British Library
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'Nothing is pleasanter to me than exploring a library'
— Walter Savage Landor
— Walter Savage Landor
From provision grounds to recipe zines, food can tell us powerful stories about the past.
British Library Research Fellow Carmen Andall-Woodroofe explores food-growing traditions in Britain’s former Caribbean colonies and their significance to enslaved people
British Library Research Fellow Carmen Andall-Woodroofe explores food-growing traditions in Britain’s former Caribbean colonies and their significance to enslaved people
October 27, 2026 at 5:36 PM
From provision grounds to recipe zines, food can tell us powerful stories about the past.
British Library Research Fellow Carmen Andall-Woodroofe explores food-growing traditions in Britain’s former Caribbean colonies and their significance to enslaved people
British Library Research Fellow Carmen Andall-Woodroofe explores food-growing traditions in Britain’s former Caribbean colonies and their significance to enslaved people
From early drafts to the finished novel: we’re so excited to share that the archive of A S Byatt is joining the British Library collection 📚
Read all about it here in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/books/2026/o...
Read all about it here in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/books/2026/o...
‘I know I can do anything’: new archive of AS Byatt’s papers looks inside the writer’s extraordinary mind
The Booker-wining author of Possession was known for her voracious research. Now, 68 boxes of her notebooks, letters and diaries acquired by the British Library reveal how she assembled the raw materi...
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2026 at 11:49 AM
From early drafts to the finished novel: we’re so excited to share that the archive of A S Byatt is joining the British Library collection 📚
Read all about it here in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/books/2026/o...
Read all about it here in @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/books/2026/o...
Are you 18–24 and looking for your next creative opportunity? Join the British Library Youth Collective
You'll get to build new skills, shape our programme, meet brilliant people AND get paid for your time
But don’t just take our word for it...
Applications close Sunday 15 November
link.bl.uk/46f
You'll get to build new skills, shape our programme, meet brilliant people AND get paid for your time
But don’t just take our word for it...
Applications close Sunday 15 November
link.bl.uk/46f
October 26, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Are you 18–24 and looking for your next creative opportunity? Join the British Library Youth Collective
You'll get to build new skills, shape our programme, meet brilliant people AND get paid for your time
But don’t just take our word for it...
Applications close Sunday 15 November
link.bl.uk/46f
You'll get to build new skills, shape our programme, meet brilliant people AND get paid for your time
But don’t just take our word for it...
Applications close Sunday 15 November
link.bl.uk/46f
Maps 🤝 climate change
Maps do far more than just help us find our way. Nick Dykes, our Curator of Modern Maps, compares two maps of an Icelandic glacier, made decades apart, to show us how our world is changing.
#GreenLibrariesWeek
Maps do far more than just help us find our way. Nick Dykes, our Curator of Modern Maps, compares two maps of an Icelandic glacier, made decades apart, to show us how our world is changing.
#GreenLibrariesWeek
October 25, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Maps 🤝 climate change
Maps do far more than just help us find our way. Nick Dykes, our Curator of Modern Maps, compares two maps of an Icelandic glacier, made decades apart, to show us how our world is changing.
#GreenLibrariesWeek
Maps do far more than just help us find our way. Nick Dykes, our Curator of Modern Maps, compares two maps of an Icelandic glacier, made decades apart, to show us how our world is changing.
#GreenLibrariesWeek
Got a cuppa? ☕️ Here’s a Sunday morning read to get your teeth into
What connects Machiavelli, the Italian language and the humble sandwich? Find out in our latest blog, celebrating the Week of the Italian Language in the World
www.bl.uk/stories/blog...
What connects Machiavelli, the Italian language and the humble sandwich? Find out in our latest blog, celebrating the Week of the Italian Language in the World
www.bl.uk/stories/blog...
Brilliant Italian: Machiavelli and the concept of sandwich
To mark 2026’s Week of Italian Language in the World we take a look at the brilliance and plasticity of Italian.
www.bl.uk
October 25, 2026 at 9:10 AM
Got a cuppa? ☕️ Here’s a Sunday morning read to get your teeth into
What connects Machiavelli, the Italian language and the humble sandwich? Find out in our latest blog, celebrating the Week of the Italian Language in the World
www.bl.uk/stories/blog...
What connects Machiavelli, the Italian language and the humble sandwich? Find out in our latest blog, celebrating the Week of the Italian Language in the World
www.bl.uk/stories/blog...
