Our St Pancras opening hours will be affected by planned tube strikes this week. For a full list of amended hours, visit our website: bl.uk/stories/news

Applications now open for a fully-funded PhD studentship exploring Yugoslavia’s multifaceted role during the Cold War, co-supervised with @exeter.ac.uk . This is one of a number of studentships available as part of AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership scheme. Find out more: link.bl.uk/q95

Born on this day in 1452, Leonardo da Vinci imagined ideas centuries ahead of their time. His notebooks reveal a mind constantly observing, questioning and exploring what could be.

You can now access electronic legal deposit journal issues, journal articles and books catalogued before October 2023 using the PCs in our Reading Rooms. Find out more about what content is available and how to access it here: link.bl.uk/9kt

A powerful plea for compassion, written over 400 years ago. This manuscript in our collection is believed to contain the only surviving literary text in William Shakespeare’s handwriting. Its message still resonates today. Discover more here: link.bl.uk/tkr

We have identified an issue that is preventing recently registered or renewed Readers accessing their account to request items. We are working to resolve this as quickly as possible but recommend waiting until next week to visit Reader Registration. Find out more here: link.bl.uk/abt

From 1950 to present day, explore contemporary British and Irish collections including literary and creative archives, society and science, oral history, news, moving image, patents and trademarks at our open day on Friday 24 April. Book your place: link.bl.uk/5nj

Four PhD studentships are now open for applications. As part of AHRC’s Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Scheme, these studentships are co-supervised by Library staff and academics based at UK universities. Find out more about the projects 😃

Applications close soon for an extraordinary PhD placement opportunity supporting the development and curation of our major exhibition on the Norman Conquest. Apply by Monday 6 April. Find out more here: link.bl.uk/dnv

From oral storytelling to illustrated books, fairy tales have been shared and reshaped for generations. Explore the stories and objects featured in our new Fairy Tales Exhibition link.bl.uk/ngw

Calling all brave heroes, clever creatures and little adventurers: Fairy Tales opens today! Explore a magical world full of your favourite stories 🐉✨ Book now at bl.uk/fairytales Supported by @waylandgames.bsky.social

Learning, listening, and building more inclusive spaces. Last week, colleagues across the Library took part in Deaf Awareness training led by Asif Iqbal MBE, exploring British Sign Language (BSL), communication tips, and how we can better support Deaf communities.

We’re delighted to welcome @blmedieval.bsky.social to Bluesky 👋 Follow for fascinating insights into medieval manuscripts, music, and history from the British Library’s collections.

For World Social Work Day 2026, social work students can access a wide range of monographs, research articles and social studies in the British Library’s St Pancras Reading Rooms. Explore the resources available in our latest blog: link.bl.uk/6za #WSWD2026 #TheBritishLibrary

Support the development of our major exhibition on the Norman Conquest through this extraordinary PhD placement opportunity. Available to students currently registered at a UK HEI, three full-time, six-month placements. Applications open until Monday 6 April. Find out more: link.bl.uk/dnv

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 in a blog post here: link.bl.uk/f3a

Explore our modern British collections from 1800–1950 including manuscripts, archives, printed collections and maps at our next open day on Friday 27 March. You’ll also get to pick the brains of our expert curators and reference specialists. link.bl.uk/dod

Our St Pancras site will be closed this weekend on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March for essential maintenance work. Find out more and see the latest updates on our website: link.bl.uk/5ym

This International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting stories of women who helped shape movements for rights and equality, from early feminist writings to oral histories of activism. Read the blog post here: link.bl.uk/15n #TheBritishLibrary #InternationalWomensDay

We're are celebrating the power of storytelling. To mark the National Year of Reading, the BBC is partnering with the British Library’s Living Knowledge Network to bring their BBC CBeebies Bedtime Story read & rave events to libraries nationwide. Find out more here: link.bl.uk/8lv

We’re hiring a Social Media Manager at the British Library. Join our Digital Engagement team and help connect audiences with the stories, collections and ideas of the UK’s national library. 📍 St Pancras Apply by 15 March 2026 More details here: link.bl.uk/rkj

On Tuesday 3 March, the Piazza and Entrance Hall at our St Pancras site will close from 17.00 for a private event, including the Treasures Gallery, shops and Origin Café. All other public areas and Reading Rooms will remain open. Between 17.00–20.00 please enter and leave via Gate 8 on Midland Road.

Apply by 9 March for @kingsartshums.bsky.social MA in Early Modern English Literature, taught in partnership with us. Find out more about this rich and unique course where you will learn from our expert curators and examine rare texts in our collections. Find out more here: link.bl.uk/kpr

We’re delighted to share that A History of the British Museum Library, 1753–1973 by P. R. Harris is now digitised and freely available to all interested in the history of the Museum and librarianship. Find out more here: link.bl.uk/vvx

Our St. Pancras site will be closed on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March for essential maintenance work. We are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause. There are further details on our website for affected Readers and bookers here link.bl.uk/5ym

Story Explorers is now open at Leeds Central Library 📚 Visit outer space, explore the jungle and dive under the sea to experience the joy of stories through imagination and play in this free family exhibition. Running until Saturday 30 May. Find out more here: link.bl.uk/gpg

