John Rylands Research Institute and Library
@thejohnrylands.bsky.social
Promoting world-leading research using the unique special collections of The University of Manchester Library.
Open to visitors Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm
Open to visitors Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm
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Welcome to the official Bluesky account for the John Rylands Research Institute and Library. 👋
Follow us for the unique special collections from the University of Manchester Library, world-leading research and this wonderful neo-Gothic building.
#HelloBluesky
Follow us for the unique special collections from the University of Manchester Library, world-leading research and this wonderful neo-Gothic building.
#HelloBluesky
Happy New Year!
Today is also our 126th birthday. The Rylands opened to the public on 1 January 1900. Since then, millions of people from Manchester and around the world have visited, studied and worked here.
We’re back open for visits from Wednesday 7 January and we can’t wait to see you.
Today is also our 126th birthday. The Rylands opened to the public on 1 January 1900. Since then, millions of people from Manchester and around the world have visited, studied and worked here.
We’re back open for visits from Wednesday 7 January and we can’t wait to see you.
January 1, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Happy New Year!
Today is also our 126th birthday. The Rylands opened to the public on 1 January 1900. Since then, millions of people from Manchester and around the world have visited, studied and worked here.
We’re back open for visits from Wednesday 7 January and we can’t wait to see you.
Today is also our 126th birthday. The Rylands opened to the public on 1 January 1900. Since then, millions of people from Manchester and around the world have visited, studied and worked here.
We’re back open for visits from Wednesday 7 January and we can’t wait to see you.
Season’s Greetings from everyone at the Rylands.
We wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year.
We’re back open for visits from Wednesday 7 January. See you in 2026!
We wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year.
We’re back open for visits from Wednesday 7 January. See you in 2026!
December 25, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Season’s Greetings from everyone at the Rylands.
We wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year.
We’re back open for visits from Wednesday 7 January. See you in 2026!
We wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year.
We’re back open for visits from Wednesday 7 January. See you in 2026!
Enriqueta Rylands is ready for Christmas, are you?
We’re signing off until 2026 so will be quieter over the next few weeks. Just a reminder that we’re open for public visits from Wednesday 7 January.
Best wishes for the festive season from everyone at the Rylands.
We’re signing off until 2026 so will be quieter over the next few weeks. Just a reminder that we’re open for public visits from Wednesday 7 January.
Best wishes for the festive season from everyone at the Rylands.
December 23, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Enriqueta Rylands is ready for Christmas, are you?
We’re signing off until 2026 so will be quieter over the next few weeks. Just a reminder that we’re open for public visits from Wednesday 7 January.
Best wishes for the festive season from everyone at the Rylands.
We’re signing off until 2026 so will be quieter over the next few weeks. Just a reminder that we’re open for public visits from Wednesday 7 January.
Best wishes for the festive season from everyone at the Rylands.
Today is your last chance to visit before Christmas. We’re open 10am-5pm.
See the collections Gallery or Cottonopolis exhibition on your visit. Or treat yourself to something from our shop.
After Saturday 20 December, the Rylands is closed to visitors until Wednesday 7 December.
See the collections Gallery or Cottonopolis exhibition on your visit. Or treat yourself to something from our shop.
After Saturday 20 December, the Rylands is closed to visitors until Wednesday 7 December.
December 20, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Today is your last chance to visit before Christmas. We’re open 10am-5pm.
See the collections Gallery or Cottonopolis exhibition on your visit. Or treat yourself to something from our shop.
After Saturday 20 December, the Rylands is closed to visitors until Wednesday 7 December.
See the collections Gallery or Cottonopolis exhibition on your visit. Or treat yourself to something from our shop.
After Saturday 20 December, the Rylands is closed to visitors until Wednesday 7 December.