How do we understand climate change beyond the science? 🌍
For #GreenLibrariesWeek, explore our Social Sciences Subject Librarian’s selection of books from our collection looking at climate change and society
link.bl.uk/9zi
For #GreenLibrariesWeek, explore our Social Sciences Subject Librarian’s selection of books from our collection looking at climate change and society
link.bl.uk/9zi
October 23, 2026 at 2:42 PM
How do we understand climate change beyond the science? 🌍
For #GreenLibrariesWeek, explore our Social Sciences Subject Librarian’s selection of books from our collection looking at climate change and society
link.bl.uk/9zi
For #GreenLibrariesWeek, explore our Social Sciences Subject Librarian’s selection of books from our collection looking at climate change and society
link.bl.uk/9zi
A little reminder that due to essential maintenance works the Library in St Pancras will be closing at 17:30 today and our Shop, Science Reading Rooms and Reader Registration will be closed over the weekend.
Item requests will be limited during this time - thank you for your understanding
Item requests will be limited during this time - thank you for your understanding
Visiting us this weekend?
Due to essential maintenance work, the main St Pancras building will have various closures over the weekend.
On Friday 23 October, the main St Pancras building will close at 17.30. Events in the Knowledge Centre and Pigott Theatre will go ahead as planned.
Due to essential maintenance work, the main St Pancras building will have various closures over the weekend.
On Friday 23 October, the main St Pancras building will close at 17.30. Events in the Knowledge Centre and Pigott Theatre will go ahead as planned.
Temporary building closures for essential maintenance
We’ll be carrying out essential maintenance work at our St Pancras site over the coming months.
link.bl.uk
October 23, 2026 at 9:36 AM
A little reminder that due to essential maintenance works the Library in St Pancras will be closing at 17:30 today and our Shop, Science Reading Rooms and Reader Registration will be closed over the weekend.
Item requests will be limited during this time - thank you for your understanding
Item requests will be limited during this time - thank you for your understanding
Green Libraries Week has begun and we've put together a guide to help spot reliable climate information – from a list of trusted sources to a climate claims checklist ✅
Do you use AI as a starting point for research or a final source? Take a look at our guide: link.bl.uk/climate-facts
Do you use AI as a starting point for research or a final source? Take a look at our guide: link.bl.uk/climate-facts
Climate facts for a greener future
We’ve put together a guide on how to spot reliable climate information.
link.bl.uk
October 22, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Green Libraries Week has begun and we've put together a guide to help spot reliable climate information – from a list of trusted sources to a climate claims checklist ✅
Do you use AI as a starting point for research or a final source? Take a look at our guide: link.bl.uk/climate-facts
Do you use AI as a starting point for research or a final source? Take a look at our guide: link.bl.uk/climate-facts
‘You cannot fold a flood, And put it in a drawer’ — Emily Dickinson
In this case, you could 📗
Susan Lowdermilk’s handcrafted book reminds us of the beauty of nature and the power of natural forces during #GreenLibrariesWeek.
© Susan Lowdermilk, YOU Cannot Put a Fire Out
In this case, you could 📗
Susan Lowdermilk’s handcrafted book reminds us of the beauty of nature and the power of natural forces during #GreenLibrariesWeek.
© Susan Lowdermilk, YOU Cannot Put a Fire Out
October 22, 2026 at 12:07 PM
‘You cannot fold a flood, And put it in a drawer’ — Emily Dickinson
In this case, you could 📗
Susan Lowdermilk’s handcrafted book reminds us of the beauty of nature and the power of natural forces during #GreenLibrariesWeek.
© Susan Lowdermilk, YOU Cannot Put a Fire Out
In this case, you could 📗
Susan Lowdermilk’s handcrafted book reminds us of the beauty of nature and the power of natural forces during #GreenLibrariesWeek.
© Susan Lowdermilk, YOU Cannot Put a Fire Out
Visiting us this weekend?
Due to essential maintenance work, the main St Pancras building will have various closures over the weekend.
On Friday 23 October, the main St Pancras building will close at 17.30. Events in the Knowledge Centre and Pigott Theatre will go ahead as planned.
Due to essential maintenance work, the main St Pancras building will have various closures over the weekend.
On Friday 23 October, the main St Pancras building will close at 17.30. Events in the Knowledge Centre and Pigott Theatre will go ahead as planned.
Temporary building closures for essential maintenance
We’ll be carrying out essential maintenance work at our St Pancras site over the coming months.
link.bl.uk
October 21, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Visiting us this weekend?
Due to essential maintenance work, the main St Pancras building will have various closures over the weekend.
On Friday 23 October, the main St Pancras building will close at 17.30. Events in the Knowledge Centre and Pigott Theatre will go ahead as planned.
Due to essential maintenance work, the main St Pancras building will have various closures over the weekend.
On Friday 23 October, the main St Pancras building will close at 17.30. Events in the Knowledge Centre and Pigott Theatre will go ahead as planned.
Wishing we were here right now watching the rain outside...
October 21, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Wishing we were here right now watching the rain outside...
