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britishlibrary.bsky.social
British Library
@britishlibrary.bsky.social
36K followers 49 following 140 posts
We’re the national library of the UK.
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britishlibrary.bsky.social
Schools, explore geography and history themes through the lens of secret maps with your Key Stage 2 and 3 students in this special event with author Chris Haughton. Join for free in-person or online.

Book your place bit.ly/BLChrisHaugh...
A man wearing glasses and a black fleece smiling.
November 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
I delved into oral history, scanned news archives and discovered what climate change policy has to do with the cost of living crisis.

Richard Power-Sayeed explains how political gossip and diplomatic cables can chart changing times: bit.ly/BLUserStoryC...
A green graphic with a person smiling warmly with headphones and a microphone. A quote reads "All the sources I need are on hand"
November 19, 2025 at 12:16 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Six incredible writers working across memoir, history and fiction make up the shortlist for the 2026 Eccles Institute and @hayfestival.bsky.social Writer’s Award:

Carmen Ávila
Jacqueline Crooks
Misha Ewen
Rowan Hisayo Buchanan
Maddie Mortimer
Vanessa Londoño
Graphic with headshots of shortlisted writers for the Writers Award.
November 13, 2025 at 4:48 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
We’re launching our new catalogue on Monday 8 December.

To keep our collections safe while we do this, access and ordering will be suspended for a week before launch and all requests for 8 December onwards must be made on the new system when it launches.

Find out more: bit.ly/CollectionSu...
A person reaches for an item from a shelf of books.
November 11, 2025 at 12:54 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
We will be observing the national two-minute silence for Armistice Day at 11.00 today, Tuesday 11 November.

#ArmisticeDay
An illustration of poppies on a grassy cliff-edge, with a derelict building in the background.
November 11, 2025 at 10:16 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Could you co-supervise a PhD working with unexplored areas of our collection?

We’re seeking proposals from academics at HEI’s on four specially selected research themes: bit.ly/BritishLibra...
Manuscript page showing a detailed illumination from Cotton MS Nero DIV
November 7, 2025 at 1:23 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Apologies if you are having any problems accessing the British Library website. There is currently an issue with our hosting provider and we hope to be back online shortly.

You can visit:

Guides: bl.libguides.com/guides
Catalogues: bit.ly/BLOnlineCatalogue
Events: events.bl.uk
Shop: shop.bl.uk
An aerial view of the St Pancras site of the British Library, showing the ship like building and piazza.
October 29, 2025 at 4:51 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Secret Maps opens today! 🤫 🗺️

From medieval manuscripts to Cold War espionage, our new exhibition explores how maps have hidden as much as they revealed for over 600 years.

Book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps
October 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Apologies if you are having any problems accessing the British Library website this morning. We're working to resolve an intermittent technical issue.

Our sub-sites are working as usual:

Guides: bl.libguides.com/guides
Catalogues: bit.ly/BLOnlineCata...
Events: events.bl.uk
Shop: shop.bl.uk
An aerial view of the St Pancras site of the British Library, showing the ship like building and piazza.
October 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Don't miss our free, online Open and Engaged Conference 2025, as part of #InternationaOpenAccessWeek.

This year we're exploring the power, ethics, and responsibility embedded in how cultural heritage is created, shared, and preserved.

Register for free: bit.ly/BLEngagedCon...
A collage of images including a person with headphones on working at a desk, a person weaving straw together and someone in a lab holding a bottle. A open padlock graphic is laid over each image and text reads Open and Engaged 2025. Who owns our knowledge? Monday 20th, Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd October, online conference..
October 7, 2025 at 9:30 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Hwæt! 🐉

Ever wondered what the epic poem Beowulf sounds like spoken in Old English?

#NationalPoetryDay
October 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Opening March 2026, our new family exhibition will explore the enchanting world of fairy tales! ✨ 🏰

Read more about what 2026 has in store: bit.ly/BL-Exhibitio...
Two young children stand in an exhibition space in front of a moon and stars on the wall. Spotted lights shine down, and the children are looking up in wonder shining their own torch.
September 30, 2025 at 2:10 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Are you an early career researcher with an interest in our collection? Apply to develop an independent research project funded by AHRC.

Hear more about the opportunity at a virtual town hall event on Monday 6 October: bit.ly/BL-EarlyCare...
A group of students sat at a table examining documents and books from the Library's collection.
September 23, 2025 at 2:11 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
It's Agatha Christie's birthday today, and we're delighted to announce a major exhibition on the Queen of Crime, coming autumn 2026 🕵️‍♀️

Find out more: bit.ly/BL-AgathaChr...