🎄Christmas opening hours
✅Saturday 20 December open 10am-5pm
❌Sunday 21 December until Tuesday 6 January The Rylands will be closed to visitors
📅Open as usual from Wednesday 7 January 2026
📚Reader appointments are available on
Monday 22 December
Tuesday 23 December
Tuesday 6 January
✅Saturday 20 December open 10am-5pm
❌Sunday 21 December until Tuesday 6 January The Rylands will be closed to visitors
📅Open as usual from Wednesday 7 January 2026
📚Reader appointments are available on
Monday 22 December
Tuesday 23 December
Tuesday 6 January
December 17, 2025 at 8:20 AM
🎄Christmas opening hours
✅Saturday 20 December open 10am-5pm
❌Sunday 21 December until Tuesday 6 January The Rylands will be closed to visitors
📅Open as usual from Wednesday 7 January 2026
📚Reader appointments are available on
Monday 22 December
Tuesday 23 December
Tuesday 6 January
✅Saturday 20 December open 10am-5pm
❌Sunday 21 December until Tuesday 6 January The Rylands will be closed to visitors
📅Open as usual from Wednesday 7 January 2026
📚Reader appointments are available on
Monday 22 December
Tuesday 23 December
Tuesday 6 January
As the Christian Brethren mark their bicentenary, historian Tim Grass reflects on what it means to commemorate a movement whose origins unfolded gradually and why its beginnings are far more complex than a single founding date.
Read our latest blog here: https://ow.ly/ETBN50XK8ts
Read our latest blog here: https://ow.ly/ETBN50XK8ts
December 16, 2025 at 9:25 AM
As the Christian Brethren mark their bicentenary, historian Tim Grass reflects on what it means to commemorate a movement whose origins unfolded gradually and why its beginnings are far more complex than a single founding date.
Read our latest blog here: https://ow.ly/ETBN50XK8ts
Read our latest blog here: https://ow.ly/ETBN50XK8ts
NEW EVENT: Unlocking Historical Archives with AI – Opportunities and Challenges
📅 20 Jan, 12.30–3.30pm
📍SG.16, Samuel Alexander Building
🎟️ Free: ow.ly/U83L50XFFQp
Join our research café discussing the opportunities and challenges which AI brings to the study of the past.
📅 20 Jan, 12.30–3.30pm
📍SG.16, Samuel Alexander Building
🎟️ Free: ow.ly/U83L50XFFQp
Join our research café discussing the opportunities and challenges which AI brings to the study of the past.
December 13, 2025 at 12:24 PM
🎄Christmas opening hours
✅Saturday 20 December open 10am-5pm
❌Sunday 21 December until Tuesday 6 January The Rylands will be closed
📅Open as usual from Wednesday 7 January 2026
📚Reader appointments are available on
Monday 22 December
Tuesday 23 December
Tuesday 6 January
✅Saturday 20 December open 10am-5pm
❌Sunday 21 December until Tuesday 6 January The Rylands will be closed
📅Open as usual from Wednesday 7 January 2026
📚Reader appointments are available on
Monday 22 December
Tuesday 23 December
Tuesday 6 January
December 9, 2025 at 9:10 AM
🎄Christmas opening hours
✅Saturday 20 December open 10am-5pm
❌Sunday 21 December until Tuesday 6 January The Rylands will be closed
📅Open as usual from Wednesday 7 January 2026
📚Reader appointments are available on
Monday 22 December
Tuesday 23 December
Tuesday 6 January
✅Saturday 20 December open 10am-5pm
❌Sunday 21 December until Tuesday 6 January The Rylands will be closed
📅Open as usual from Wednesday 7 January 2026
📚Reader appointments are available on
Monday 22 December
Tuesday 23 December
Tuesday 6 January
This Thursday at 1pm, join us for our 'Student Voices in the Archives' seminar featuring three stories of student life from our archives.
Online only, reserve your place and see more details:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/student-voices-in-the-archives-tickets-1921659056969?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Online only, reserve your place and see more details:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/student-voices-in-the-archives-tickets-1921659056969?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
December 7, 2025 at 10:00 AM
This Thursday at 1pm, join us for our 'Student Voices in the Archives' seminar featuring three stories of student life from our archives.
Online only, reserve your place and see more details:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/student-voices-in-the-archives-tickets-1921659056969?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Online only, reserve your place and see more details:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/student-voices-in-the-archives-tickets-1921659056969?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Here are some of our collections out on loan at other museums.
