6.1 The British Library is responsible to you for Foreseeable Loss and Damage arising from a breach of the British Library’s contract with you or our negligence but not otherwise.
• 6.2 Subject to clause 6.3, the liability of the British Library to you is limited to the amount of your annual Membership Fee.
• 6.3 Nothing in these terms and conditions excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by the British Library's negligence or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

7. Freedom of Information Act 2000 ("FOIA")

• 7.1 British Library is a ‘Public Authority’ for the purposes of FOIA. Subject to certain exemptions, the British Library may be required to release information to a third party upon request which may relate to your membership.
• 7.2 The obligations contained in this clause 7 shall remain in force notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever.

8. General

• 8.1 The failure of or delay by the British Library to exercise or enforce any right in these terms does not constitute a waiver of such rights.
• 8.2 British Library reserves the right to:
  • 8.2.1 Make minor changes to these terms and conditions to reflect changes in relevant laws and to make minor technical adjustments and improvements, upon reasonable notice to you. These changes will not affect your Membership Benefits. Or
  • 8.2.2 Make more significant changes to these terms and conditions, in its absolute discretion at any time, including by making changes to the Membership Benefits. In these circumstances, we will notify you of the proposed change and you may then contact us to cancel your membership and receive a refund of the unused portions of your Membership Fee before the changes take effect.
• 8.3 These terms and conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with English law and, in the event of any dispute arising out of these terms and conditions and/ or your membership, you agree with the British Library to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
• 8.4 You have to be over 18 to apply for membership.
• 8.5 British Library reserves the right to remove benefits at their discretion or in order to meet HMRC requirements or otherwise to comply with a change in the law.
• 8.6 You can contact us by telephoning us at +44 (0)1937 546060 or by email to customer@bl.uk or by writing to us at British Library Membership, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB.
• 8.7 If the British Library has to contact you we will do so by telephone or by writing to you at the email address or postal address you provided to us in your membership application.

9. British Library Members' Room – Terms of Use

As part of your British Library Membership you will have access to and use of the Members Room for you and one guest (per Membership cardholder). Please see the below full Terms of Use for the space.

9.1 Access

• 9.1.1 The Members’ Room is located on the second floor of the Library and is open during building opening hours
• 9.1.2 Please note seasonal opening hours of the building, full details of which can be found on our website.
• 9.1.3 The Members Room may be closed occasionally for private and Members' events. Please check signage and speak to staff for details.
• 9.1.4 Admission to the Members’ Room is for Members and one guest per cardholder (for a single Membership, one member and one guest, for a joint Membership two Members and two guests). Please be prepared to show a valid Membership or Patrons card at the bar on arrival. No additional guests may be brought into the Members’ Room and guests cannot visit independently of the member. Children under 5 may be admitted without counting as a ‘guest’, however please note there is limited space for pushchairs.

9.2 Food

• 9.2.1 The 20% discount for our public restaurants is not available in the Members’ Room. The menu in the Members’ Room has been designed with Members in mind including their discount and is priced accordingly.
• 9.2.2 Food is served in the Members’ Room between 10:00 and 15:45 only.

9.3 Use of space

• 9.3.1 The Members’ Room is available for work, study, relaxing and eating and drinking, however we ask that you be mindful of your fellow Members. Members may use the lounge space to hold meetings as long as these do not exceed the allowance of guests and Members are considerate of those around them. Members are requested to use the study room for private working. The study room is a quiet space. Phones and electronic devices must be switched to silent. Telephone calls should be taken outside and conversations kept to a minimum. The study space is not suitable for collaborative working or meetings.
• 9.3.2 Saving seats and reserving tables is not permitted. Space in the Members’ Room is limited and on a first come first served basis. Tables cannot be reserved in advance by Members. On occasion tables may be reserved internally, by the Membership Manager, for executive guests in which case this will be signposted.
• 9.3.3 You cannot bring your own food into the Members’ Room unless you are visiting with babies or young children. Food from other Library outlets is permitted.

9.4 Conduct

• 9.4.1 We ask all Members to be respectful to fellow Members and our staff. In the case of rudeness or abuse we reserve the right to request Members leave the space. In the case of repeated abuse to our staff and/or other Members, we reserve the right to ban Members from the Members Room and if appropriate will consider full revocation of Membership benefits.
• 9.4.2 Any contravention of these terms may result in you being asked to leave the Members’ Room.

