The BILNAS Archive

The British Institute for Libyan and Northern African Studies (BILNAS) is a British International Research Institute affiliated to the British Academy. It supports research, scholarship and collaboration on Libya and the Northern African and Mediterranean regions.

Its disciplinary remit includes archaeology, history, geography, the social and natural sciences, linguistics and the arts. BILNAS (formerly the Society for Libyan Studies) has promoted large scale archaeological and heritage activities in Libya and the region since 1969.

The BILNAS Archive includes collections of rare books, manuscripts, documents, photographs and drawings on these themes, plus additional material on the UK’s wider research engagements with Libya and Northern Africa (including much material from before 1969).

The Archives are held at the University of Leicester by the School of Archaeology and Ancient History. They have been preserved and catalogued and may be consulted by members of the Institute and other serious scholars.

Those wishing to consult the physical archive should request access by emailing the BILNAS General Secretary on [email protected]

Exploring the Archives

The Online Archive

The materials in the BILNAS Archives are described at https://slsgazetteer.org/browse/. It is our intention to develop this resource by the addition of further material in digital form.

The Physical Archive

All the physical items held at Leicester are also described in the University Archives Catalogue. You can browse the BILNAS collection here. And you can watch the University of Leicester Archives Catalogue Tutorial video here.

Feedback and Contributions

The British Institute for Libyan and Northern African Studies (BILNAS) welcomes feedback regarding our archive and its use. We are also pleased to consider potential contributions of new material to the archive.

For all feedback or proposed contributions, please contact the General Secretary at [email protected]

To join BILNAS, please go to the membership page of this website, or simply click here 

Or to apply for one of our research grants please visit the BILNAS Grants page of this website, or click here

Members of BILNAS may also use our specialist Library, located in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

The British Institute for Libyan and Northern African Studies and the University of Leicester
June 2022

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