British Architectural Library - free!

[Nemesis]

Latest Heritage Link:

British Architectural Library: free public access at last

The British Architectural Library at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) welcomed the New Year with the announcement that members of the public will be able to access the library completely free of charge from 2nd January 2008.

The largest and most comprehensive resource in Europe for research and information on all aspects of architecture, the British Architectural Library was established in 1834 alongside the RIBA. The library collections now number close to four million objects: books, periodicals, manuscripts, archives, drawings, photographs, models, paintings, medals and artefacts. Books, periodicals and photographs are located at the RIBA headquarters, 66 Portland Place, London. Drawings and archives are located at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), under the V&A+RIBA Architecture Partnership. As part of opening up the collection to the widest possible audience RIBApix was launched in 2006. It is now possible to view up to 16,000 photographs, drawings and etchings online.

Since 2005 the Library has been recognised as having outstanding national and international importance under the Designation Scheme by The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). The British Architectural Library is part of the RIBA Trust - the UK's national architecture centre that focuses on education, public outreach and the role of architecture in culture. See http://www.architecture.com/NewsAndPress/News/RIBANews/Press/2008/BritishArchitecturalLibraryfreeopening.aspx

 

[Penners]

RIBApix was launched in 2006. It is now possible to view up to 16,000 photographs, drawings and etchings online.

That sounds well worth a visit.

 

[Nemesis]

Here's the RIBA site:

http://www.architecture.com/Home.aspx

http://www.architecture.com/LibraryDrawingsAndPhotographs/Home.aspx

http://www.ribapix.com/

 

[Penners]

Thanks for the links. Just for fun I searched on the word "oak" in RIBApix, and got a fascinating series of images, including a gorgeous Queen Anne interior.

I'd better not include one here, as they're very copyrighted.