Portal:London/Pictures/April 2006

BRITISH LIBRARY The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and is one of the world's most significant research libraries, holding over 150 million items and adding some 3 million every year. The library includes copies of the majority of the books found in the Library of Congress (but not the other media and manuscripts), along with a substantial additional collection of international items and historical items dating back as far as 300 BC. As of March the library holds 11.2 million monographs and receives more than 41,500 regular serials. The library receives copies of all books produced in the UK, including all books from abroad which are reprinted in the UK, and many items which are only printed abroad. Its entrance gate, depicted above, was designed by Lida and David Kindersley.