The British Library has 6.5438+0.5 million books and periodicals, 33 million patents, 300,000 manuscripts, 6.5438+0.6 million audio and music materials, 4 million maps, 8 million stamps, 200,000 photos and 260,000 Indian affairs records. Among them, the Chinese collection in the Oriental Department of the British Library is a very distinctive part, including the famous Buddhist and mural scrolls in Dunhuang Grottoes, the classics of Taoism and Manichaeism, Oracle Bone Inscriptions, wooden slips, 45 volumes of Yongle Dadian and other precious materials. This is a veritable treasure house of overseas sinology research materials.

In addition to the main library in London, the British Library has set up a document supply center in Boston Hot Springs, West Yorkshire. After 40 years of development, the center has a rich and complete literature resource system, standardized and fast service methods, and the maturity of commercial operation is generally recognized. Millions of books and periodicals are added every year, 8 kilometers of bookshelves are added, and there are more than 200 employees/kloc-0, providing 4 million kinds of literature needs for readers all over the world every year. This service can be completed within 24 hours at the earliest.