Copying services and re-using material

We offer a wide range of copying services, and are happy to supply copies of material from our collections. Sometimes we cannot copy material — or cannot copy it in certain ways — due to copyright restrictions or the need to protect the collections from wear and tear.

We offer a restricted level of self-service photocopying for the General Reading Room.

To publish, adapt, show, or otherwise re-use materials you need permission from any third party copyright owners and sometimes you may need permission from the Library. Many of the digital images we have published on our websites are available for free re-use for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Availability for re-use will be indicated by a rights statement or licence. 

Re-use of material may require specific permission from the Library, in particular if you are requesting copies to be made of material, if you are re-using certain Map collection images or if you are re-using moving image content. See our copyright page for more information.

We add VAT, where applicable, at the present rate. We may make additional charges for:

• Handling surcharges, where we need to do extra work to fulfil orders
• Sending files by file transfer protocol (ftp)
• Express service orders.

• Copying by Library staff
  For conservation reasons, to reduce wear and tear, our staff will carry out non-self-service copying from any bound volumes on specially designed scanning equipment linked to a digital output device. This method of copying protects the material from damage.
• Self-service copying
  We reserve the right to refuse permission for self-service photocopying of fragile material and, in all cases, to specify the copying process to be used.

We will try to complete orders as quickly as possible. To find out delivery times for reprographic orders, email enquiries@nls.uk.

Reprographic prices do not include permission fees for re-using material. For details, see our pages on copyright and our permission fees.

We will charge for any image manipulation or digital retouching on a time basis at the rate of £36 per hour including VAT; no VAT — £30 per hour.

Copyright restrictions often apply to copying. For advice, visit our copyright page.

• A4 — 210 x 297mm
• A3 — 297 x 420mm
• A2 — 420 x 594mm
• A1 — 594 x 841mm
• A0 — 841 x 1189mm.