Indian drawings and other items are in ‘The Nature of Gothic’ at Blackburn Museum, until 13 December.
A cuneiform tablet is in ‘Thirst: In Search of Freshwater’ at Wellcome Collection until 1 February 2026.
Indian drawings and other items are in ‘The Nature of Gothic’ at Blackburn Museum, until 13 December.
A cuneiform tablet is in ‘Thirst: In Search of Freshwater’ at Wellcome Collection until 1 February 2026.
December 4, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Here are some of our collections out on loan at other museums.
Indian drawings and other items are in ‘The Nature of Gothic’ at Blackburn Museum, until 13 December.
A cuneiform tablet is in ‘Thirst: In Search of Freshwater’ at Wellcome Collection until 1 February 2026.
Indian drawings and other items are in ‘The Nature of Gothic’ at Blackburn Museum, until 13 December.
A cuneiform tablet is in ‘Thirst: In Search of Freshwater’ at Wellcome Collection until 1 February 2026.
Want to know what happens behind the scenes? Drop in on Friday 12 December, 2.30-4pm to meet the Collection Care and Heritage Imaging teams.
Learn about their work to help protect, preserve and promote world class collections.
Learn about their work to help protect, preserve and promote world class collections.
December 3, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Want to know what happens behind the scenes? Drop in on Friday 12 December, 2.30-4pm to meet the Collection Care and Heritage Imaging teams.
Learn about their work to help protect, preserve and promote world class collections.
Learn about their work to help protect, preserve and promote world class collections.
The object is a rare survivor of Manchester’s textile trade and its global connections, including the production of ‘Manchester Checks’ for export to West Africa. The book is stabilised, allowing safe access to an object that carries difficult histories of Britain’s textile past.
December 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM
The object is a rare survivor of Manchester’s textile trade and its global connections, including the production of ‘Manchester Checks’ for export to West Africa. The book is stabilised, allowing safe access to an object that carries difficult histories of Britain’s textile past.
New blog exploring the conservation of Oldknow SO 15/11, an 18th century textile sample book. The book was too fragile to open with pages fused by mould and textiles and paper eaten through by pests.
Read the blog to learn how it was cleaned and repaired: rylandscollections.com/2025/12/02/c...
Read the blog to learn how it was cleaned and repaired: rylandscollections.com/2025/12/02/c...
Rylands BlogConserving the Oldknow Book: History, Heritage and Treatment
By Amber Russell and Zoë Lanceley Oldknow SO 15/11 is no ordinary sample book. This tiny, pocket-sized catalogue from the late 18th century once helped drive the booming, fiercely competitive cotto…
rylandscollections.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM
New blog exploring the conservation of Oldknow SO 15/11, an 18th century textile sample book. The book was too fragile to open with pages fused by mould and textiles and paper eaten through by pests.
Read the blog to learn how it was cleaned and repaired: rylandscollections.com/2025/12/02/c...
Read the blog to learn how it was cleaned and repaired: rylandscollections.com/2025/12/02/c...
1st December marks World AIDS Day, a moment to remember those lost and honour those living with HIV.
Drop in to our special collections encounter this Friday 5/12 to discover Manchester’s unique place within the wider story of HIV/AIDS awareness through objects from our British Pop Archive.
Drop in to our special collections encounter this Friday 5/12 to discover Manchester’s unique place within the wider story of HIV/AIDS awareness through objects from our British Pop Archive.
December 1, 2025 at 10:00 AM
1st December marks World AIDS Day, a moment to remember those lost and honour those living with HIV.
Drop in to our special collections encounter this Friday 5/12 to discover Manchester’s unique place within the wider story of HIV/AIDS awareness through objects from our British Pop Archive.
Drop in to our special collections encounter this Friday 5/12 to discover Manchester’s unique place within the wider story of HIV/AIDS awareness through objects from our British Pop Archive.
New exhibition ‘Cottonopolis: The origins of global Manchester’ is now open. Explore how 18th century Manchester was transformed into a manufacturing powerhouse and the centre of Britain’s booming cotton industry.
