Are there any media archives in the UK open to the general public?

March 31, 2014 1:44 PM

I think it would be really cool if I could get access to any recordings of TV programmes or copies of magazines from the last decade or so.

Please could someone tell me how I can get access to e.g. This Morning from throughout 2008, or .Net magazine from February 2008? Ideally I'd like to be able to access archived versions of any publication or TV programme from the past several years.

Thanks for any info.

posted by Musashi Daryl to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

BFI
posted by TheRaven at 2:01 PM on March 31, 2014

I'm not sure about audio, but the British Library collects one of each of every work published in the UK, including magazines, and starting to collect electronic formats (ebooks and websites for sure, maybe audio?).

You need to apply for a special pass, and to give them the reason you want to look at things, which has to be work/student or research related, as far as I know not just for fun, and you can only read the things in their reading rooms in London.

But if you're writing a paper or whatever, and can make the trip to the Library in London, they would have everything. Their website might also tell you what if anything is available online.
posted by symphonicknot at 3:25 AM on April 1, 2014

Sounds like the British Library's new periodicals room opens next week. More details of their periodicals collection here.
posted by ninebelow at 3:28 AM on April 1, 2014

Response by poster: Well, thanks everyone for those informative answers.
posted by Musashi Daryl at 1:28 PM on April 4, 2014