The cause of the library's new-found popularity with the nation's entrepreneurs is its innovative Business & Intellectual Property Centre. Set over two floors at the main St Pancras site, the centre aims to be a one-stop-shop for entrepreneurs and small business owners, bringing together unparalleled business and intellectual property information.

The British Library's vast resources gave it a unique opportunity to become the UK's premier information source for entrepreneurs. Its resources include arguably the largest collection of market research reports in the world, free access to a huge array of subscription-only business databases and publications, plus the library's collection of over 57 million patents (the library is home to the UK Intellectual Property Office, formerly the Patent Office).

The library now provides entrepreneurs and business owners with all they need to take them from that first spark of inspiration, through the research and the planning, to launching and growing the business.

In May 2005 the London Development Agency, the Mayor of London's agency for business and jobs, announced a £1m funding package to turn the project into a permanent resource.

Providing such a comprehensive service for free, or at least heavily subsidised, doesn't come cheap, though. The LDA grant covers two years, with the possibility of another two- year package after that.

Private funding also enables the library to maintain and provide a good level of service.

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