#AgathaChristie #CrimeFiction
Agatha Christie poses at home on December 1956 in Wallingford, United Kingdom. Photo by Hubert de Segonzac/Paris Match via Getty Images. Agatha Christie’s Remington typewriter from 1937. © The Christie Archive Trust Agatha Christie boarding the EET Salon at lunchtime on the train from Bulawayo to the Cape. In 1922 Agatha Christie set sail on a 10-month voyage around the world. Her husband Archie had been invited to join a trade mission to promote the British Empire Exhibition and Agatha was determined to go with him © The Christie Archive Trust
September 15, 2025 at 9:43 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
There are just a few days left to get your submissions in for the 2026 Writer's Award!

Apply by Friday 12 September: bit.ly/BL-WritersAw...
September 10, 2025 at 9:45 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Due to planned transport strikes, on Monday 8 September – Thursday 11 September our St Pancras site will open 09:30 – 18:00.

Reading Rooms and Reader Registration will open at 10.00 and close at 17.00.

Plan your visit: bit.ly/BLPlanVisit
An aerial view of the St Pancras site of the British Library, showing the ship like building and piazza.
September 6, 2025 at 9:54 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Join us for a fascinating debate on 15 September, where leading experts, including Timandra Harkness, Dr Shahreen Ahmad, Professor Dean Barratt, Charlotte Blease, Dr Niels Peek & Dr Nicola Byrne, will explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence on our health and wellbeing.

bit.ly/BLEventsAIHe...
A photograph of an AI robot looking through a microscope.
September 5, 2025 at 11:33 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Working on a book about the Americas? 🌎

Apply for the Writer's Award residency. Winners will get exclusive access to our collection, platform their work at Hay Festival events around the world, and £20,000 to develop their publication.

Submissions close 12 Sep: bit.ly/BL-WritersAward2025
A quote from 2014 Writer's Award winner, Erica Wagner: "The Writer's Award was one of the best things that ever happened to me. The special connection to the British Library's unique and unparalleled collection and the expertise of its librarians was invaluable."
August 29, 2025 at 9:09 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Unlock the secrets behind some of the world’s most extraordinary maps 🤫🗺️

Secret Maps opens 24 October, book now: bit.ly/BLSecretMaps
August 20, 2025 at 3:49 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
The Treasures Gallery will be closed between 18 August and 26 September 2025 while we make necessary changes to our climate control system.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
A view of a display case in the Treasures Gallery at the British Library, showing a print mounted to the wall and various manuscripts laid open.
August 18, 2025 at 3:57 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Today marks the 150th anniversary of composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) 🎼

From published scores, autograph manuscripts, and sound recordings, read our new blog post with an overview of our Coleridge-Taylor collections: bit.ly/BLBlogColeridgeTaylor
Photograph of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor who is standing by a table. It has been captioned 'S Coleridge-Taylor shortly before his marriage'. Opening of the autograph manuscript of Coleridge-Taylor's piece 'Elëanore', together with a wax cylinder recording.
August 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
We will be observing the national two-minute silence at 12.00 today, Friday 15 August, as part of commemorations for the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

#VJDay #VJ80
An illustration of poppies on a grassy cliff-edge, with a derelict building in the background.
August 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Happy #NationalBookLoversDay! 📚 What’s one book you think everyone should read at least once?
August 9, 2025 at 12:29 PM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
Don’t miss your last chance to see Voice of the Fans at Leeds Central Library until 10 August.

Explore over 60 years of fan-made media, from the Library and Leeds Libraries collections, that has defined the beautiful game ⚽️

bit.ly/BLVoiceOfTheFans
A figure standing in the Voice of the Fans exhibition space at Leeds Central Library, watching a woman speak on a tv screen. The space is decorated with blue panels. An open book showing illustrations and text. The right page is entitled, 'The City Gent' and depicts a smiling man in a hat, red striped shirt, holding a briefcase and umbrella. A woman sits in the Voice of the Fans exhibition space at Leeds Central Library, watching a man on a tv screen. The space is decorated with black, illustrated panels. A woman can be seen looking through a glass case. An open book faces the camera, with the title: 'Arrogance - the Leeds Disease?'
August 6, 2025 at 11:46 AM
britishlibrary.bsky.social
There’s still time to cast your vote for the Library in the School Travel Awards, organised by @SchoolTravelOrg magazine! We’re proud to be nominated in the Best Venue for English Learning category.

Vote by 31 July: bit.ly/BL-SchoolTravelAwards2025
Three primary school aged children are in an exhibition space. They're looking up in wonder at a large glowing, pink ball.
July 23, 2025 at 9:54 AM