Supply of Goods, Services and Digital Content

In this section are the terms and conditions on which we supply goods, services or digital content to you.

1. Definitions

• 1.1 When the following words with capital letters are used in these Core Terms, this is what they will mean:
  • Contract: the contract between us arising under clause 2.5 and incorporating your Order, our Order Confirmation, these Core Terms and any Special Terms;
  • Core Terms: the terms and conditions set out in this section;
  • Device: any electronic device to which Digital Content is delivered under the Contract;
  • Digital Content: means data which we sell or supply in digital form, such as documents, images, computer programs, metadata, applications, games, music, videos or text, irrespective of whether they are accessed through downloading or streaming and as set out in the Order and Order Confirmation;
  • Event Outside Our Control: is defined in clause 15.2;
  • Goods: the goods that we are selling to you as set out in the Order and Order Confirmation;
  • Order: your order for the Goods and/or Services and/or Digital Content, which in the case of Services may be an application or registration form;
  • Order Confirmation: our written confirmation of acceptance of your Order, which in the case of Services may include instructions for the use of the Services;
  • Product: any product we create for you as a result of providing Services to you, as set out in the Order and Order Confirmation;
  • Special Terms: any additional terms (including any detailed description) relating to specific Goods, Services or Digital Content which are brought to your attention before the Contract is made and which will apply to your Contract;
  • we/our/us: THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD of 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB;
  • you/your: you, the customer.
• 1.2 When we use the words “writing” or “written” in these Core Terms, this will include email unless we say otherwise.

2. Our Contract with you

• 2.1 These Core Terms, together with any relevant Special Terms, are the terms and conditions on which we supply Goods, Services or Digital Content, or any combination of them, to you.
• 2.2 Please read the Core Terms and the Special Terms carefully, as they are the basis of the Contract which forms the legal and commercial relationship between you and us.
• 2.3 By placing an Order with us you are confirming and guaranteeing that:
  • 2.3.1 you are over eighteen (and we reserve the right to require proof of age); and
  • 2.3.2 if you are entering into a Contract on behalf of a business or third party, you have the appropriate authority to do so; and
  • 2.3.3 you will be liable to us for the performance of all obligations under the Contract.
• 2.4 Please check that the details of your Order are correct and accurate before you submit it, as we cannot guarantee to be able to meet any request to change it once we have issued an Order Confirmation. If you think that you have made a mistake or would like to request any changes to your Order, please contact us as set out in clause 19 or any Special Terms.
  Please see also clause 4 and clause 16 which set out in more detail the circumstances in which you may cancel a Contract.
• 2.5 The Contract will come into force between you and us when we issue an Order Confirmation to you. The Contract will comprise your Order, our Order Confirmation, these Core Terms and any Special Terms.
• 2.6 In the case of any discrepancies, please note that:
  • 2.6.1 the Order Confirmation will take precedence over both the Order, these Core Terms and any Special Terms, and
  • 2.6.2 Special Terms will take precedence over these Core Terms, but in each case only to the extent of the discrepancy and with the exception that if you are entering into the Contract as a consumer, nothing in any Order Confirmation or Special Terms will take precedence over your statutory rights.
• 2.7 The Order Confirmation will assign a number or reference to your Order. Please quote it in all communications with us regarding your Order.
• 2.8 Please note that we may refuse to accept any Order and we are not obliged to supply any Goods, Services or Digital Content to you unless and until we issue an Order Confirmation to you. If requested, we will let you know the reason for any refusal. Please contact us as set out in clause 19.

3. Changes to the Core Terms and Special Term

• 3.1 We may revise these Core Terms and any Special Terms from time to time to reflect the following circumstances:
  • 3.1.1 changes in relevant laws and regulatory requirements or official or industry guidance; or
  • 3.1.2 changes in our processes or procedures or ways of doing business.
• 3.2 The version of the Core Terms and any Special Terms which will apply to your Order are those that are published on our website [LINK] at the time you submit your Order. If we have to revise them under clause 3.1 before the Contract comes into force or before we deliver the Goods, Services or Digital Content to you, we will let you know when issuing the Order Confirmation or, if it has already been issued, as soon as possible. In those circumstances you may also opt to cancel the contract in accordance with clause 16.7.1.

