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

Latest updates

4 Items

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.

Catalogue unavailable on Saturday 12 July

08 Jul 2025

Due to planned maintenance our interim catalogue will be unavailable from 06.00 on Saturday 12 July to 06.00 on Sunday 13 July.

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

Launching a new British Library website

07 Jul 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.

Research

An illustration for the Story Explorers exhibition at the British Library, including a montage of different elements, including two moons, a cat in a spaceship, two birds, a frog, a tree and stars.

News

Story Explorers exhibition launches

16 May 2025

Take a free family trip through our collections and discovery the stories behind the objects. For children aged 2–9.

Family