British Library - Access restored to more of our collection

 

Collection update

Access more of our collection You can now consult 100% of our printed collection, as it was prior to the cyber-attack last October, with access to our hard copy newspapers now restored. If you’re not sure where to start, you can use new guides to our collection on our website. The past month has seen a number of interim systems launched to help improve your research with us. You can read more about this, and what’s next in our recovery, in this blog from our CEO, Sir Roly Keating.

View 1,000 digitised manuscripts We’ve now released 1,000 of our digitised manuscripts, which can be viewed from wherever you are. Manuscripts include the Sherborne Missal, My Ladye Nevells Booke, and Octateuch, Four Gospels and Synodicon.   Restoring access to these manuscripts has been a long process as we needed to check all the files to make sure they are safe to use. We’ve prioritised giving you access to the first 1,000 manuscripts as soon as we could. For now, you’ll need to search our webpage to find the manuscript you need – not everything is available yet, and we’ll be adding more as soon as we can.   Search the manuscripts

Consult hard copy newspapers We’ve restored access to our hard copy newspaper collection, which you can now 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. And if you want to know more about what’s in our news collection, you can read our new guide. Find out more

Request collection items online You can now request collection items before you visit our Reading Rooms. Search our catalogue for what you need and complete the online form. To request while you’re in the Reading Rooms you should use the form on your own device. Search the catalogue 10 years of Qatar Digital Library This month we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of Qatar Digital Library. Over the last decade, we’ve worked with Qatar National Library to digitise over 2.4 million images from our collection, alongside bilingual catalogues and expert articles. From maps and manuscripts to sound recordings and photographs, including India Office Records, Qatar Digital Library is an unparalleled insight into the culture and history of the Gulf region. And it’s all free for you to explore online. Discover the archive Doctoral Open Day: Getting Started at the Library Free online webinar Monday 28 October Spaces are still available for this introduction to researching with the Library. For PhD researchers of all disciplines and subjects, the session will include an overview of our extensive collection and practical tips about using the catalogue and navigating digital resources. In person Doctoral Open Days will be taking place in 2025 on a variety of specific collection areas. Book now

Enjoy learning and feel inspired by our collection? Treat yourself to one of our adult courses Old English Masterclass In person course Saturday 30 November – Sunday 1 December   Join our introduction to Old English and encounter the language of the Anglo-Saxons on this two day course for beginners. Over the weekend you’ll gain an understanding of the journey of the English language and explore the perils and pleasures of studying a dead language which only survives in a limited number of manuscripts. Book now Illumination Masterclass In person course Saturday 16 November Join renowned scribe and illuminator Patricia Lovett MBE on this one-day beginners course and create your own medieval miniature on vellum. Choose your own animal from a selection from mediæval bestiaries and learn the skills and techniques to bring it to life with colour and gold. Book now

British Library - Our latest courses to inspire creativity

 

Discover new skills this autumn Join us this autumn as we step back in time and explore literature, art and music as forms of expression throughout history. Courses at the Library Courses online See all our courses Ancient Emotions in the Modern World At the Library Discover the ancient source of our modern emotions in this six-week course inspired by our exhibition Alexander the Great: The Making of a Myth. We will explore classical works to consider how these concepts have endured over time. Book now Beginners Greek Masterclass At the Library Meanwhile this two-day course will help you explore the basics of the Greek language, mastering its alphabet, grammar and syntax while also gaining an understanding of its cultural context. Book now Heroic Portraits Masterclass At the Library By the end of this one-day course, you will have learnt the fundamentals of portraiture, explored the notion of myth making through images and created your own heroic self-portrait. Book now Intermediate Old English Online Deepen your understanding of Old English literature with this two-week intermediate course, gaining the knowledge and confidence to examine the manuscripts in which these ancient works survive. Book now 19th-century Song Online Whether you are a composer or a music lover, explore the history of art songs in the 19th century as we use our sound archive to discover the songs of Franz Schubert and trace the growing popularity of art song in Austria, Germany and England. Book now Writing Historical Fiction Online Looking to improve your writing skills? Hear from esteemed historical fiction writers, such as Kate Morrison and Yvonne Battle-Felton, before practising your own writing and receiving practical tips and peer feedback. Book now

Exhibition now open Are you familiar with Alexander the Great’s story? Can you tell fact from fiction? Dive deeper into his world of myths and magic with our latest exhibition and related events. Find out more