BBC, British Library join hands for greater content access

The BBC and British Library have joined hands in an innovative approach to make the content and assets of both organisations more widely available.

The two organisations on Friday, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to develop new ways of integrating access to nearly a million hours of BBC TV and radio content and over 150 million British Library items.

This will significantly increase access to research material across both national institutions for the benefit of researchers and the wider public.

To be signed by BBC Director General, Mark Thompson and British Library CEO, Dame Lynne Brindley, the MOU also proposes that the two organisations collaborate to develop viable approaches on important issues such as rights management, distribution of archive content, digitisation and storage.

Thompson said: “The BBC and the British Library share many of the same purposes - to guarantee public access to content in an open realm, creating a space where people can debate and exchange ideas and experiences“.

“Unlocking the wealth of content in the British Library and BBC archives is a great opportunity as well as an immense challenge. It is vital we partner, harnessing the power of digital technology to give the public the access they deserve,” he added.

Meanwhile, British Library CEO Dame Lynne Brindley said, “Providing increasing access to our collections using digital technologies is a primary goal of the British Library. This partnership not only demonstrates that we are keen to share content for the benefit of today’s researchers and the knowledge economy, but also expresses our continued commitment to supporting the government’s vision of building a Digital Britain.”

Brindley added, “Through this MOU we aim to create a model of best practice which will allow the Library to develop similar opportunities with other public institutions. Providing unparalleled access to joint information services and world-class digital archival content will truly enable the business, academic, scientific, research and creative communities to flourish.”

Two separate MoUs were also signed earlier this year by the BBC with the British Film Institute and the National Archives.