British Library

16/10/2026

It’s Oscar Wilde’s birthday – and we’ve been giving one of his notebooks a little extra attention

Swipe to see how our conservator repaired its fragile pages and damaged binding to make it Reading Room ready ✨

And you can support our efforts to conserve more of Oscar Wilde's possessions by donating to our conservation appeal today at support.bl.uk/Donate

15/10/2026

T-7 days until Green Libraries Week begins

We'll be hosting lots of free events from 21 - 28 October - from creative writing workshops, historical lectures, zine-making workshops and more

Hit the link to find out more link.bl.uk/bid

Only one month to go until Green Libraries Week 💚

This year we'll be hosting over a dozen free events and activities at the Library for all ages - from creative writing workshops and readings to screenings and historical lectures

21 - 28 October - see you there?
Check out our full programme here link.bl.uk/bid

Find out more via our blog link.bl.uk/pj3

14/10/2026

Oh, bother… is it really 100 years already? 🍯

First published on 14 October 1926, A. A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh introduced us all to the much-loved residents of the Hundred Acre Wood.

To mark a century of adventures, our Lead Curator of Printed Heritage Collections, Alison Bailey, takes us through some of the collection items featured in a special single-case display in our free Treasures Gallery.

Come and see them for yourselves

07/10/2026

Perfect rainy day activity if you ask us

06/10/2026

We’re so excited to be taking part in Light Night Leeds again this year ✨

And this year's display...‘Far, Far Away' by Lightspray Visual!

It will take you on an enchanted fairy tale adventure, from the pages of books in our collection.

Created using repurposed overhead projectors, the fantastical artwork will light your way along Briggate on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 October.

Find out more link.bl.uk/7tx

📚✨ The British Library x Light Night Leeds 2026

We’re delighted to be partnering again with the British Library for Light Night Leeds 2026, bringing stories from its incredible collections to the streets of Leeds through a very special new artwork.

🌟 Far, Far Away
🎨 Artist: Lightspray Visual (Hungary)

Follow a trail of light along Briggate and step into an enchanting fairy-tale adventure inspired by the British Library’s collections.

Journey through deep, dark woods towards a distant palace, meeting curious creatures, mysterious spells and unexpected surprises along the way. Classic stories by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen meet ideas imagined by Leeds schoolchildren, brought to life on an extraordinary scale.

Created using repurposed overhead projectors, this playful analogue artwork will transform Briggate into a glowing storybook adventure, complete with a happily ever after. ✨🏰

📍 Briggate, LS1 6LH
📌 W3W: corn.zips.store
💡 Analogue | Projection | Outdoor

Far, Far Away is co-produced by the British Library.

📅 Discover it at Light Night Leeds 2026, Wednesday 28 & Thursday 29 October.



British Library Leeds City Council Light Up the North Arts Council England Fényszórók

06/10/2026

🪶 Learn the art of medieval calligraphy – and cut your own quill.

Join world-renowned calligrapher and illuminator Patricia Lovett MBE for a hands-on Quills and Calligraphy Masterclass.

Learn to write Bâtarde, a beautiful medieval script, and cut your own quill from a swan feather.

✨ No experience needed
🪶 All materials provided
📅 Saturday 23 January | 10.00–17.00

Book your place: link.bl.uk/qcm

Writing with a quill on vellum (calfskin) is a heritage craft that has been practiced by scribes for centuries. Join world-renowned professional calligraph

01/10/2026

A curator favourite for National Poetry Day: the opening stanzas of Emily Brontë’s ‘Honour’s Martyr’ 📖

Share your poem recommendations below

30/09/2026

Only one month to go until Green Libraries Week 💚

This year we'll be hosting over a dozen free events and activities at the Library for all ages - from creative writing workshops and readings to screenings and historical lectures

21 - 28 October - see you there?
Check out our full programme here link.bl.uk/bid

Find out more via our blog link.bl.uk/pj3

29/09/2026

In a collection of over 170 million items (and counting), how do you find the ones that could unlock, support or define your research?

Join us for an open day where our expert curatorial, research and reference teams will give you an introduction into the area of our collection most relevant to you.

As well as current and prospective PhD students, our open days are open to anyone using our collection. You can expect to:

📜 meet our curators who will display relevant highlights from our collection for you to see up close, with the opportunity to discuss your research
💻 have your practical questions answered by our Reference Specialists who can give advice on navigating our systems, and finding and requesting items
🎤 hear firsthand experiences from those who have worked with our collection, as well as insight into the research currently taking place at the Library, in panel discussions
🤝 expand your network and get to know your fellow researchers over lunch provided by us.

Start with our free Getting Started webinar for an all-round introduction, then choose from six specialised in-person days.

Find the right open day for you here link.bl.uk/4fd839

27/09/2026

The book before the film. Always.

We took a look at our first edition of Sense and Sensibility from 1811 ahead of the film hitting UK cinemas today📖

Be honest: are you book or film first?

Ps if you want to order this book up in our reading rooms yourself, the shelfmark is C.71.bb.14 📚

26/09/2026

This European Day of Languages here are some of our favourite untranslatable and wonderfully-specific words from across Europe.

Which one do you wish we had in English?

26/09/2026

A reminder that our St Pancras site will is closed this weekend for essential maintenance work.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 28 September!

See the latest updates on our website link.bl.uk/5ym