§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the removal of books from the King's Library in the British Museum and their transfer to the new British Library in St. Pancras. [36385]
§ Mr. Chris SmithIn 1972, the British Library Act established the national library of the United Kingdom, incorporating the library of the British Museum and including the King's Library. The collections have remained at the British Museum until completion of their new home in the British Library building at St. Pancras.306W Separation of the King's Library from the rest of the Library's printed archive would be detrimental to the integrity and cohesiveness of the national collections. Plans for its move have been in the public domain for the past thirty years.
In the new building, the King's Library will be housed in the best possible conditions for access, preservation and use. It will stand in a specially designed glass tower at the physical heart of the library, making it more visible and accessible to the public. It will also be more secure and in an improved environment. The glass tower is fully air-conditioned to control temperature, humidity and atmospheric pollutants and the glass is especially constructed to provide fire protection and heat resistance.