4. Changes to Orders and Order cancellation

• We will do what we reasonably can to accommodate requests to change or amend your Order after the Contract has been made. Please note that we may not be able to accept changes to your Order if it is for custom-made Goods or bespoke Digital Services or for Services which involve our incurring any preliminary expense, including incurring or promising payment to a third party (in which case we will notify you in advance that this is the case). You may request a change to your Order at any time before we dispatch the Goods or make the Digital Services available to you or start to deliver the Services by contacting us as set out in clause 19 or any Special Terms. If we are able to accommodate your request, we will notify you in writing if there is any change in the price or any other changes to the Contract and we will issue an amended Order Confirmation. If you decide not to proceed with the amended Order you may cancel the Order within 14 calendar days under clause 16.
• Additional rights to cancel are set out in detail in clause 16. Please note that there are certain circumstances in which they do not apply and these are also set out in clause 16.

5. Goods: conformity with description

• 5.1 Images of Goods on our website and in our catalogues and brochures are primarily for illustrative purposes. Although we have made every effort to display the Goods accurately, we cannot guarantee that the images are totally accurate (for example, as to exact colours, as these may be distorted by photography or light conditions) and your Goods may vary slightly from those images. This is particularly the case with Goods that are handmade and with copies of documents, which are dependent on the quality of the original document. If you wish to discuss any purchase of Goods with us please contact us as set out in clause 19 or any Special Terms.
• 5.2 All sizes, weights, capacities, dimensions and measurements indicated in any written description of the Goods may be subject to minor tolerance variations and we cannot guarantee their absolute accuracy. Please contact us as set out in clause 19 or any Special Terms if you have specific requirements so that we can discuss the suitability of the Goods with you.
• 5.3 In the case of custom-made Goods, we make them to meet the measurements or specification you provide. You can find information and tips on how to measure or complete your specification by following the instructions set out in any relevant Special Terms. Please make sure your measurements are correct as we cannot accept the return of custom-made Goods if the reason for the return is your failure to provide us with correct measurements or details. Note that this will not affect your rights in relation to custom-made Goods that are otherwise faulty or not as described.
• 5.4 Where relevant we will inform you in writing (either through the Special Terms or the Order Confirmation) of any limitations and restrictions on the use of the Goods. This may include copyright restrictions or licence terms imposed by us or a third party or restrictions on the purposes for which the Goods are intended. Note that we do not guarantee that you will have any right to use, or that we have the right to sell, the Goods free of those limitations or restrictions or for any other purpose. This is the case even if you inform us that you wish or intend to use the Goods for a specific purpose. If you are uncertain of the suitability of the Goods for any specific purpose, please contact us as set out in clause 19 or any Special Terms.

6. Delivery of Goods

• 6.1 Please note that timescales for delivery and delivery charges may vary depending on the availability of the Goods, any premium payment for delivery and your address. Please see the relevant Special Terms to see the options for delivery.
• 6.2 Your Order Confirmation will include an estimated delivery date which, unless clause 6.3 applies, will be no later than 30 days after the day on which we issued your Order Confirmation.
• 6.3 We cannot guarantee to deliver your Goods within the 30 day period if:
  • 6.3.1 they are advertised for sale on the basis of a longer delivery date; or
  • 6.3.2 they are custom-made, in which case we will give you our best estimate of the delivery date; or
  • 6.3.3 delivery is affected by an Event Outside Our Control, in which case clause 15 sets out our responsibilities; or
  • 6.3.4 we have notified you on the Order Confirmation that delivery within 30 days may not be possible, in which case you may cancel the Contract under clause 16.
• 6.4 If we offer the option of collecting the Goods from us, the times at which and terms on which you may do this will be set out in the relevant Special Terms.
• 6.5 If we are not able to deliver the whole of the Order at one time we may deliver it in installments. We will not charge you extra delivery costs for this.
• 6.6 If we miss the 30 day delivery deadline for any Goods then, unless clause 6.3 applies, you may cancel the Contract immediately.
• 6.7 If you do not wish to cancel your order under clause 6.6, you can give us a new deadline for delivery, which must be reasonable, and you can cancel the Contract if we do not meet the new deadline.
• 6.8 If you do choose to cancel your Order for late delivery under clause 6.6 or clause 6.7, you can do so for just some of the Goods or all of them, unless splitting them up would significantly reduce their value. If the Goods have been delivered to you, you will have to return them to us or allow us to collect them, and we will pay the costs of this. After you cancel the Contract we will refund any sums you have paid to us for the cancelled Goods and their delivery.
• 6.9 The Goods will be your responsibility from the time that we deliver them to you or to a place or address notified to us by you.