📅Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
📅Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
November 26, 2025 at 9:10 AM
New exhibition ‘Cottonopolis: The origins of global Manchester’ is now open. Explore how 18th century Manchester was transformed into a manufacturing powerhouse and the centre of Britain’s booming cotton industry.
📅Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
📅Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
We’re busy installing a new exhibition read to open on Wednesday 26 November.
‘Cottonopolis: The origins of global Manchester’ explores how 18th century Manchester was transformed into a manufacturing powerhouse and the centre of Britain’s booming cotton industry.
‘Cottonopolis: The origins of global Manchester’ explores how 18th century Manchester was transformed into a manufacturing powerhouse and the centre of Britain’s booming cotton industry.
November 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM
We’re busy installing a new exhibition read to open on Wednesday 26 November.
‘Cottonopolis: The origins of global Manchester’ explores how 18th century Manchester was transformed into a manufacturing powerhouse and the centre of Britain’s booming cotton industry.
‘Cottonopolis: The origins of global Manchester’ explores how 18th century Manchester was transformed into a manufacturing powerhouse and the centre of Britain’s booming cotton industry.
In our latest blog, visiting researcher Dr José Álvarez reflects on his three month stay at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library where he explored the life of social reformer Robert Owen (1771-1858).
Read the full blog here: rylandscollections.com/2025/11/14/a...
Read the full blog here: rylandscollections.com/2025/11/14/a...
November 14, 2025 at 5:24 PM
In our latest blog, visiting researcher Dr José Álvarez reflects on his three month stay at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library where he explored the life of social reformer Robert Owen (1771-1858).
Read the full blog here: rylandscollections.com/2025/11/14/a...
Read the full blog here: rylandscollections.com/2025/11/14/a...
Big book install today...
This is James John Audubon’s Birds of America, with life-sized illustrations. Supported by a bespoke cradle, the book is open showing the Great Blue Heron.
Find this book in the Collections Gallery. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
This is James John Audubon’s Birds of America, with life-sized illustrations. Supported by a bespoke cradle, the book is open showing the Great Blue Heron.
Find this book in the Collections Gallery. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
November 11, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Big book install today...
This is James John Audubon’s Birds of America, with life-sized illustrations. Supported by a bespoke cradle, the book is open showing the Great Blue Heron.
Find this book in the Collections Gallery. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
This is James John Audubon’s Birds of America, with life-sized illustrations. Supported by a bespoke cradle, the book is open showing the Great Blue Heron.
Find this book in the Collections Gallery. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
In our latest Frankland family archive blog, we explore Grace Frankland’s pioneering work as a bacteriologist - she wrote extensively for both academic and popular audiences, advocating for public understanding of microbes in everyday life.
Blog: ow.ly/IQz650XolqQ
Blog: ow.ly/IQz650XolqQ
Rylands BlogGrace Frankland and the wonderful world of microbes
Archivist James Peters writes about Grace Frankland and her work as a scientist, focusing on her often neglected contribution as a science communicator
ow.ly
November 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM
In our latest Frankland family archive blog, we explore Grace Frankland’s pioneering work as a bacteriologist - she wrote extensively for both academic and popular audiences, advocating for public understanding of microbes in everyday life.
Blog: ow.ly/IQz650XolqQ
Blog: ow.ly/IQz650XolqQ
Last few days to visit The Secret Public. The exhibition explores the influence of LGBTQ performers, artists and activists on mainstream pop culture. 🏳️🌈
Free entry. Visit Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Open until Saturday 15 November 2025.
📓Gay Power, 1970 with cover photo by Diana Davies
Free entry. Visit Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Open until Saturday 15 November 2025.
📓Gay Power, 1970 with cover photo by Diana Davies
November 7, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Last few days to visit The Secret Public. The exhibition explores the influence of LGBTQ performers, artists and activists on mainstream pop culture. 🏳️🌈
Free entry. Visit Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Open until Saturday 15 November 2025.
📓Gay Power, 1970 with cover photo by Diana Davies
Free entry. Visit Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Open until Saturday 15 November 2025.
📓Gay Power, 1970 with cover photo by Diana Davies
We’re making some changes in the Collections Gallery. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see new books, manuscripts and archives on display.
