British Library

04/06/2026

How would you complete the sentence my library is ... ?

It’s Discover your Library Day, and we’re celebrating what libraries mean to the people who bring them to life.

04/06/2026

To mark the start of Pride Month, we're celebrating some of the writers and books that helped shape q***r literary history.

From Oscar Wilde and Virginia Woolf to Radclyffe Hall and James Baldwin, these voices challenged conventions, expanded representation and helped generations of readers see themselves reflected in literature.

Which book would you add to the list?

01/06/2026

Join award-winning comic creator James Turner (Star Cat, Toby and the Pixies) for a magical day of comic-making fun on 21 June! 🎨

Create your own pixie characters, send them on hilarious adventures, and learn the secrets of great comics from character design to speech bubbles.

Inspired by our family-friendly Fairy Tales exhibition, the day also includes creative activities, a drop-in studio (12.00–14.30) and plenty of books to enjoy together.

Book now: link.bl.uk/ng5

29/05/2026

Make your mark at the Library today.
As a charity, your support helps keep knowledge alive and available to everyone.

There are lots of ways to get involved. Adopt a book from our collection of classics, name a desk in our Reading Rooms or find out about leaving a gift in your will.

You can help future generations shape tomorrow. Join us, and be part of what comes next.

Learn more here: https://support.bl.uk/Page/Ways-you-can-help

You can make a difference yourself to help protect the world’s knowledge at The British Library. Please support us.

28/05/2026

Reminder: Our St Pancras site will be closed this weekend (Saturday 30 – Sunday 31 May) for essential maintenance work.

We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Find out more here: link.bl.uk/5ym

26/05/2026

It’s Gemini season ♊

Often associated with curiosity, creativity and communication, Gemini is represented by the twins; a symbol of duality, adaptability and seeing the world from different perspectives.

20/05/2026

Tickets are now on sale for Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery, opening this autumn 🕵️

From crossing continents by train to navigating archaeological digs, explore how Christie’s adventures sparked unforgettable stories, ideas and characters including Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

Drawing on letters, notebooks, photographs, personal belongings, early manuscript drafts and many objects on display for the first time, this landmark exhibition reveals the remarkable life of one of the world’s greatest crime writers.

Book now at link.bl.uk/ubb

Supported by GWR
In collaboration with Agatha Christie and The Christie Archive Trust.

15/05/2026

2026 is the National Year of Reading. Discover a lifetime of stories with our programmes of events and activities.

Schools – our onsite and online opportunities help teachers to supercharge reading in the classroom. From our termly livestreamed Discovering Children’s Books series to special events with authors like Malorie Blackman, our free programme offers a range of ways into reading for pleasure with high-profile authors, rich collections and insightful scholarship to frame familiar texts in fresh and relevant ways.

Families – from family festivals to hands-on workshops, regular sessions for under-5s and relaxed openings, there's so much for your family to enjoy together at the Library. Discover timeless tales that have captured imaginations for generations in our magical Fairy Tales exhibition in London or take a fantastical trip into space, through the jungle and to the bottom of the ocean in our Story Explorers exhibition in Leeds.

Local communities – our cultural programmes amplify local voices and uncover the extraordinary stories held within national and regional collections. We bring world-class speakers and emerging voices to public libraries and the people who use them. From CBeebies Read and Rave events to pop-up Agatha Christie panel displays and livestreamed compelling cultural events, your local library is a catalyst for curiosity, creativity and connection.

Authors – are you a published author, illustrator, editor, translator or audiobook narrator? You could be getting paid every time your books are borrowed from public libraries: bl.uk/plr

Unlock your imagination: link.bl.uk/8fi

12/05/2026

Born on this day in 1820, Florence Nightingale became one of the most influential figures in the history of modern nursing.

Today also marks International Nurses Day, celebrated annually on Nightingale’s birthday in recognition of her lasting impact on healthcare and nursing practice around the world.

Known as “The Lady with the Lamp”, her work transformed hospital sanitation, patient care and the role of nurses in medicine; a legacy that continues to shape healthcare today.

08/05/2026

Born on this day in 1926, Sir David Attenborough has spent a lifetime inspiring curiosity about the natural world.

In this recording from the British Library sound archive, he reflects on when that fascination began:
‘It started as long as I can remember…’

Over the years, the Library has had the privilege of working with him across exhibitions, events and sound archive projects; celebrating the power of sound, storytelling and the natural world.

Happy 100th birthday, Sir David.

Audio: David Attenborough interviewed by Elizabeth Brett, Oral History of Recorded Sound, 1984, collection reference C90/31. © British Library.

07/05/2026

Wishing a VERY happy 80th birthday to our dear friend Michael Rosen who has delighted and inspired countless young readers and writers across the country for generations.

We were thrilled to welcome Michael to the Library this week, where he wrote letters to some of the brilliant primary school pupils who created their own food-related folktales as part of our Discovering Children’s Books programme.