Please be aware that our Customer Services & Box Office teams are unavailable today this afternoon
Normal service will resume from 09.30 tomorrow - we apologise for any inconvenience caused
You can still contact our Reference team with any collection related questions here link.bl.uk/5b53e9
Normal service will resume from 09.30 tomorrow - we apologise for any inconvenience caused
You can still contact our Reference team with any collection related questions here link.bl.uk/5b53e9
October 20, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Please be aware that our Customer Services & Box Office teams are unavailable today this afternoon
Normal service will resume from 09.30 tomorrow - we apologise for any inconvenience caused
You can still contact our Reference team with any collection related questions here link.bl.uk/5b53e9
Normal service will resume from 09.30 tomorrow - we apologise for any inconvenience caused
You can still contact our Reference team with any collection related questions here link.bl.uk/5b53e9
How do you stop an epidemic?
In 902 CE, one Chinese governor turned to Buddhist rituals - ordering monks and nuns to perform chanting and confessions to end an outbreak
Discover the remarkable manuscripts that preserve this story with Professor Stephen F. Teiser on 30 October link.bl.uk/6c91a8
In 902 CE, one Chinese governor turned to Buddhist rituals - ordering monks and nuns to perform chanting and confessions to end an outbreak
Discover the remarkable manuscripts that preserve this story with Professor Stephen F. Teiser on 30 October link.bl.uk/6c91a8
October 20, 2026 at 10:31 AM
How do you stop an epidemic?
In 902 CE, one Chinese governor turned to Buddhist rituals - ordering monks and nuns to perform chanting and confessions to end an outbreak
Discover the remarkable manuscripts that preserve this story with Professor Stephen F. Teiser on 30 October link.bl.uk/6c91a8
In 902 CE, one Chinese governor turned to Buddhist rituals - ordering monks and nuns to perform chanting and confessions to end an outbreak
Discover the remarkable manuscripts that preserve this story with Professor Stephen F. Teiser on 30 October link.bl.uk/6c91a8
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
Swipe to see how our conservator repaired its fragile pages and damaged binding to make it Reading Room ready
October 16, 2026 at 10:43 AM
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
Swipe to see how our conservator repaired its fragile pages and damaged binding to make it Reading Room ready
What does it really cost to make knowledge open? 🔓
From people & technology to funding & the environment, explore the challenges of making knowledge accessible & sustainable at our annual Open and Engaged Conference for #OAWeek
📅 20 October | Online
🔗 link.bl.uk/7nl
#OpenAccessWeek #OpenEngaged
From people & technology to funding & the environment, explore the challenges of making knowledge accessible & sustainable at our annual Open and Engaged Conference for #OAWeek
📅 20 October | Online
🔗 link.bl.uk/7nl
#OpenAccessWeek #OpenEngaged
October 15, 2026 at 2:53 PM
What does it really cost to make knowledge open? 🔓
From people & technology to funding & the environment, explore the challenges of making knowledge accessible & sustainable at our annual Open and Engaged Conference for #OAWeek
📅 20 October | Online
🔗 link.bl.uk/7nl
#OpenAccessWeek #OpenEngaged
From people & technology to funding & the environment, explore the challenges of making knowledge accessible & sustainable at our annual Open and Engaged Conference for #OAWeek
📅 20 October | Online
🔗 link.bl.uk/7nl
#OpenAccessWeek #OpenEngaged
Only one week to go until #GreenLibrariesWeek 💚
We'll be hosting lots of free events from 21 - 28 October - from creative writing workshops, historical lectures, zine-making workshops and more
link.bl.uk/bid
We'll be hosting lots of free events from 21 - 28 October - from creative writing workshops, historical lectures, zine-making workshops and more
link.bl.uk/bid
Only one month to go until Green Libraries Week💚
This year we'll be hosting free events and activities for all ages - from creative writing workshops and readings to screenings and historical lectures
21 - 28 October - see you there?
Full programme here link.bl.uk/bid
#GreenLibrariesWeek
This year we'll be hosting free events and activities for all ages - from creative writing workshops and readings to screenings and historical lectures
21 - 28 October - see you there?
Full programme here link.bl.uk/bid
#GreenLibrariesWeek
October 15, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Only one week to go until #GreenLibrariesWeek 💚
We'll be hosting lots of free events from 21 - 28 October - from creative writing workshops, historical lectures, zine-making workshops and more
link.bl.uk/bid
We'll be hosting lots of free events from 21 - 28 October - from creative writing workshops, historical lectures, zine-making workshops and more
link.bl.uk/bid
A very important day in the Hundred Acre Wood - Winnie-the-Pooh is turning 100 🍯
Our Lead Curator Alison Bailey takes us through some of the pieces selected from our collection to feature in a free special display in our Treasures Gallery
Our Lead Curator Alison Bailey takes us through some of the pieces selected from our collection to feature in a free special display in our Treasures Gallery
October 14, 2026 at 3:38 PM
A very important day in the Hundred Acre Wood - Winnie-the-Pooh is turning 100 🍯
Our Lead Curator Alison Bailey takes us through some of the pieces selected from our collection to feature in a free special display in our Treasures Gallery
Our Lead Curator Alison Bailey takes us through some of the pieces selected from our collection to feature in a free special display in our Treasures Gallery
We’re currently experiencing some technical issues with our Electronic Legal Deposit Catalogue.
