British Library
96 Euston Rd,
London NW1 2DB
Tel: 020 7412 7000

The British Library is Britain's national library. To get access you will need to apply for a reader's ticket and demonstrate why you need to use the library's collections. Access restrictions for non-academic users have been significantly reduced in recent years. The library catalogue is available on-line at blpc.bl.uk, and as it includes almost every book published in the UK it is a useful resource in itself. There are, however, two collections which are of particular interest.

Oriental and India Office Collection
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
Tel. 020 7412 7873

Holds the surviving records of the East India Company (1600-1858), the Board of Control or Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India (1784-1858), the India Office (1858-1947) and a number of related British agencies. You will need a BL reader's ticket to use these records. Their genealogical records, which are mainly about the British that served in the sub-continent are described at www.bl.uk/collections/oiocfamilyhistory/family. Many of the catalogues to their most popular records are available on the A2A database at www.a2a.org.uk.

British Library Newspaper Library
Colindale
London NW9 5HE
Tel: 020 7412 7353

The British Library Newspaper Library houses the UK's largest and most comprehensive collections of newspapers and magazines, including many from the Empire and other countries. You will need a reader's pass, although main BL tickets are also valid.

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