2010 Press Releases
Subscribe to our press releases RSS feed using your feed reader
British Library to share millions of catalogue records
August 23
Free access offered to bibliographic data to help advance research
British Library receives London Green 500 "Platinum" Award 2010
August 23
Energy efficiency programme receives accolade as part of Mayor of London's green initiatives
Evolving English: One Language, Many Voices
August 18
Evolving English: One Language, Many Voices (12 November 2010 - 3 April 2011) is the first ever exhibition exploring the English language from Anglo-Saxon runes to modern day rap. Driven by developments in religion, politics, technology, economics and culture, English today is spoken by...
Capturing the sounds of the UK
August 18
Following a successful regional trial in Sheffield, the British Library is launching an interactive survey, UK SoundMap, to cover the whole of the United Kingdom. The survey will map and preserve the sounds of the acoustic landscape (‘soundscape’) for the future.
Europe lays Foundation for preserving digital heritage - www.openplanetsfoundation.org
August 09
Covering everything from medical records to family photos, current estimates suggest that there are already exists over 100Gb of data for every individual person on the planet. With data creation set to double every 18 months, failure to adequately address the challenge of preserving this material...
British Library research uncovers UK's most innovative region
August 04
In celebration of British ingenuity, "Inventing the 21st Century" will uncover the stories behind 15 of the most groundbreaking British inventions from this century’s first decade and highlight the role of innovation in driving economic recovery.
British Library, British Museum and V&A announce future plans with Indian Partner Institutions
July 30
Building on the Memorandum of Understanding signed on 9 June between the Indian Ministry of Culture (on behalf of Indian Cultural Institutions) and the British Library, the British Museum and the V&A, the Director of each of the three UK institutions has outlined their respective plans with Indian partner institutions. The announcements were made as part of the Prime Minister’s visit to India.
The Value of Knowledge
July 28
From Henry VIII to archiving the web – the British Library Annual Report 2009/10 reveals how the Library makes a vital contribution to the UK’s knowledge economy
Table talk that packs a Punch!
July 23
One of the enduring images of journalists ‘hard at work’ over a substantial meal followed by champagne and cigars has filtered down to us from Punch magazine in the mid-19th century, when weekly dinners around the famous Punch table were a focal point of discussion, debate, gossip...
Driving UK Research - Is copyright a help or a hindrance?
July 22
Released today (22 July) a new report from the research community, compiled by the British Library, looks at the UK’s existing intellectual property framework – reflecting the challenges researchers face on a daily basis and highlighting a consensus across all sectors on the need for reform to meet the...
Emerging findings from 'Researchers of Tomorrow' Study
July 21
First annual report of major three-year study of doctoral researchers shows substantial overlap between information-seeking habits of Generation Y and older students – challenging initial...
Capturing the sounds of Sheffield
July 13
The British Library is initiating an interactive survey, UK SoundMap, launching as a regional trial in Sheffield. The survey will map the sounds of the acoustic landscape (‘soundscape’) and preserve the sounds of 2010 for the future.
Last chance to nominate top management books
July 12
UK authors and publishers have just three weeks left to enter books into the inaugural Management Book of the Year competition to be in with a chance to win a £5,000 prize and the coveted title.
British Library wins Nominent Internet Award
July 08
The British Library has been awarded the 'opening the world of knowledge' award for Timelines: Sources from History (www.bl.uk/timeline) by the Nominet Internet Awards.
Growing Knowledge - The Evolution of Research
July 08
British Library’s new Researcher in Residence, Aleks Krotoski, launches exhibition exploring the technologies, content and spaces that will transform research in the 21st century
Selima Hill wins the Michael Marks Awards for Poetry Pamphlets with Advice on Wearing Animal Prints
June 16
Poet Selima Hill has won the Michael Marks Awards for Poetry Pamphlets with Advice on Wearing Animal Prints (Flarestack Poets), for the publishing year 2009.
Science is the Universal Language - WorldWideScience.orgBETA
June 10
World Wide Science Alliance broadens access to global research with the launch of a new multilingual tool, enabling scientists to simultaneously search and translate over 400 million pages of scientific research published in 65 countries from around the world.
Archive of J G Ballard saved for the nation
June 10
The archive of J G Ballard, one of the most visionary British writers of the twentieth century, has been acquired by the nation through the Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) scheme and allocated to the British Library.
British Library unrolls Henry VIII's pious past
June 02
The British Library has acquired a unique medieval prayer roll that once belonged to Henry VIII and contains one of only three surviving examples of his handwriting from before his accession in 1509.
A window into the Medieval World
June 02
Are you inspired by the powerful symbolism of the Angel of the North? Does the speed of construction of the 2012 Olympic stadiums leave you in awe?
IMPACT widens European scope
May 25
The European research project IMPACT (Improving Access to Text) has recently entered its second phase by taking up eleven new partners from Southern and Eastern Europe into the consortium.
Online boost for Islamic Studies
May 21
Researchers and librarians working in Islamic Studies will now for the first time have online access to nearly 1000 Ph.D theses in the subject, spanning over ten years. JISC, The Academy and The British Library have combined their resources to bring together Islamic Studies theses from universities...
