The Library of Birmingham

14/06/2026

Birmingham’s Richard Prosser (1804–1854) was one of the most inventive engineers of the 19th century. Susan Darby investigates this forgotten figure from industrial intrigue in Birmingham to the Great Exhibition and the American Civil War. Ref: L78.1 PRO The Library of Birmingham

13/06/2026

is this 1819 poster for the auctioneers and estate surveyors Chesshire, Gibson & Company first established in Birmingham in 1784. Ref - LP 62.32 The Library of Birmingham

12/06/2026

is the Parks department floral sculptural tribute to World Cup 1966 in Victoria Square with Galloway’s Corner in the background. Ref - Victoria Square 66 The Library of Birmingham FIFA World Cup

11/06/2026

We were pleased to hear Sheldon Library recently celebrated its 70th birthday after opening in May 1956. Here’s a photo from a quieter time. Ref - MS 4341 : Branch Libraries O – Z The Library of Birmingham Sheldon Library

10/06/2026

Schools in Birmingham have submitted artworks inspired by the idea of 'Courage' - the theme of this year's Refugee Week.

10/06/2026

Today, our new research shows that children and young people's enjoyment of reading has risen for the first time in five years!

More than a third (36.1%) of children and young people aged 8 to 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time, and 1 in 5 (20.3%) said they read daily in their free time.

And our work in communities like Birmingham is making a difference. Children in the schools where we work most intensively were 15% more likely to enjoy reading in their free time and 34% more likely to enjoy reading at school, compared to their peers across England.

Despite these gains, children’s levels of daily reading and reading enjoyment across the UK are still low. With your support we can keep this momentum going and help more children in Birmingham develop the literacy skills they need to thrive.

Find out more about the research: https://literacytrust.org.uk/news/our-latest-research-shows-modest-rise-in-childrens-reading-engagement-but-levels-remain-low/

10/06/2026

The Jester at 42 Holloway Circus. Opened in 1964, the venue was popular with the LGBT+ community from the mid-1970s through to the 90s. The venue closed in 2019. Ref – WK/B11/9358 The Library of Birmingham Birmingham Pride Birmingham LGBT

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

is John Kempson’s map of the town and parish of Birmingham shewing the boundaries as perambulated by the Commissioners of the Street Acts in 1810. Ref. - MAP/14009 The Library of Birmingham

08/06/2026

We’re still busy accessioning the Sutton archive. Miss May Henry’s collection includes a fuzzy felt tableau of the history of the town. May Henry was the former head of the Town County primary school The Library of Birmingham FOLIOSuttonColdfield