British National Bibliography

The British National Bibliography (BNB) was established at the British Museum in 1949[1] to publish a list of the books, journals and serials that are published in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.[2] It also includes information on forthcoming titles[3]. This is the single most comprehensive listing of UK titles. UK and Irish publishers are obliged by legal deposit to send a copy of all new publications, including serial titles, to the BNB for listing. The BNB publishes the list weekly in electronic form: the last printed weekly list appeared in December 2011.[4]

The bibliography was first published in 1950, by the Council of the British National Bibliography (from Rathbone Street London W1p 2AL); from 1973 it has been published by the Bibliographic Services Division of the British Library. As a printed publication it was a subject catalogue accompanied by various indexes. The weekly issues were cumulated during each year and then into an annual volume. An adaptation of the Dewey Decimal Classication was used. Some of the cumulations were for three year periods and as the volume of entries increased the indexes became separate volumes. The entries were based on printed publications received at the copyright receipt office of the British Library (of the British Museum before 1973). Certain printed materials were excludes: periodical publications (except the first issue of each), printed maps and music, and some government publications. However publications of publishers in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland were included as these were subject to the copyright deposit law.[5] The BNB operated a catalogue card service to libraries which was used by many public and other libraries.