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.
Blogs
Explore our blogs from curators and teams across the Library.
Press and media
Read the latest press releases, download images, or contact the Press Office.
Latest news
Item request form maintenance - Sunday 4 May
30 April 2025 - Due to planned maintenance our collection item request form will be unavailable between 10.00 and 12.00 on Sunday 4 May. The form will be restored as soon as possible, and we're sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Reader Registration reopens
9 April 2025 - Our Reader Registration office has now reopened and we're able to process new and renewed passes. We are experiencing high demand so there may be a wait for your pass. Thank you for your patience.
Moving ahead with our transformation plans at St Pancras
19 March 2025 - We’re progressing groundbreaking plans to transform our St Pancras site with a multi-purpose extension to deliver even more exhibitions, events, learning programmes, research and business support.
Catalogue maintenance - Sunday 23 March
18 March 2025 - Due to planned maintenance there may be some disruption to our interim catalogue on Sunday 23 March. We're sorry for any inconvenience caused.
Explore items from Medieval Women online
27 February 2025 - You can now explore several items recently displayed in our Medieval Women exhibition, now available in their entirety on our website.
Access the British Newspaper Archive in our Reading Rooms
19 February 2025 - You can now access nearly 90 million pages of digitised newspapers when you use the British Newspaper Archive on your own device in our Reading Rooms. Login or register for the BNA to access the archive when you connect to our WiFi.
Opening hours during transport strikes
6 November 2024 - Following cancellation of planned London Underground strikes, our St Pancras opening hours will be as normal on Thursday 7 and Tuesday 12 November.
Four major digitised manuscripts restored
30 October 2024 - We've now added the Moutier-Grandval Bible, Codex Sinaiticus, Chronicle of the Kings of Mann and the Isles; John of Salisbury, Entheticus in Policraticum etc., and the Lindisfarne Gospels to our restored digitised manuscripts.
Rebecca Lawrence appointed as Library’s new Chief Executive
24 October 2024 - Rebecca Lawrence has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the British Library and will take up the role from 2 January 2025. She succeeds Sir Roly Keating, who has led the Library since 2012.
Restoring our services
10 October 2024 - Our CEO Sir Roly Keating shares a new blog about services we’ve recently restored, and our plans for the next phase of recovery from last October’s cyber-attack.
Our new sustainability strategy
8 October 2024 - This Green Libraries Week we are pleased to share our new Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy which sets out the practical action we’re taking in response to the climate crisis.
Hard copy newspapers now available
7 October 2024 - We’ve restored access to our hard copy newspaper collection, which you can consult in our Newsroom in London, and Boston Spa in Yorkshire. Search for what you need in our catalogue and place your request using our new online form.
100 Discovering Literature articles return
8 September 2024 - You can now explore our best-loved learning resources as we've released 100 articles on a platform called Padlet.
Restoring our services
30 August 2024 - We're now able to confirm restoration dates for some of our key services. You'll be able to access more content, view digitised manuscripts and request items remotely again this September. Our CEO Sir Roly Keating explains.