British Library

'Nothing is pleasanter to me than exploring a library' — Walter Savage Landor

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...

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...

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

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

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

‘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

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

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

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

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

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

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 📚

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

Hwæt! 🐉 Ever wondered what the epic poem Beowulf sounds like spoken in Old English? #NationalPoetryDay

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

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

A little 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

Please be aware that our St Pancras site will be closed this weekend from 18.00 on Friday 25 September 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

We’re delighted to announce Dr Paul Bate as the British Library’s new Chief Executive Joining us from the UK Space Agency, Paul brings experience supporting world-class research communities. We look forward to welcoming his expertise at the Library. Read the full announcement here link.bl.uk/fc6

‘In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.’ Today, we’re bringing out the first edition of Tolkien’s The Hobbit 🐉 It started off with a single sentence and became a well-loved children’s book, complete with illustrations and decorations from the author himself.

The Wuthering Heights first published in 1847 isn't quite the version we know today... Our new facsimile reproduces the first edition, before Charlotte Brontë's later revisions. Here's a closer look at the original and the story behind this new publication 👇

Happy birthday, Agatha Christie 🔎 136 years after her birth, we're still reading her books, watching her plays and debating whodunnit We can't wait to celebrate her from 30 October 2026, when Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery opens - you coming? link.bl.uk/ubb

@britishlibrary.bsky.social were grateful to receive a large allocation of studentships as part of the AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Landscape Award scheme. We have 4 exciting new studentships starting in Oct 2027 - 3 are now open for prospective HEI supervisor proposals! www.bl.uk/services/res...

On International Literacy Day, we're looking back on how tablets were made of wood and wax. This wax tablet is a 2,000-year-old homework book, with a Greek maxim copied out by a student. How do you 'clear the screen' on a wax tablet? Find out in our blog: link.bl.uk/blw

Please note that the Treasures Gallery is closed today while maintenance work takes place. The Treasures Gallery will also close at 5pm on Wednesday 9 September for a private event.

It's National Read a Book Day 📚 So for one day only 'you have enough books' is not a valid argument (especially if they're library books) Happy reading

Happy World Beard Day 🧔 We couldn’t let the day pass without celebrating one of the Library’s finest beards - accompanied, naturally, by four larks, a wren, two owls and a hen. A Book of Nonsense by Edward Lear. Shelfmark: 12332.dd.1

Please note that the Treasures Gallery will be closed on Monday 7 September while maintenance work takes place.   The Treasures Gallery will also close at 5pm on Wednesday 9 September for a private event.

What does astrology and the act of pondering have in common? Here are some of our favourite astrological etymologies 💫