Elizabeth II's Opened Library: 6 Centuries in Euston Road

Elizabeth II's Opened Library: 6 Centuries in Euston Road

Discover the British Library, a remarkable research institution in the heart of London. Encompassing six centuries, a royal collection, and an earthquake, this story reveals the secrets behind this global repository.

The British Library, located at 96 Euston Road in London, is a legal deposit library. It receives copies of all books published in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Despite the common misconception that it was built in 1998, it was in fact opened by Queen Elizabeth II on that date.

This prodigious library spans over six centuries, featuring various formats including books, manuscripts, patents, audio recordings, and video games. It contains one of the world's largest collections of books, dating back to the first book ever published, as well as one from just yesterday. The King's Library can also be found within the library, containing 65,000 printed volumes alongside other pamphlets, manuscripts, and maps collected by King George III between 1763 and 1820.

The British Library's purpose-built building stands next to St Pancras station in London and is classified as a Grade I listed building.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons

Written by Nicolo Ciampini

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