Our team are working hard to get this resolved, so please bear with us.
Thank you for your understanding 📚
Our team are working hard to get this resolved, so please bear with us.
Thank you for your understanding 📚
October 12, 2026 at 8:30 AM
We’re currently experiencing some technical issues with our Electronic Legal Deposit Catalogue.
Our team are working hard to get this resolved, so please bear with us.
Thank you for your understanding 📚
Our team are working hard to get this resolved, so please bear with us.
Thank you for your understanding 📚
Perfect rainy day activity if you ask us
October 7, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Perfect rainy day activity if you ask us
Four exciting opportunities to co-supervise a PhD studentship with the Library
We’re seeking proposals from academics who can bring their own expertise to four fascinating research projects exploring our collection and programme.
Sound like you?
Find out more and apply here link.bl.uk/9vj
We’re seeking proposals from academics who can bring their own expertise to four fascinating research projects exploring our collection and programme.
Sound like you?
Find out more and apply here link.bl.uk/9vj
October 5, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Four exciting opportunities to co-supervise a PhD studentship with the Library
We’re seeking proposals from academics who can bring their own expertise to four fascinating research projects exploring our collection and programme.
Sound like you?
Find out more and apply here link.bl.uk/9vj
We’re seeking proposals from academics who can bring their own expertise to four fascinating research projects exploring our collection and programme.
Sound like you?
Find out more and apply here link.bl.uk/9vj
Reposted by British Library
Hwæt! 🐉
Ever wondered what the epic poem Beowulf sounds like spoken in Old English?
#NationalPoetryDay
Ever wondered what the epic poem Beowulf sounds like spoken in Old English?
#NationalPoetryDay
October 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Hwæt! 🐉
Ever wondered what the epic poem Beowulf sounds like spoken in Old English?
#NationalPoetryDay
Ever wondered what the epic poem Beowulf sounds like spoken in Old English?
#NationalPoetryDay
A curator favourite for National Poetry Day: the opening stanzas of Emily Brontë’s ‘Honour’s Martyr’ 📖
Share your poem recs below
Share your poem recs below
October 1, 2026 at 10:05 AM
A curator favourite for National Poetry Day: the opening stanzas of Emily Brontë’s ‘Honour’s Martyr’ 📖
Share your poem recs below
Share your poem recs below
Only one month to go until Green Libraries Week💚
This year we'll be hosting free events and activities for all ages - from creative writing workshops and readings to screenings and historical lectures
21 - 28 October - see you there?
Full programme here link.bl.uk/bid
#GreenLibrariesWeek
This year we'll be hosting free events and activities for all ages - from creative writing workshops and readings to screenings and historical lectures
21 - 28 October - see you there?
Full programme here link.bl.uk/bid
#GreenLibrariesWeek
September 30, 2026 at 10:57 AM
Only one month to go until Green Libraries Week💚
This year we'll be hosting free events and activities for all ages - from creative writing workshops and readings to screenings and historical lectures
21 - 28 October - see you there?
Full programme here link.bl.uk/bid
#GreenLibrariesWeek
This year we'll be hosting free events and activities for all ages - from creative writing workshops and readings to screenings and historical lectures
21 - 28 October - see you there?
Full programme here link.bl.uk/bid
#GreenLibrariesWeek
Using the Library for your research, but not sure where to start? We've got just the thing
Join us for an open day where our expert curatorial, research and reference teams will give you an introduction into areas of the collection and top tips on using our services
Find out more link.bl.uk/4fd839
Join us for an open day where our expert curatorial, research and reference teams will give you an introduction into areas of the collection and top tips on using our services
Find out more link.bl.uk/4fd839
September 29, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Using the Library for your research, but not sure where to start? We've got just the thing
Join us for an open day where our expert curatorial, research and reference teams will give you an introduction into areas of the collection and top tips on using our services
Find out more link.bl.uk/4fd839
Join us for an open day where our expert curatorial, research and reference teams will give you an introduction into areas of the collection and top tips on using our services
Find out more link.bl.uk/4fd839
It's European Day of Languages, so here are some of our favourite untranslatable and wonderfully-specific words from across Europe that we wish we had in English ✨
September 26, 2026 at 10:09 AM
It's European Day of Languages, so here are some of our favourite untranslatable and wonderfully-specific words from across Europe that we wish we had in English ✨