7. Goods: quality and standards

• 7.1 If you are a consumer, you have legal rights in relation to Goods that are faulty or not as described and we are under a legal duty to supply Goods that are in conformity with the Contract. Advice about your legal rights is available from your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or Trading Standards office. Nothing in the Contract will reduce or remove your legal rights.
• 7.2 We guarantee that on delivery and for a reasonable period thereafter, the Goods will be free from material defects and fit for any advertised purpose. This guarantee does not apply in the circumstances described in clause 7.3.
• 7.3 The guarantee in clause 7.2 does not apply where Goods are advertised for sale with a specific warranty period (in which case that period will be deemed to be reasonable for the purposes of clause 7.2) or in the case of any defect in the Goods:
  • 7.3.1 in the case of Goods which are copies of originals, arising from errors or omissions already present in the original;
  • 7.3.2 arising from normal wear and tear;
  • 7.3.3 arising from abnormal use or from use for a purpose other than as advertised;
  • 7.3.4 if you fail to use or consume the Goods by any notified end date;
  • 7.3.5 caused by wilful damage, abnormal storage or working conditions, accident, negligence by you or by any third party;
  • 7.3.6 if you fail to operate or use the Goods in accordance with any user instructions;
  • 7.3.7 arising from any alteration or repair by you or by a third party unless authorised by us; or
  • 7.3.8 arising where we have followed any specification provided by you.
• 7.4 If you would like to exercise your rights referred to in clause 7.1 or set out in clause 7.2, please let us know immediately by contacting as set out in clause 19.
• 7.5 If we receive your notification under clause 7.4 within 30 calendar days of delivery of the Goods to you, you may either opt to return the Goods to us and we will refund the price of the Goods and the cost of delivery and return to you or you may proceed as set out in clause 7.6.
• 7.6 If we receive your notification under clause 7.4 more than 30 calendar days after delivery of the Goods to you, we may either repair or replace the Goods at our option. If, following the repair or replacement, the Goods still fail to comply with the Contract you may either reject them (in which case you must return them to us at our expense) or you may retain them and receive a partial refund.
• 7.7 Some Goods may come with a manufacturer's guarantee. For details, please refer to the manufacturer's written guarantee provided with the Goods. This guarantee is in addition to, and does not affect, our guarantee under clause 7.2.

8. Digital Content: conformity with description

• 8.1 Images of Digital Content on our website and in our catalogues and brochures are of the Digital Content as downloaded and scanned or printed and photographed by us. We cannot guarantee that your Device will produce the same results nor that our images are totally accurate (for example, as to exact colours, as these may be distorted by photography or light conditions) and you may notice variations when you scan, print or photograph them yourself. If you wish to discuss any purchase of Digital Content with us please contact us as set out in clause 19 or any Special Terms.
• 8.2 Where relevant we will inform you in writing (either through the Special Terms or the Order Confirmation) of any limitations and restrictions on the use of the Digital Content. This may include copyright restrictions or licence terms imposed by us or a third party or restrictions on the purposes for which the Digital Content is intended. Note that you will not have any right to use the Digital Content free of those limitations or restrictions. This is the case even if you inform us that you wish or intend to use the Digital Content for a specific purpose. If you are uncertain of the permitted use of any Digital Content, please contact us as set out in clause 19 or any Special Terms.

9. Delivery of Digital Content

• 9.1 Delivery of Digital Content may be dependent both on the technical specification, functionality and quality of your Device and on any third party provider of services through which it is delivered (e.g., an internet services provider). Although we identify as far as reasonably possible any specific technical requirements for appropriate Devices or for delivery we cannot and do not take responsibility for any failure or incompatibility of your Device or of any third party provider.
• 9.2 Digital Content is delivered to you and is at your risk either when it is received by your third party service provider or on your Device, whichever is earlier.

