How to find a play in the Lord Chamberlain's Plays Collection at the British Library

You may be familiar with accessing books, archive collections, or microfilms at the British Library, but it can be daunting to look for and order play manuscripts if you haven't done so previously.

The staff in the Manuscripts reading room are really helpful, but I thought a users guide for any first-time researchers wanting to look in the Lord Chamberlain's Plays Collection might be useful so that you know what to expect and ask for. So here we go:

step one: How to find the reference number for a play

• If you know the reference number of the play you want - for example you have seen it in a footnote or an academic text - then skip straight to Step Two.  If not, read on!
• You will need to have a British Library Reader Pass to access the Reading Rooms and order things online. Here's how to get one - they are free.
• Go to the BL, store your things in a locker or in the cloakroom, and put what you need to take into the Reading Room in one of the free clear bags. 
• Go to the Manuscripts reading room. It's on the second floor, on the opposite side of the building to the locker room and Reader Registration area.
• Make sure you have your Reader card to show the guard at the door.
• There are filing cabinets with card index files with the titles of LCP Collection plays in alphabetical order. These are opposite the main desk, at the end of the rows of tables. You’ll see the date order for each set of filing cabinets. Find and note the ref on the card and the title - for example 1913/40 Votes for Children. Sometimes there can be more than one play with the title you are looking for - but the date is on each card along with (sometimes) the name of the playwright so you should be able to narrow down to the one you are looking for. 
• However! Not all the LCP plays are listed in the card index files. Don't panic. There is a bookshelf with various useful volumes available - this is on the same side as the card index files, but nearer the end of the room where the security guard sits. Again you can look up plays by title, or date, or performer if you know them… and there are also lists there of plays that were refused a licence.
• The filing cabinets near that bookshelf hold card index files that detail correspondence regarding plays in the LCP collection - listed in alphabetical order of titles. It’s worth looking through these for titles as well as the main plays card index files as there can be other info.
• Some of the correspondence comes with the play text, and therefore isn’t listed in the LCP Corr files. Some is. Some is listed but doesn’t exist. It’s all good fun!
• The Reader's Reports are now filed with the playtexts, so if you just want the Reader's Report then it's worth ordering both the LCP Corr file and the play just in case. 
• You do need to write down the references - do not remove the cards! I make a note on my phone or in a notebook, but if you have access to neither you can borrow a pencil and a piece of paper from the main desk in the Reading Room. 

Step two: how to order the play 

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• On the main explore.bl.uk page click the Request Other Items tab, then log in
• Scroll down and select ‘Western Manuscripts Collection’
• You'll need to use the right reference for what you want - here are the categories from the BL website​
• Put the correct ref in the ref box - for example 'LCP 1913/40 Votes for Children’ and then click either request for today or add to basket.
• Items requested and brought to the reading room will be held there for 3 days, so you can order in advance. If you’re ordering on the day, or while you are in the BL then the request time is normally 70 minutes. It can be much faster, depending on the time of day, so it's always worth checking back in online to 'My Reading Room Requests' to see the status of your request. It may arrive and be ready for collection much sooner than 70 minutes if you are lucky.

step three: how to access the play

• Go to the BL, store your things in a locker or in the cloakroom, and put what you need to take into the Reading Room in one of the free clear bags. 
• Go to the Manuscripts reading room. It's on the second floor, on the opposite side of the building to the locker room and Reader Registration area.
• Make sure you have you Reader card to show the guard at the door. Then go to the main collection desk and show your card to the staff member there. 
• I find it helpful to say "it's from the Lord Chamberlain's Plays Collection" when you show them the card.
• They will either give you a massive tome (fun as you get to see what else was submitted to the LCO that month) or the script in an envelope (more practical)
• You’ll need weights to hold the pages of the script open if you are planning on transcribing it - these are to the right of the main desk in Manuscripts, as you are facing it.  In my experience it's worth taking at least one snake weight and one larger one to start with. You can always go back for more. 
• You’ll get the play or volume in a tray, and have to sit in a specific area - they’ll tell you where, but it’s the desks farthest from the entrance  door. The play or volume needs to stay in the tray. There are foam wedges you can use to prop it up for easier access - these are on the shelves around the edge of the reading room and you can just go and take them. 
• No photos are allowed of the LCP plays - it does say so in the area you have to sit in, but prepare to write down anything you want to remember. I know you can get the plays scanned for a fee, but have never explored that option! 
• If you find a play that has been printed and is in a published collection of short plays for example, rather than in the LCP Collection, you will be able to photograph that - just order it up to Manuscripts and collect it from the desk. You’ll need to sit in a different area - in the seats nearest the entrance to the reading room where photos are permitted. 

Step four: finishing or pausing your research

• At the end of your research time with the manuscript, either replace it in the envelope or close the volume before taking the tray back to the main desk.
• The staff will ask if you want to keep it there so you can come back - they will keep it for you for two working days. If you are finished, or you won't be back for a week or so, then say no. If the manuscript you are accessing is in a larger volume, be aware that keeping it behind the desk if you are not planning to return soon means that other researchers will not be able to access any of the plays in that volume. 
• Make sure to return any weights to the main desk area, and any foam wedges to the shelves in the reading room.
• When you leave the reading room, the security guard may ask you to open your laptop and/or your notebooks to check you haven't got any archive material with you - so don't pack up your laptop in a case before leaving as you may have to get it out again.

Additional thoughts

• The Reading Room is a quiet and studious place. 
• If you need to leave the Reading Room for a short time - to go to the loo, make a phone call, get some water etc., you don't need to return your item to the main desk. You can leave your item there for a short time. 
• Many people will leave their laptops on the desks while they go out - I don't as it's too much of a risk but you can do that.
• When you do go out make sure to take your Reader Pass with you - you'll need it to get back into the room.
• If you are taking out your laptop or notebooks when you leave the room, the security guard might ask you to open them to check you're not smuggling out any pieces of paper. Don't be offended if this happens - it's their job.
• There are power points at every desk, so you can plug in your laptop and/or phone to charge. 
• If you are in the reading room at the end of the day, announcements will be made about 15 minutes before closing time that you'll need to return items to the main desk.
• There is a bank of computers to the left of the main desk (as you are looking at it from within the room). You can use these to access BL databases and do some additional research if you are waiting for a manuscript to be delivered!

I hope this is useful! If I've missed anything - or if you have any additional questions then do comment below. Happy researching!