Did you know that…..? Making the most of a national treasure Jude England Head of Social Science Collections and Research The British Library Working with Archived Data ESRC Research Methods Festival 7 th July 2010

2 Once upon a time……. ‘ Publick use to all prosperity’ British Museum Act, 1753 “Extraordinary, mummified late- Victorian world” - Angus Wilson Top hats in the Round Reading Room as late as 1929 Restricted access and little collaboration Gatekeepers to Collections British Library Act, 1972 ©The British Library Archives Superintendent, L C Wharton caricature from The British Library Archives

3 Every Book Published In The UK? Quasi Legal Deposit from but Library Not always enforced before mid-19 th century 1911 Act Destroyed books in WW2 Not normally require internal reports, examination papers, local transport timetables, appointment diaries, posters, wall and desk calendars But also so much more…….

4 How Big? What? 150 million items 625 km shelves 12 km p.a. growth Most known languages Ancient to modern NewspapersGrey litPatentsPhilatelic PaintingsMagazinesOfficial Publications Wax cylinders Sound India Office Records BIPC Photographs Oral historye-publications Fanzines Manuscripts Conferences Websites IGOs Maps and atlasesWeaponsModels Research reportsBooks Music scoresBread booksExhibitions

5 Oral History and National Life Stories

6 The oldest profession or the ladies of the night Compiled by Richard Cullern, 1993

7 The Web Archive

88 European Parliament Elections 2009

9 Digital Lives……

10 Sport Matters  Research reports, biographies, books, books, books old and new  Archived sport websites  Newspapers, weeklies, Football fanzines  Olympics stamps and artwork  Foreign language material  Market research reports  Oral histories

11 A tour around the site…

12 Contact Jude England (0) Alt extn: Head-Social Science Collections & Research The British Library 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB Available at ©British Library Website