News and updates

Read the latest news and updates from the British Library. Featuring exhibition announcements, details about our latest acquisitions, important service updates, and information for Readers and visitors.

View of the British Library building and piazza in St Pancras, London from above — Photo by Tony Antoniou

Latest updates

5 Items

View from above of the Humanities Reading Room in the British Library in London, with people sat at desks.

Research

Upcoming: collection access and item requesting suspension

30 October 2025

We are suspending item ordering and access to our entire collection from Monday 1 – Sunday 7 December 2025.

External view of the British Library building in St Pancras, London from below.

Planned strike action in London from 27 October – 9 November 2025

Find out how our services will be impacted during this period.

A Sphinx and hieroglyphs matched with Armenian script to mark out the dual identities in this Armenian-Egyptian almanac from 1914. (Egiptahay taretsʿoyts, 17070.d.28).

Armenian-British history display now open

9 October 2025

Uncover a unique view of Armenian-British history in a display in our Sir John S. Ritblatt Treasures Gallery from 27 September 2025 until 22 February 2026.

A selection of doodles by Mustapha Matura

New acquisition on pioneering Black British playwright announced

We have acquired the archive of Mustapha Matura (1939–2019), one of the first Black British-based playwrights to have a play staged in London’s West End.

A woman sits, looking serious and wearing in-ear headphones, at a laptop, in the public study spaces of the British Library in London.

Service update

Research

Launching a new British Library website

7 July 2025

We’re really pleased to share our new website with the world. This is just the first of many steps that will improve how everyone can use the Library online.