British Library Research Report 2017-18

The Library’s role as an Independent Research Organisation (IRO) is central to our research identity, supporting a thriving research culture and enabling us to lead and partner on high level research. The funding we receive feeds into all aspects of our vision, supporting learning, custodianship, business and international partnerships, and is central to enabling wide access to our collection by diverse audiences. The crucial contribution that research makes to our public engagement - particularly through our major exhibitions and learning programme - is highlighted in this report in a section illuminating the depth of investigation that was essential to producing our recent major exhibition, Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War. During the last year we have seen change and development both in the wider research landscape and within the British Library. We were delighted to host the launch event for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in the spring, which marks a significant change in how research excellence is delivered across the UK. At the Library, we have trialled and launched new programmes and opportunities, including two schemes to facilitate periods of in-depth research work by our staff. We highly value the chance to try new modes of research practice and the ability to offer staff a discrete period in which to apply themselves to their area of expertise has been especially gratifying. This report focusses on the externally-funded research that we have worked on with our partners both nationally and internationally. It includes the voices of our students and fellows, as well as those of our colleagues and partners. We are particularly grateful to the funders who have supported us over the last year to deliver research that strongly supports our role as a leading research library. As well as the formalised outputs and developments of our funded research, we hope to provide some insight into the wider impact of our research, offering examples of our engagement and practice that aim to share new knowledge with the wider research community and the public. We hope that this report will bring to life and celebrate British Library research over the past year