10. Digital Content: quality and standards

• 10.1 If you are a consumer, you have legal rights in relation to Digital Content that is faulty, unfit for purpose or not as described and we are under a legal duty to supply Digital Content that is in conformity with the Contract. Advice about your legal rights is available from your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or Trading Standards office. Nothing in the Contract will reduce or remove your legal rights.
• 10.2 We guarantee that, subject to clause 8.2, at the point of delivery under clause 9.2, the Digital Content will be free from material defects and fit for any purpose for which it is advertised.
• 10.3 The guarantee in clause 10.2 does not apply to any non-compliance in the Digital Content:
  • 10.3.1 in the case of Digital Content which is a copy of an original document, image or other artefact, arising from errors or omissions already present in the original;
  • 10.3.2 arising from any commercial use you make of it (unless permitted under the Special Terms);
  • 10.3.3 arising from use for a purpose other than as advertised;
  • 10.3.4 caused by any virus or any other defect originating in your Device;
  • 10.3.5 caused by any virus or defect introduced by any third party provider of digital services;
  • 10.3.6 if you fail to use the Digital Content in accordance with any user instructions;
  • 10.3.7 arising from any attempt by you (successful or otherwise) to adapt, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, modify or make error corrections to or vary the Digital Content.
• 10.4 If you would like to exercise your rights referred to in clause 10.1 or arising under clause 10.2 , please let us know immediately by contacting us as set out in clause 19.
• 10.5 If the Digital Content does not comply with your rights referred to in clause 10.1 or with our guarantee in clause 10.2, then, unless we elect to correct the noncompliance and do so within a reasonable time, we will refund the price of the Digital Content to you.

11. Delivery of Services

• 11.1 We will deliver the Services to you from the date set out in the Order Confirmation or if no date is set out, within 30 calendar days of the issue of the Order Confirmation.
• 11.2 We will make every effort to complete the Services on time. However, there may be delays due to an Event Outside Our Control. See clause 15 for our responsibilities when an Event Outside Our Control happens.
• 11.3 We may need certain information from you to enable us to provide the Services, for example, measurements. If you fail to provide us with this information, or you provide us with incomplete or incorrect information, we may do any of the following:
  • 11.3.1 make an additional charge of a reasonable sum to cover any extra work that is required, and/or
  • 11.3.2 suspend the Services until you provide the requested information, and/or
  • 11.3.3 cancel the Contract under clause 18, and we will not be liable for any delay where you have not provided this information to us after we have asked. If we suspend the Services under this clause 11.3, you do not have to pay for the Services while they are suspended, but this does not affect your obligation to pay any invoices for Services we have already performed.
• 11.4 If you do not pay us for the Services when you are supposed to as set out in clause 13.6, We may suspend the Services with immediate effect until you have paid all outstanding amounts (except where you dispute an invoice under clause 13.11). We may also exercise our right to charge you interest under clause 13.7.
• 11.5 If we design or produce a Product for you then, unless we agree otherwise as confirmed by the Order Confirmation, we will own the copyright, design right and all other intellectual property rights in the Product and any drafts, drawings or illustrations we make in connection with the Product.

12. Services: quality and standards

• 12.1 If you are a consumer, you have legal rights in relation to Services which are not carried out with reasonable skill and care, or if the materials we use are faulty or not as described. Advice about your legal rights is available from your local Citizens' Advice Bureau or Trading Standards office. Nothing in the Contract will reduce or remove your legal rights.
• 12.2 We guarantee that we will provide the Services with reasonable skill and care, using our experience and expertise and in accordance with any written or spoken statement we made which you can show you relied on in placing your Order.
• 12.3 If you wish to exercise your rights under clause 12.1 or if we fail to comply with our guarantee under clause 12.1:
  • 12.3.1 you should contact us as set out in clause 19 and let us know as soon as reasonably possible; and
  • 12.3.2 you must give us a reasonable opportunity to re-perform the Services to repair or fix any defect; and
  • 12.3.3 we will use every effort to repair or fix the defect within a reasonable time; and
  • 12.3.4 if we are unable to re-perform the Services or cannot do so within a reasonable time, you will be entitled to a reasonable reduction in the price, up to and including a full refund.
• 12.4 You will not have to pay for us to repair or fix a defect with the Services or any Product under this clause 12.1.

