Post
by Diiarts » Tue September 14th, 2010, 10:37 pm
[quote=""SGM""]I must admit I have been looking into using the BL for many years and it keeps changing. I think I got the latest from their website but can't remember.
I do remember at one point, being told by them on the phone that they were a library of last resort and that I had to provide a list of books which I had been unable to source elsewhere and at another time they wanted a 500-word description of my research subject. I very much got the impression that they really didn't want the library freely used. Things may very well have changed now.
However, thanks for the info about Saturdays not being busy. Unfortunately, I can't make weekday evenings as at the moment I travel and long way and don't get back into London until late. But if Saturdays are not heaving with people, I may just jump in and do it.
I just wished I had got the ticket when I did my Masters because I could have got a lifetime ticket.[/quote]
I also recently (within the last month) got a reader's card in a personal capacity, with no hassle at all. It's valid for three years and there were no questions asked about the purpose. I applied online, and once I'd done so I was able to reserve items immediately, even before I'd gone in and got the card. So I ordered my items for the day I was due to collect my card, which made it ridiculously easy on the day. I can't speak for anyone else's experience but I found some pretty knowledgeable and helpful staff when I got there (which was a Saturday - not exactly deserted, but not overcrowded either).
The one caveat is that you MUST take in the forms of ID they specify.