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What’s on

The Queens Elizabeth and Mary featured side by side

Elizabeth and Mary: Royal Cousins, Rival Queens

Fri 8 Oct 2021 - Sun 20 Feb 2022

Beethoven

Fri 3 Dec 2021 - Sun 24 Apr 2022

Treasures of the British Library. Discover stories that shape the world.

Treasures of the British Library

Free

Suzannah Lipscomb and Malcolm Gaskill

The True Story of an American Witch-Hunt

Tue 1 Feb 2022

Bookbinding tools and material

Bookbinding Masterclass

Sat 22 Jan 2022

Online: Getting that new product to market

Tue 25 Jan 2022

Innovating for Growth webinar: Get started part 1

Free

Tue 25 Jan 2022

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News

Architect's impression of new Boston Spa site

Sustainable Boston Spa redevelopment given the green light

Planned improvements will transform our northern site into a modern and sustainable home for the UK’s growing national collection.…

Charlotte Bronte manuscripts

Brontë treasures saved for the nation

An astonishing set of manuscripts and printed books by the Brontës has been entrusted to us.

A person in a gallery looking at a manuscript

Keeping everyone safe

In line with the latest guidance you must now wear a face covering in all areas of the Library, unless you’re exempt.

Blogs

Medieval manuscripts blog from the British Library

Portraits of Elizabeth I

European blog from the British Library

When Wagner 'met' Beethoven

Photo of the King's Library at the British Library, credit Luca Sage

Taking your favourite exhibitions around the world

Learn

Preview of the Black literature timeline poster, showing text entries by date, portraits and a tablet featuring images of book covers and handwritten manuscripts

Collage of photograph of Andrea Levy's parents and one of her manuscripts

‘How come England did not know me?’: Recording Andrea Levy for Authors’ Lives

More Learning resources

Discover

A Description of Three Hundred Animals [page: frontispiece and title page]

The Devonshire Manuscript

Explore this hand-written volume, known as the Devonshire Manuscript

Explore our Highlights

Get started

Get started at the British Library, photo of a Reading Room

Find out how to get a Reader Pass

Support us

Support the British Library

Help grow, protect and share our collection

Business support

Business support at the British Library

We can help you start, run and grow your business

Work with us

Students working in the Library

Current vacancies and other opportunities – and how to apply