At the end of October 2023, the British Library was subject to a major cyber-attack, which disrupted access to electronic Legal Deposit (eLD) content. A large-scale exercise was subsequently undertaken to check the integrity of the vast core eLD dataset. This led to the development of a new secure interface for accessing eLD content collected prior to October 2023 (excluding the UK Web Archive, which remains unavailable).
The ELD SOLO Browser 
is an interim solution with limited functionality; for example, some of the tools and icons do not work properly.
Restoring access was deemed necessary despite these shortcomings. Fortunately, a project is underway to develop an improved version of the player. More information will be shared in due course.
eLD items can easily be identified by the flag 'Electronic legal deposit item - available via ELD SOLO Browser on Bodleian Libraries reading PCs only'. To view eLD content click on the ELD SOLO Browser situated on the computer desktop.
You can access electronic Legal Deposit on all Bodleian Libraries terminals except quick search search terminals in any of the Bodleian Libraries
It is important to be aware which version of SOLO you are looking at.
The yellow banner at the top of the ELD SOLO Browser states it is for electronic Legal Deposit only. 'eLD only' is shown in red above the SOLO icon.
If you try and view electronic Legal Deposit content in SOLO you will see the message 'Access to Electronic Legal Deposit content is restricted to eLD SOLO Browser application'. You will need to open the ELD SOLO Browser
Search for the item you would like to view. Choose the item you want to see from your search return. In the next screen click on 'Electronic Legal Deposit' highlighted in blue. You will then be taken to the terms and conditions which you need to accept by ticking the box. You are then able to view the item.
No, it can only be viewed within the Bodleian Libraries (or one of the other Legal Deposit Libraries) on Bodleian Libraries computers.
No, it can only be viewed on the premises of a legal deposit library, on a library owned terminal.
There are no restrictions on the number of electronic Legal Deposit items you can view in a day.
Only one person at a time can view each item, and there is no time limit set (within a day) for how long an item can be consulted. Once the person using it has finished and closes down the item it will become available for another reader. The message, 'The page you have requested is currently in use. Please try again later', will be returned to alert you that another reader is viewing the item.
Currently searching by journal title for eLD content is not possible. Please search by article title.
After 25 minutes of inactivity a banner message will be displayed to let you know that the session will timeout in a further 5 minutes. If you click OK your time is extended. Sessions timeout as only one person at a time can view an eLD publication.
No. This is something the Libraries are investigating. Items are available on a first come, first served basis.