Grade B+ — Fair terms (score 80/100)
The British Library terms include a liability cap and allow for unilateral changes, but they do not sell user data and provide clear contact channels for support.
Standard terms. No data sale. Unilateral changes allowed. Liability capped.
These terms and conditions were last updated on 08 October 2018. The Library reserves the right to vary these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Such variations become effective immediately upon the posting of the varied terms and conditions on the Website.
The company can change the terms at any time without giving you advance notice.
If you send any text, images, audio, or other content... you accept that such content, and all rights therein, become the sole property of the Library and that we shall have the right to use that content in perpetuity, throughout the world, in all known and discovered mediums.
You give the library a permanent, global license to use your content for any purpose.
The Library’s total aggregated liability to any Reader arising in connection with Reader Services shall not exceed £100.
The library limits its total liability to you to £100.
If you join online or via the phone you may change your mind and cancel your membership provided that you tell the British Library within 14 days starting the day after you join.
You have a 14-day cooling-off period to cancel your membership for a full refund.
Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall restrict or exclude any liability that we have to any party which cannot be excluded by law and in particular... our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence shall not be limited or excluded in any way.
The library acknowledges it cannot limit liability for death or personal injury caused by its negligence.
Last reviewed 2026-08-23 under rubric v3.5.