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Archives and Special Collections: Home

Bournemouth University's Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Archive and Special Collections

Important notice

*** Important Update - August 2025 ***

The Archives and Special Collections service is currently closed, reopening in 2026.  Please register your interest if you wish to visit when the service reopens (date to be confirmed here).  

Queries can be emailed to archivesandspecialcollections@bournemouth.ac.uk

Who do I contact?

  • Bournemouth University Library & Learning Services are custodians of an Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Archive and Special Collections (BU Library webpage).
  • To arrange your research visit, please email archivesandspecialcollections@bournemouth.ac.uk (we aim to respond within 10 working days).  
  • We provide access to collections which support the research of BU's Academic School/Faculties and secures, where possible through the quality or uniqueness of its collections, distinction within the higher education community.
  • We hold approx. 300+ metres of boxed materials in Talbot Campus Library mobile shelves, containing print documents and files. Plus some microfilm and audio visual materials. We also have 940+ boxes of print documents and files in an off site storage facility (mainly the IBA Archive). We have a process for requesting items for archive researchers.
  • Access to the IBA Archive and most of our special collections is by appointment only (Mon-Thurs 9.30am-4.30pm, Fri 10am-4pm).
  • We require minimum 20 working weekdays' notice to process and prepare research visit requests; we typically have to negotiate requested visit dates.
  • We reserve the right to defer visitor access to BU's IBA Archive and special collections subject to availability of staff resource.
  • Up to 8 IBA Archive files may be requested per visit day.

BU Students (Undergraduate and Postgraduate)

  • We reserve the right to defer visitor access to BU's IBA Archive and special collections subject to availability of staff resource.
  • If you wish to use BU's IBA Archive or Special Collections materials held in The Sir Michael Cobham Library's mobile shelves, apply using the 'Student Permission to Access IBA Archive and Special Collections in Mobile Shelves' Form (link below).
  • Email your completed form to archivesandspecialcollections@bournemouth.ac.uk
  • Make the subject title of your email ‘BU Student request to access BU’s IBA Archive' or 'BU Student request to access BU's Special Collections’.
  • Copy in the BU Academic who you nominate to endorse your request. Must be your unit lecturer who’s set the assignment you’re researching or your dissertation / final year project supervisor.

BU Staff and Doctoral Researchers (MPhil / PhD)

External Users

  • We welcome enquires from Undergraduate and Masters students from external institutions. 
  • We reserve the right to defer visitor access to BU's IBA Archive and special collections subject to availability of staff resource.
  • Please contact us in advance to request access to our special collections
  • Email archivesandspecialcollections@bournemouth.ac.uk

Jisc Archives Hub

Currently, some of our collections are listed in the Jisc Archive Hub resource:

https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/locations/9c9162e8-eca2-3b08-8124-0e90a15132b1 [Link added to this Guide Oct 2021]

https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/contributors/bournemouthuniversity.html [Link added to this Guide Mar 2022]