13. Price and payment

• 13.1 The price of the Goods, Digital Content and/or the Services will be set out or referred to in the Special Terms in force at the time you place your Order. Our prices may change at any time, but price changes will not affect Orders that you have already placed. By placing an Order you acknowledge that you have made an informed choice to buy from us and we do not guarantee that Goods, Digital Content or Services that you order from us will not be available cheaper elsewhere.
• 13.2 Our prices will be stated to be either inclusive or exclusive of VAT. They may also be subject to other local taxes and import or export taxes as set out in the Special Terms. Note that if the rate of any of these taxes changes between the date of the Order and the date of delivery or performance, we will adjust the rate that you pay, unless you have already paid for the Goods and/or Services in full before the change in rate takes effect.
• 13.3 Please check in the Special Terms whether the prices for Goods include delivery costs, which where applicable will be added to the total amount due.
• 13.4 From time to time Goods, Services or Digital Content may be incorrectly priced. Where the correct price is lower than our stated price, we will charge the lower amount. If the correct price is higher than the price stated, we will contact you to let you know and to invite you to re-submit your Order.
• 13.5 Unless you have a business account with us, you must pay for Goods and Digital Content in advance by credit or debit card. We will charge your credit or debit card either when you submit your Order or when we issue an Order Confirmation to you or when we dispatch the Goods or deliver the Digital Content to you/ as set out on the Order Confirmation.
• 13.6 Where we are providing Services to you, we may ask you to make an advance payment. We will invoice you for the balance of the cost of the Services on or any time after we have performed them and may require you to pay by installments, in each case as set out in the Order Confirmation. Each invoice will quote the Order number. You must pay each invoice in cleared monies within thirty (30) calendar days. Your rights to a refund on cancellation are set out in clause 16.
• 13.7 If you have a business account with us, you must pay our invoices in full within 30 days of the invoice date.
• 13.8 If you dispute the amount of any invoice:
  • 13.8.1 you must notify us in writing as soon as possible setting out the grounds of your dispute; and
  • 13.8.2 pay any undisputed amount by the due date.
• 13.9 Any disputes regarding the payment of invoices will be dealt with under clause 19.3.
• 13.10 If you do not make any payment due to us by the due date for payment, we may do any or all of the following:
  • 13.10.1 charge you interest on the overdue amount at the statutory rate which may apply to the Contract; and/or
  • 13.10.2 take action to recover the outstanding amount and interest, together with any reasonable costs incurred; and/or
  • 13.10.3 suspend provision or delivery of all Goods, Digital Content or Services until we have received payment in full.
• 13.11 Interest will accrue on a daily basis from the due date until the date of actual payment of the overdue amount, whether or not we have obtained a court judgement against you. You must pay us interest together with all overdue amounts. However, if you dispute an invoice in good faith and contact us to let us know promptly after you have received an invoice that you dispute it, clause 13.10 will not apply to the disputed amount for the period of the dispute.

14. Our liability to you

• 14.1 We are responsible for any loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breach of the Contract or our negligence, but we are not responsible for any loss or damage that is not foreseeable. Loss or damage is foreseeable if it is an obvious and direct consequence of our breach or negligence or if it was the kind of loss either you or we contemplated at the time we entered into the Contract.
• 14.2 We will take all reasonable care, in so far as it is in our power to do so, to keep the details of your Order and payment secure, but in the absence of negligence on our part, we will not be liable for any loss you may suffer if a third party gains unauthorised access to any data you provide when entering into a Contract.
• 14.3 Unless expressly permitted under the Special Terms or the Order Confirmation, you must not use the Goods and/or Digital Content and/or Services and/or Products for any commercial, business or re-sale purpose. Even if commercial use is permitted, we shall have no liability to you for any loss of profit, loss of business, business interruption, or loss of business opportunity.
• 14.4 We do not exclude or limit our liability for:
  • 14.4.1 death or personal injury caused by our negligence or the negligence of our employees, agents or subcontractors;
  • 14.4.2 fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
  • 14.4.3 breach of any statutory obligations for which liability cannot be limited or excluded.

