The British Library Sound Archive is one of the largest sound archives in the world. Opened in 1955 as the British Institute of Recorded Sound, it became part of the British Library in 1983.

The Sound Archive holds over a million discs, 185,000 tapes, and many other sound and video recordings. The collections come from all over the world and cover the entire range of recorded sound from music, drama and literature, to oral history and wildlife sounds. They range from cylinders made in the late 19th century to the latest CD, DVD and minidisc recordings. It keeps copies of commercial recordings issued in the United Kingdom, together with selected commercial recordings from overseas, radio broadcasts and many privately-made recordings.

The catalogue includes entries for almost three-and-a-half million recordings held in the Sound Archive and is updated daily. It is one of the largest catalogues of its kind anywhere in the world, covering both published and unpublished recordings.

The Sound Archive offers public access to a wide range of specialist publications, books, magazines and journals covering every aspect of recorded sound. The Sound Archive Information Service enables users to consult the Archive's extensive collection of printed material and also operates a free information service by post, phone, fax and e-mail. The Listening and Viewing Service provides public access to the Archive's collection of recorded sound and video. A range of charged services, including a transcription service which can provide copies from the collections, is available to academic institutions, commercial users and private individuals.

There are six main subject areas within the Archive, headed by curators who are able to offer specialist advice and assistance: Classical music; Drama and literature; Oral history; Popular music; Wildlife sound; and World and traditional music.

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