'I researched my family tree and identified a match girl, a mayor and a cake-baking criminal.'. Ever wondered what’s happening at the desk next to yours?. Read on to discover the tales Kim Thompson unearthed in our newspaper archive

Our catalogue will be unavailable from 06.00 on Saturday 12 July until 06.00 on Sunday 13 July due to planned maintenance. You can still place item requests during this time using our request form at and may find shelf mark information by using other

We’ve recently launched our new website. While we’re excited to share this improved experience, you may see a 'Please refresh this page' message before accessing our website. If so, you'll simply need to refresh the page, or click on the link, to see the website. Thank you for

Food artists Edible Archives have turned the stories of #Bradford communities and cultures into biscuits, as part of #Bradford2025. And, our collection inspired the limited-edition collectible tin!. Tuck into The Bradford Selection today:

We recently opened our studio doors to the editors of Clod Magazine – Luton’s surrealist satirical gem – for a seven-hour session of recordings and interviews. Covering everything from Clod classics to Luton Haiku, hear more on our Sound and Vision blog:

Are you a PhD student using the Library for your research, or interested in doing so?. Join one of our Doctoral Open Days for a dive into the areas of our collection which might be relevant to your research, as well as top tips on using the Library 👇.

We’ve acquired the archive of pioneering Black playwright, Mustapha Matura. Packed with drafts of all his plays, unrealised scripts, and personal material, this is an incredible resource offering valuable insight into his creative process:

Ahead of #WindrushDay, we're looking back at the bold, pioneering women who left everything behind to build new lives. Wasafiri honours the women writers of the Windrush era, including Beryl Gilroy, poet, author, and the UK’s first Black woman headteacher:

Alan Turing wasn’t a great chess player – but his weekly chess games with Donald Michie while at Bletchley Park inspired ideas that led to early chess-playing algorithms and laid groundwork for machine learning. 🧠♟️.

We’re delighted to have been nominated as the Best Venue for English Learning in the annual School Travel Awards, organised by @SchoolTravelOrg magazine!. You can cast your vote for the Library until voting closes on 31 July 2025:

English teachers! Don’t miss our free online CPD session on Macbeth, 25 June. Join Professor Emma Smith and author Michael Donkor for fresh insights, tips, and resources on themes of agency and blame. Book your place:

RT @BLQatar: Eid Mubarak!🌙.Explore Eid al-Adha greetings and related letters exchanged in the 1930s between the Bahrain Political Agent and….

Already hooked on @TheRestHistory podcast?. Don’t miss an exclusive bonus episode, as @holland_tom explores the newest additions to our medieval manuscripts collection, and unravels the religious intricacies hidden in these remarkable texts. 🎙️

Explore the collection online.

• A trilingual Hebrew dictionary co-created by monks & Jewish scholars.• The Red Book of Bath, revealing daily life.• Richard Rolle’s The Form of Living in Hiberno-English.• Middle English sermons on Church debates.• A richly illustrated Arma Christi devotional manuscript

We’ve acquired a remarkable group of rare medieval manuscripts that reveal new insights into life in Britain & Ireland during the Middle Ages – from religious dialogue to daily urban life. Items include…

RT @holland_tom: Huge excitement on @TheRestHistory today: our first ever WORLD EXCLUSIVE!!!. 5 manuscripts from Longleat, revealing extrao….

I found a way of reading Ice Age symbols, sparked an academic debate, and raised questions about the history of our species. Bennett Bacon recounts how he used the Library to make an extraordinary discovery:

Due to essential maintenance work our Treasures Gallery will be closed on Monday 2 June, Friday 13 June and Monday 23 June. The rest of our offer is unaffected during this time. You can find all our opening times on our website:

Join @eventsBL and @ShashiTharoor, @DalrympleWill, @tweeter_anita, @Hanifkureishi, @MichaelRosenYes, @DeShobhaa, @JLFLitfest and @SanjoyRoyTWA.