15. Events Outside Our Control

• 15.1 We will not be liable or responsible for any failure to perform, or delay in performance of, any of our obligations under the Contract that is caused by an Event Outside Our Control
• 15.2 An Event Outside Our Control means any act or event beyond our reasonable control which may include strikes, lock-outs or other industrial action by third parties, civil commotion, riot, invasion, terrorist attack or threat of terrorist attack, war or threat or preparation for war, fire, explosion, storm, flood, earthquake, subsidence, epidemic or other natural disaster, or failure of public or private telecommunications networks
• 15.3 If an Event Outside Our Control takes place that affects the performance of our obligations under the Contract:
  • 15.3.1 we will contact you as soon as reasonably possible to notify you; and
  • 15.3.2 our obligations under the Contract will be suspended and the time for performance of our obligations will be extended for the duration of the Event Outside Our Control. Where the Event Outside Our Control affects our delivery of Goods or Digital Content to you, we will arrange a new delivery date with you after the Event Outside Our Control is over. Where the Event Outside Our Control affects our performance of Services to you, we will restart the Services as soon as reasonably possible after the Event Outside Our Control is over.
• 15.4 You may cancel the Contract if an Event Outside Our Control takes place and you no longer wish us to provide the Goods and/or Digital Content and/or Services. Please see your cancellation rights under clause 16. We may also cancel the Contract in accordance with our cancellation rights in clause 18 but only if the Event Outside Our Control continues for longer than twelve (12) weeks.

16. Your right to cancel: Goods, Digital Content and Services which are in compliance with Contract

• 16.1 You have the following rights to cancel the Contract except in the circumstances listed in clause 16.6:
  • 16.1.1 you may cancel any 8Contract for the supply of Digital Content and/or Services at any time before the expiry of 14 calendar days after receiving an Order Confirmation;
  • 16.1.2 you may cancel any Contract for the supply of Goods at any time before the expiry of 14 calendar days after delivery of the Goods under clause 6.9;
    
    in each case by contacting us as follows: customer@bl.uk;
    
    We will confirm your cancellation in writing to you.
    
• 16.2 Subject to clause 16.4, if you cancel a Contract under clause 16.1 and you have made any payment in advance for Services that have not been provided to you, or made any payment for Goods that have not been delivered to you, we will refund these amounts and any delivery charges to you.
• 16.3 If you cancel a Contract for Goods which have already been dispatched to you, you must return them to us at your own cost.
• 16.4 If you cancel a Contract for Services under clause 16.1.1 and we have incurred any preliminary expense of which we have notified you, you must pay us any costs we have incurred in starting to fulfill the Contract, and this charge will be deducted from any refund that is due to you or, if no refund is due to you, will be invoiced and payable by you.
• 16.5 If you cancel a Contract because of any failure by us to comply with its terms, you do not have to make any payment to us for the Goods or Services or for any other charge we have incurred (including delivery and return costs).
• 16.6 Please note that your right to cancel under clause 16.1 does not apply:
  • 16.6.1 in the case of the following Goods: custom-made goods; perishable Goods; personal items including jewellery; perfume and cosmetics which have been opened; electronic Goods which have been opened or used; tickets for dated events;
    
    and will cease to apply:
    
  • 16.6.2 in the case of Digital Content, from the point at which you confirm that we may deliver it to your Device;
  • 16.6.3 in the case of Services, from the point at which we start to perform them at your request;
    
    and you acknowledge that you will lose your right to cancel in these circumstances.
    
    
• 16.7 Subject to the same exceptions set out in clause 16.6, you may also cancel a Contract by contacting us as set out in clause 16.1 with immediate effect:
  • 16.7.1 In the circumstances set out in clause 3.2 if we change these Core Terms or the Special Terms under clause 3.1 to your material disadvantage; or
  • 16.7.2 if you opt to do so under clause 4.1, clause 6.6 or clause 6.7; or
  • 16.7.3 if we are affected by an Event Outside Our Control.

17. Goods, Digital Content, and Services which are not in compliance with the Contract

• Your rights of cancellation set out in clause 16 are in addition to your rights (including rights to cancel the Contract) if the Goods, Services or Digital Content you have ordered do not comply with the Contract. If you cancel the Contract in these circumstances you will not have to pay anything, including the cost of delivery or return of Goods.