Take a look at some of the fantastic books children produced inspired by Michael’s event last term: link.bl.uk/yua

30/04/2026

'Once upon a bicycle, so they say, a Jolly Postman came one day...' 📮

The Jolly Postman is on his rounds! From fairy tale favourites to charming letters and artwork, discover some of the stories behind this beloved children's classic at the British Library and the Postal Museum ✨

Fairy Tales is on at the British Library until 23 August 2026.
The Jolly Postman is at The Postal Museum until January 2027.

On loan from the Ahlberg family
Images © Janet and Allan Ahlberg courtesy of The Postal Museum

27/04/2026

Born on this day in 1759, Mary Wollstonecraft was writing about equality, education and independence long before feminism had a name.

Published in 1792, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman remains one of the most influential works in the history of feminist thought.

Her words continue to challenge, inspire and resonate today.

24/04/2026

Did you know you can explore digitised newspapers via the British Library, Findmypast, The British Newspaper Archive and many public libraries around the country?

The British Library’s Lead Curator for the News and Moving Image Collection sat down with Findmypast to discuss how easy it is to start using them in your research.

Have you made any fascinating discoveries using our newspaper collection?

23/04/2026

This English Language Day we’re celebrating the unsung heroes of lexicography. Before Samuel Johnson’s dictionary of 1755 came Henry Cockeram’s English Dictionarie Of 1623, focusing on ‘hard' or 'unusual' words. Well, these obscure words will certainly give you a run for your money.

Cockeram's dictionary included hundreds of words that were not recorded elsewhere at the time and were never recorded again after the publication.

Note that ‘cow boy’ referred to a young lad who keeps cattle from wandering out of an enclosure 🐑

20/04/2026

It’s Ta**us season ♉
A sign often associated with strength, patience and a deep appreciation for beauty and the natural world.

16/04/2026

We are delighted to be hosting the original 13th century manuscript of Sumer is icumen in, also known as the 'Reading Rota', thanks to a major loan from the British Library, generously supported by the Dorset Foundation in memory of Harry M Weinrebe.

This is the first chance to see the manuscript in the town since the dissolution of the Abbey in 1539. It is displayed in The Story of Reading gallery, just metres from the Abbey Quarter where it was likely composed over 750 years ago.

Sumer is Icumen in, a round rejoicing in springtime, is the earliest and one of the most celebrated pieces of medieval English music.

On display at Reading Museum until 9 May.

And on Saturday 2 May, join us at Reading Museum for a talk exploring the manuscript's surprisingly wide-ranging contents, delivered by Anne Lawrence-Mathers, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Reading.

13/04/2026

An 400-year-old plea for tolerance, still resonating today.

This manuscript of The Book of Sir Thomas More, held in our collection, contains what is believed to be the only surviving literary text in William Shakespeare’s own handwriting.

The speech, brought back into the spotlight by Sir Ian McKellen, calls for compassion towards migrants. A message that continues to echo across centuries.

Discover more here: link.bl.uk/tkr

01/04/2026

We’re thrilled that our popular Story Explorers exhibition at Leeds Central Library has been extended! It’s now open until Saturday 29 August, which means even more families can adventure into space, through the jungle and to the bottom of the ocean. Right through to the end of the summer holidays!

Join the adventure: link.bl.uk/gpg

30/03/2026

Fairy tales have been told and retold for generations but where do these stories come from?

Our new blog explores our new Fairy Tales exhibition, uncovering the origins, evolution and enduring magic of these much-loved tales.

Find out more and discover what’s on display

Explore fairy tales from around the world in our new exhibition.

27/03/2026

Calling all brave heroes, clever creatures and little adventurers 🐉

Fairy Tales opens today! Bringing together beautiful illustrations, interactive displays, and stories from around the world, this magical new family exhibition explores how these iconic tales have enchanted us through time.

Book here: link.bl.uk/FairyTales

This exhibition is supported by Wayland Games Limited.

25/03/2026

We’re celebrating 45 years of the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

Since 1980 they’ve stepped in to protect heritage when it matters most, saving over 1,400 iconic objects, places and landscapes. These heritage treasures form a collection in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK.

In 2024 they helped us to acquire a series of letters from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the most important English writers and poets of the 19th century. Spanning 1846 to 1860, the letters offer valuable insight into her work, public reception and social networks.

Learn more about this and other recent acquisitions here: link.bl.uk/71f

24/03/2026

It’s Aries season ♈

Traditionally linked with courage, determination and the start of something new.

23/03/2026

Writer Storm Jameson's archive reveals fascinating details about the lives and vital role of women workers in munitions factories during World War Two.

Michael St John-McAlister explores some of the newly catalogued material here link.bl.uk/f3a

22/03/2026

This World Poetry Day, we’re celebrating poetry as a bridge for peace and inclusion.

From voices of resilience to reflections on shared humanity, women poets have long used verse to connect people across cultures, experiences and generations.

Here are just a few whose words continue to resonate today.