IIPC CDG won the Celebrating Digital Innovation in Sporting Heritage Award 2025 for their preservation of Olympic & Paralympic Games. @sportingheritage.bsky.social @netpreserve.bsky.social Find out more here: link.bl.uk/vyu #WebArchiving #SportingHeritage #IIPC-CDG #Olympics #Paralympics

Despite recent challenges, our UK Web Archive team remains dedicated to safeguarding the nation’s online heritage. Find out more about UK Web Archive recovery in this latest blog post here: link.bl.uk/aaq

It's International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Here are a few highlights from Kodak Research Laboratories in Harrow, documenting innovations led by women in as early as 1891. #KodakHistory #Harrow #WomenInSTEM #Innovation #PhotographyHistory #HiddenHistories

Is your research related to Asia or Africa? Join us on Friday 27 February for an open day exploring our Asian and African collections as well as those of @soasuni.bsky.social , @sas-news.bsky.social and @senatehouselib.bsky.social Book your place here: link.bl.uk/ctf

Missed our Frankenstein event? Watch Jacob Elordi & Guillermo del Toro in conversation here: link.bl.uk/toy

The 2026 Winter Olympics are underway in Italy where 2,900 athletes from 92 National Olympic Committees will take part in Alpine skiing, curling, ice hockey and more. Find out how you can help preserve web content for this historic event here: link.bl.uk/7yj #Olympics @netpreserve.bsky.social

Using our collection for your research? Join one of our open days for a deep dive into the collection areas most relevant to your research and the opportunity to pick the brains of our experts. Find out what areas we’re exploring this spring and book your place. link.bl.uk/DoctoralOpenDays

Apply for our PhD placement scheme to get involved in extraordinary research at the Library. There are eight available placements exploring a variety of themes including war poetry, 21st-century digital tools, illustrated newspapers and decarbonisation. Find out more: link.bl.uk/PhDPlacements

Want to learn more about how libraries can promote positive climate action? Join us on 26 February to explore how libraries can contribute to a circular economy. Book your free place: link.bl.uk/9sy

A dragon has landed at the British Library 🐉 Created exclusively for Fairy Tales, this new illustration from the legendary Chris Riddell will guard the doors to our magical family exhibition opening in March. Tickets are now on sale at link.bl.uk/FairyTales

Today marks Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp. To commemorate, we’re sharing a small selection of survivors’ stories from our collection – voices preserved in memory and testimony. Read here: link.bl.uk/hij

Looking to grow your library career? Don’t miss the chance to join us this summer for our International Library Leaders Programme. Applications close on 5 February. Learn more: link.bl.uk/ILLP2026

We're delighted to have acquired the archive of writer and essayist Ronald Blythe, best known for book Akenfield, which explores changing rural life in Suffolk during the 20th century. Discover more in this blog post by curator Helen Melody: link.bl.uk/86s

Due to an issue with the water supply, our Boston Spa Reading Room will be closed on Friday 16 January. There is also the possibility of disruption on Monday 19 January, please check our social media channels for any updates before you visit. We’re very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Coming soon…Story Explorers in Leeds 🚀 🐯 🌊 Our popular Story Explorers exhibition is launching off to Leeds Central Library. Explore imaginary worlds in this free, playful family experience. Find out more here: link.bl.uk/gpg

Have you completed a PhD in the last 10 years? Applications are open for our Postdoctoral Visiting Fellowship in Sustainability and Environment. Funding covers an £8000 bursary for part-time (0.5) research over 8 months, plus travel expenses. Apply by Monday 9 February. link.bl.uk/VisitingFellowship

English teachers! Don't miss our free online CPD session exploring The Tempest on 3 February. Join Professor Emma Smith, and teacher and author Michael Donkor for fresh ideas, tips and resources, as we explore the thorny role of magic in the play. Find out more here: link.bl.uk/CPDTempest

Want to level up your library career this year? We’re looking for international mid-career library and archive professionals to join us this summer at our International Library Leaders Programme. Learn more link.bl.uk/ILLP2026

It’s your last chance to see Secret Maps! Closing 18 January, don’t miss your final chance to explore some of the world’s most mysterious maps. 🗺️ We are expecting the final weeks of the exhibition to be very busy so book in advance to guarantee entry. Book now: link.bl.uk/SecretMaps

A New Year’s greeting from the collection! Wishing you all a thoughtful and hopeful start to the year ahead. 🖼 Gift Cards for the New Year by W.Place Dickes, 1874 #BritishLibrary #Library #Collection #HappyNewYear

Season’s greetings from all of us at the British Library. #BritishLibrary #Libraries #Christmas

To mark Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, we hosted Wild About Jane Austen: The Woman Behind the Novels, an event exploring Austen as an ambitious, politically aware writer. Watch the full event on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4_V... #BritishLibrary #Libraries #JaneAusten250

As we reflect on a year of inspiration at the Library, we wanted to thank our partners, sponsors and Business Members for their support including Wayland Games, JP Morgan, Bloomberg, Miele, Netflix, RELX and Bloomsbury Publishing alongside other donors. Learn more link.bl.uk/BusinessPartnerships

We’re excited to share our new main catalogue, making it easier for you to find and request the majority of our published collection. We’ve also launched an interim version of our Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Find out how to start searching and requesting on our website bit.ly/BLNewCatalogues