The gallery will be open as usual Wednesday-Saturday.
🗺️First to install today is this colourful Japanese map showing the city of Edo from 1860.
The gallery will be open as usual Wednesday-Saturday.
🗺️First to install today is this colourful Japanese map showing the city of Edo from 1860.
November 3, 2025 at 10:40 AM
We’re making some changes in the Collections Gallery. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see new books, manuscripts and archives on display.
The gallery will be open as usual Wednesday-Saturday.
🗺️First to install today is this colourful Japanese map showing the city of Edo from 1860.
The gallery will be open as usual Wednesday-Saturday.
🗺️First to install today is this colourful Japanese map showing the city of Edo from 1860.
Reposted by John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Our final blog post celebrating The Bulletin of
@thejohnrylands.bsky.social going #OpenAccess is out!
This week, Medievalist Dr Ingrid Rembold highlights issue 99:2, with articles on Lorenzo Opimo and the challenges of printing Machiavelli's work.
Read the blog post👇
@thejohnrylands.bsky.social going #OpenAccess is out!
This week, Medievalist Dr Ingrid Rembold highlights issue 99:2, with articles on Lorenzo Opimo and the challenges of printing Machiavelli's work.
Read the blog post👇
October 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Our final blog post celebrating The Bulletin of
@thejohnrylands.bsky.social going #OpenAccess is out!
This week, Medievalist Dr Ingrid Rembold highlights issue 99:2, with articles on Lorenzo Opimo and the challenges of printing Machiavelli's work.
Read the blog post👇
@thejohnrylands.bsky.social going #OpenAccess is out!
This week, Medievalist Dr Ingrid Rembold highlights issue 99:2, with articles on Lorenzo Opimo and the challenges of printing Machiavelli's work.
Read the blog post👇
What was in the news on 30 October 1819? Prices from Liverpool Corn Exchange, a notice from a disgruntled husband...
The Manchester Observer (1818-1822) was a radical newspaper. Explore digitised editions on Manchester Digital Collections: https://ow.ly/zujU50XimeP
The Manchester Observer (1818-1822) was a radical newspaper. Explore digitised editions on Manchester Digital Collections: https://ow.ly/zujU50XimeP
October 30, 2025 at 9:35 AM
What was in the news on 30 October 1819? Prices from Liverpool Corn Exchange, a notice from a disgruntled husband...
The Manchester Observer (1818-1822) was a radical newspaper. Explore digitised editions on Manchester Digital Collections: https://ow.ly/zujU50XimeP
The Manchester Observer (1818-1822) was a radical newspaper. Explore digitised editions on Manchester Digital Collections: https://ow.ly/zujU50XimeP
Forget Christmas gifts, Queen Elizabeth I gave New Year gifts.
This long parchment roll lists the gifts given and received in 1559.
Among the gifts received was a velvet-bound book with silver clasps.
See this item in the Collections Gallery. Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
This long parchment roll lists the gifts given and received in 1559.
Among the gifts received was a velvet-bound book with silver clasps.
See this item in the Collections Gallery. Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
October 28, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Forget Christmas gifts, Queen Elizabeth I gave New Year gifts.
This long parchment roll lists the gifts given and received in 1559.
Among the gifts received was a velvet-bound book with silver clasps.
See this item in the Collections Gallery. Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
This long parchment roll lists the gifts given and received in 1559.
Among the gifts received was a velvet-bound book with silver clasps.
See this item in the Collections Gallery. Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
The Rylands Lecture with Alberto Manguel
Thursday 13 November, 6-7.45pm
Free, book here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-ryland...
Thursday 13 November, 6-7.45pm
Free, book here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-ryland...
The Rylands Lecture
Join us for the first annual The Rylands Lecture delivered by Alberto Manguel director of the Espaço Atlântida Library, in Lisbon, Portugal.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 1:44 PM
The Rylands Lecture with Alberto Manguel
Thursday 13 November, 6-7.45pm
Free, book here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-ryland...
Thursday 13 November, 6-7.45pm
Free, book here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-ryland...