British Library

London, United Kingdom. Founded 1973.

• Type: National
• City: London
• Country: United Kingdom
• Founded: 1973

Overview

Created in 1973 from the British Museum library departments, the British Library holds over 170 million items and acquires roughly 3 million more each year through legal deposit. Treasures include two of the four surviving 1215 Magna Carta copies, the Lindisfarne Gospels, and the Diamond Sutra of 868, the worlds oldest dated printed book. The Kings Library of George III fills a six story glass tower in the St Pancras building.