18. Our right to cancel

• 18.1 We may have to cancel a Contract before the start date for the delivery of the Services or before the Goods or Digital Content are delivered, due to an Event Outside Our Control or the unavailability of stock or (in the case of Services) key personnel or key materials without which we cannot provide the Services. If this happens:
  • 18.1.1 we will contact you promptly to let you know;
  • 18.1.2 if you have made any payment in advance for Services that have not been provided to you, or Goods or Digital Content that have not been delivered to you, we will refund these amounts to you;
  • 18.1.3 where we have already started to deliver the Services or manufacture custom-made Goods, we will not charge you anything and you will not have to make any payment to us;
    
    although if we are reasonably able to do so, we will give you the option of agreeing to the suspension of the Contract pending the ending of the Event Outside Our Control.
    
    
• 18.2 Once we have begun to provide the Services to you, we may cancel the contract for the Services at any time by providing you with at least 30 calendar days' notice in writing. If you have made any payment in advance for Services that have not been provided to you, we will refund these amounts to you.
• 18.3 We may cancel a Contract for Services at any time with immediate effect by giving you written notice if:
  • 18.3.1 you do not pay us when you are supposed to as set out in clause 13.6 and this will not affect our right to charge you interest under clause 13.7; or
  • 18.3.2 you break the contract in any other material way and you do not correct or fix the situation within a reasonable time days of our asking you to do so in writing.

19. Information about us and how to contact us

• 19.1 Our address is The British Library, 96, Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB. Our registered VAT number is GB 240 6927 64.
• 19.2 If you have any questions or complaints, please contact us. You can contact us by post, email or telephone at:
  Post: Customer Services, The British Library, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS23 7BQ
  email: customer@bl.uk
  telephone: +44 (0)1937 546060Please also see our Complaints Policy.
• 19.3 If you are not happy with the way we have handled any complaint, you may want to contact the alternative dispute resolution provider we use. Alternative dispute resolution is a process where an independent body considers the facts of a dispute and seeks to resolve it, without you having to go to court. Our dispute resolution provider is the Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CEDR - https://www.cedr.com/). Please contact us as set out in clause 19.2 if you wish to use this service. In addition, please note that disputes may be submitted for online resolution to the European Commission Online Dispute Resolution platform at https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/odr.

20. How we use your personal information

• 20.1 Any personal information that you provide to the British Library will be processed in accordance with all relevant legislation as set out in our Privacy Policy.
• 20.2 In particular, we will use the information that you provide to send you information necessary for the fulfillment of the Contract (for example, order confirmations, receipts etc.), and to supply you with the Goods or Services that you order.
• 20.3 Credit/debit card payments are handled on our behalf by Paysafe Group plc via processes that are compliant with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS).

21. Other important terms

• 21.1 You may transfer any guarantee we give with Goods or Digital Content to someone else. Otherwise you may not transfer or subcontract your rights or obligations under the Contract to anyone else unless we confirm in writing that we agree to your doing so. We may transfer or subcontract our rights and obligations under the Contract to a third party but this will not affect your rights or our obligations under the Contract.
• 21.2 The Contract is between you and us and no other person claiming through you shall have any rights to enforce any of its terms. However, please note that copyright owners and third parties who licence material to us may have rights to enforce their rights directly against you. These rights are explained in any relevant Special Terms.
• 21.3 The clauses and sub-clauses of these Core Terms operate separately. If any court or relevant authority decides that any of them is unlawful, the others will remain in full force and effect.
• 21.4 If we fail to insist that you perform any of your obligations under the Contract or if we do not enforce our rights against you, or delay in doing so, that will not mean that we have waived our rights against you and will not mean that you do not have to comply with those obligations.
• 21.5 The Contract takes effect in the English language, is governed by English law and is subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts. However, if you are a resident of Northern Ireland you may also bring proceedings in Northern Ireland, and if you are a resident of Scotland, you may also bring proceedings in Scotland.
• 21.6 If you are entering into the Contract as a consumer resident in a European Union member state, you will benefit from any mandatory provisions of the law of the member state in which you are resident. Nothing in the Contract will affect your legal rights under such mandatory provisions of local law.

Date of last update: 25 January 2024