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04/06/2026
To mark the start of Pride Month, we're celebrating some of the writers and books that helped shape q***r literary history.
From Oscar Wilde and Virginia Woolf to Radclyffe Hall and James Baldwin, these voices challenged conventions, expanded representation and helped generations of readers see themselves reflected in literature.
Which book would you add to the list?
12/05/2026
Born on this day in 1820, Florence Nightingale became one of the most influential figures in the history of modern nursing.
Today also marks International Nurses Day, celebrated annually on Nightingale’s birthday in recognition of her lasting impact on healthcare and nursing practice around the world.
Known as “The Lady with the Lamp”, her work transformed hospital sanitation, patient care and the role of nurses in medicine; a legacy that continues to shape healthcare today.
Born on this day in 1926, Sir David Attenborough has spent a lifetime inspiring curiosity about the natural world.
In this recording from the British Library sound archive, he reflects on when that fascination began:
‘It started as long as I can remember…’
Over the years, the Library has had the privilege of working with him across exhibitions, events and sound archive projects; celebrating the power of sound, storytelling and the natural world.
Happy 100th birthday, Sir David.
Audio: David Attenborough interviewed by Elizabeth Brett, Oral History of Recorded Sound, 1984, collection reference C90/31. © British Library.
27/03/2026
Calling all brave heroes, clever creatures and little adventurers 🐉
Fairy Tales opens today! Bringing together beautiful illustrations, interactive displays, and stories from around the world, this magical new family exhibition explores how these iconic tales have enchanted us through time.
Book here: link.bl.uk/FairyTales
This exhibition is supported by Wayland Games Limited.
25/03/2026
We’re celebrating 45 years of the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
Since 1980 they’ve stepped in to protect heritage when it matters most, saving over 1,400 iconic objects, places and landscapes. These heritage treasures form a collection in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK.
In 2024 they helped us to acquire a series of letters from Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the most important English writers and poets of the 19th century. Spanning 1846 to 1860, the letters offer valuable insight into her work, public reception and social networks.
Learn more about this and other recent acquisitions here: link.bl.uk/71f
It’s Aries season ♈
Traditionally linked with courage, determination and the start of something new.
23/03/2026
Writer Storm Jameson's archive reveals fascinating details about the lives and vital role of women workers in munitions factories during World War Two.
Michael St John-McAlister explores some of the newly catalogued material here link.bl.uk/f3a
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