British Library

Join award-winning comic creator James Turner (Star Cat, Toby and the Pixies) for a magical day of comic-making fun on 21 June! 🎨

Create your own pixie characters, send them on hilarious adventures, and learn the secrets of great comics from character design to speech bubbles.

Inspired by our family-friendly Fairy Tales exhibition, the day also includes creative activities, a drop-in studio (12.00–14.30) and plenty of books to enjoy together.

Book now: link.bl.uk/ng5

Make your mark at the Library today.
As a charity, your support helps keep knowledge alive and available to everyone.

There are lots of ways to get involved. Adopt a book from our collection of classics, name a desk in our Reading Rooms or find out about leaving a gift in your will.

You can help future generations shape tomorrow. Join us, and be part of what comes next.

Learn more here: https://support.bl.uk/Page/Ways-you-can-help

Ways to give You can make a difference yourself to help protect the world’s knowledge at The British Library. Please support us.

Reminder: Our St Pancras site will be closed this weekend (Saturday 30 – Sunday 31 May) for essential maintenance work.

We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Find out more here: link.bl.uk/5ym

Tickets are now on sale for Agatha Christie: A World of Mystery, opening this autumn 🕵️

From crossing continents by train to navigating archaeological digs, explore how Christie’s adventures sparked unforgettable stories, ideas and characters including Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple.

Drawing on letters, notebooks, photographs, personal belongings, early manuscript drafts and many objects on display for the first time, this landmark exhibition reveals the remarkable life of one of the world’s greatest crime writers.

Book now at link.bl.uk/ubb

Supported by GWR
In collaboration with Agatha Christie and The Christie Archive Trust.

2026 is the National Year of Reading. Discover a lifetime of stories with our programmes of events and activities.

Schools – our onsite and online opportunities help teachers to supercharge reading in the classroom. From our termly livestreamed Discovering Children’s Books series to special events with authors like Malorie Blackman, our free programme offers a range of ways into reading for pleasure with high-profile authors, rich collections and insightful scholarship to frame familiar texts in fresh and relevant ways.

Families – from family festivals to hands-on workshops, regular sessions for under-5s and relaxed openings, there's so much for your family to enjoy together at the Library. Discover timeless tales that have captured imaginations for generations in our magical Fairy Tales exhibition in London or take a fantastical trip into space, through the jungle and to the bottom of the ocean in our Story Explorers exhibition in Leeds.

Local communities – our cultural programmes amplify local voices and uncover the extraordinary stories held within national and regional collections. We bring world-class speakers and emerging voices to public libraries and the people who use them. From CBeebies Read and Rave events to pop-up Agatha Christie panel displays and livestreamed compelling cultural events, your local library is a catalyst for curiosity, creativity and connection.

Authors – are you a published author, illustrator, editor, translator or audiobook narrator? You could be getting paid every time your books are borrowed from public libraries: bl.uk/plr

Unlock your imagination: link.bl.uk/8fi

Born on this day in 1820, Florence Nightingale became one of the most influential figures in the history of modern nursing.

Today also marks International Nurses Day, celebrated annually on Nightingale’s birthday in recognition of her lasting impact on healthcare and nursing practice around the world.

Known as “The Lady with the Lamp”, her work transformed hospital sanitation, patient care and the role of nurses in medicine; a legacy that continues to shape healthcare today.

Wishing a VERY happy 80th birthday to our dear friend Michael Rosen who has delighted and inspired countless young readers and writers across the country for generations.

We were thrilled to welcome Michael to the Library this week, where he wrote letters to some of the brilliant primary school pupils who created their own food-related folktales as part of our Discovering Children’s Books programme.

Take a look at some of the fantastic books children produced inspired by Michael’s event last term: link.bl.uk/yua

Born on this day in 1759, Mary Wollstonecraft was writing about equality, education and independence long before feminism had a name.

Published in 1792, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman remains one of the most influential works in the history of feminist thought.

Her words continue to challenge, inspire and resonate today.

This English Language Day we’re celebrating the unsung heroes of lexicography. Before Samuel Johnson’s dictionary of 1755 came Henry Cockeram’s English Dictionarie Of 1623, focusing on ‘hard' or 'unusual' words. Well, these obscure words will certainly give you a run for your money.

Cockeram's dictionary included hundreds of words that were not recorded elsewhere at the time and were never recorded again after the publication.

Note that ‘cow boy’ referred to a young lad who keeps cattle from wandering out of an enclosure 🐑

An 400-year-old plea for tolerance, still resonating today.

This manuscript of The Book of Sir Thomas More, held in our collection, contains what is believed to be the only surviving literary text in William Shakespeare’s own handwriting.

The speech, brought back into the spotlight by Sir Ian McKellen, calls for compassion towards migrants. A message that continues to echo across centuries.

Discover more here: link.bl.uk/tkr

We’re thrilled that our popular Story Explorers exhibition at Leeds Central Library has been extended! It’s now open until Saturday 29 August, which means even more families can adventure into space, through the jungle and to the bottom of the ocean. Right through to the end of the summer holidays!

Join the adventure: link.bl.uk/gpg

Fairy tales have been told and retold for generations but where do these stories come from?

Our new blog explores our new Fairy Tales exhibition, uncovering the origins, evolution and enduring magic of these much-loved tales.

Find out more and discover what’s on display

Fairy Tales: a celebration of storytelling Explore fairy tales from around the world in our new exhibition.

Calling all brave heroes, clever creatures and little adventurers 🐉

Fairy Tales opens today! Bringing together beautiful illustrations, interactive displays, and stories from around the world, this magical new family exhibition explores how these iconic tales have enchanted us through time.

Book here: link.bl.uk/FairyTales

This exhibition is supported by Wayland Games Limited.

We’re celebrating 45 years of the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

Since 1980 they’ve stepped in to protect heritage when it matters most, saving over 1,400 iconic objects, places and landscapes. These heritage treasures form a collection in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK.

In 2024 they helped us to acquire a series of letters from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the most important English writers and poets of the 19th century. Spanning 1846 to 1860, the letters offer valuable insight into her work, public reception and social networks.

Learn more about this and other recent acquisitions here: link.bl.uk/71f

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 here link.bl.uk/f3a

This World Poetry Day, we’re celebrating poetry as a bridge for peace and inclusion.

From voices of resilience to reflections on shared humanity, women poets have long used verse to connect people across cultures, experiences and generations.

Here are just a few whose words continue to resonate today.

If you’ve ever pulled an all-nighter, these archaic or unusual words might strike a chord… It's somewhat comforting to know that the art of procrastination isn't a new thing. Which word can you relate to the most?