British Library's largest sponsorship deal provides pounds 1m computer system

PETER BROOKE, the Secretary of State for National Heritage (right), viewing the new British Library in St Pancras, central London, with Dr Brian Lang, its chief executive, after the announcement yesterday that the library has secured its largest private sponsorship.

Digital Equipment Company will provide the new library at St Pancras with pounds 1m worth of computer systems to help with the on-line public access catalogue and the automated book retrieval system, ensuring that items from the 12 million books and other holdings can be identified, retrieved and delivered to users within 30 minutes.

An exhibition gallery in the library will bear Digital's name.

(Photograph omitted)