Hotels near British Library Centre for Conservation

Offically opened by HRH The Princess Royal on 10 October 2007, this purpose-built library offers the best possible conditions for the conservation of books and for audio engineering. It's not just the printed word that is the work of the library, oral history and recordings are preserved too for future posterity. The centre includes a studio where high-quality microphone recordings are made preserving oral history including interviews and other live performances for the Sound Archive collections but also for radio broadcasts and web podcasts. As part of the library's efforts to raise awareness of their important conservation work, there is a free public exhibition space (access is via the first floor of the main St Pancras building) and a programme of events including tours and seminars. Behind the scenes tours of the Centre for Conservation are free and take place every Thursday at 2pm and take one hour but booking in advance is recommended.