Data DNA key to preventing 'Digital Memory Loss'
May 20
16 of Europe’s top Libraries, Archives, Universities and Technology Institutions collaborate to map the ‘Digital Genome’ – preserving the electronic building blocks required to unlock our digital heritage.
Viva la Libertad! Spanish American Independence Movements: 1810 - 1860
May 20
Discover the history of Spanish America's revolutionary road to independence at a new British Library exhibition from 24 May to 20 August 2010.
British Library and brightsolid partnership to digitise up to 40 million pages of historic newspapers
May 19
The British Library's Chief Executive, Dame Lynne Brindley, will today announce a major new partnership between the Library and online publisher brightsolid, owner of online brands including findmypast.co.uk and Friends Reunited.
British Library wins Oscar of the Museums World
May 13
The British Library has been awarded the Innovation Award for Timelines: Sources from History (www.bl.uk/timeline) by the 2010 Museums & Heritage Awards.
The art of poetry - a compact universe in a pamphlet
May 12
The British Library today (12 May 2010) announces the shortlist for the Michael Marks Awards for Poetry Pamphlets in partnership with the Poetry Book Society and with the generous support of the Michael Marks Charitable Trust.
Events Programme for Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art
April 29
30 April – 19 September 2010
www.bl.uk/whatson
Saint Botolph's Review: 'an overture to the night and the party' where Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath first met
April 14
The British Library has acquired an annotated edition of Saint Botolph’s Review from the widow of the former Poet Laureate, Ted Hughes, one of its creators, thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the British Library.
Birdsong under the acoustic microscope
April 12
The British Library has launched a new CD that puts birdsong under the acoustic microscope, revealing the hidden detail of some of the natural world's most impressive songs.
'A craftsman with the imagination of a novelist'
April 06
British Library acquires Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast notebooks, Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass illustrations and personal correspondence.
Historic photographs to go on display in Kabul
April 01
An important touring exhibition of historic images of Afghanistan opens on 24 April 2010 in the Queen's Palace in Baghe Babur, Kabul.
March 30
The British Library has acquired a previously unknown journal of British naval pioneer, Sir John Narbrough, thanks to a £200,000 grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) and the generous support of Dr Bernard H Breslauer, the Gosling Foundation and other individual donors.
Extra! Extra! British Library adds extra 1 million pages to online newspaper resource…
March 29
The British Library’s 19th Century Newspapers project, developed in partnership with JISC and Gale, part of Cengage Learning, offers researchers greatly enhanced access to a vast archive of socially...
Book Makers: British Publishing in the Twentieth Century
March 22
On 22 March, the British Library publishes a new book that examines the lively history of British publishing over the Twentieth Century.
South Asian research opportunities boosted by British Library and AHRC
March 18
Significant partnership launched by leading research institutions to encourage growth of South Asian studies.
Major competition launched to find UK's best management writers
March 04
A nationwide search began today to find the UK's best management books with the launch of the inaugural Management Book of the Year competition.
British Library Joins Campaign to Get British Business Online
February 25
Initiative designed to help London's SMEs create their first websites easily and for free.
Digital afterlife for UK websites...
February 25
British Library's officially launches the UK Web Archive, offering access in perpetuity to thousands of UK websites for generations of researchers...
Subscribe to our press releases RSS feed using your feed reader
Chopin: The Romantic Refugee
February 23
British Library sheds new light on the life of Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin from Poland to Britain in a new exhibition to mark the 200th anniversary of his birth.
Re-Kindle your love of forgotten 19th century classics
February 23
Historic new deal by the British Library and Amazon to make 65,000 largely out-of-print 19th Century titles available on Amazon via CreateSpace's Print on-Demand...
An Oral History of British Science
February 23
The voices, memories and experiences of hundreds of British scientists are being captured by a major new initiative at the British Library.
British Library Business & IP Centre helps enterprising Londoners increase turnover by £32 million
February 18
Launched today, a new report – 'Supporting Economic Growth 2007 - 2009' – reveals the British Library Business & IP Centre's outstanding success in providing the capital's aspiring entrepreneurs with both the inspiration and confidence to take on the economic downturn.
Find Alice in British Library Wonderland
February 12
The British Library, home to the original manuscript of Alice's Adventures Under Ground, and Disney team up to host a very special evening for the public.
Poetry Pamphlets: The Staple Diet You Can Devour Between Meals
February 04
The British Library presents the second year of The Michael Marks Awards for Poetry Pamphlets, in partnership with the Poetry Book Society and with the generous support of the Michael Marks Charitable Trust.
National institutions call for removal of major barrier to mass digitisation
February 03
Proposed amendments to the Orphan Works Clause 42 (works with no known owner) of the Digital Economy Bill will pose one of the greatest barriers to mass digitisation of content by the UK’s leading national institutions.
Digital Exploration from Pole to pixel
February 03
Digital versions of legendary British polar explorer Captain Scott’s last three diaries launched online by the British Library...
First virtual history timeline opens up new world for students and teachers
January 28
New interactive history timeline developed by British Library allows students and teachers to explore collection items chronologically for the first time.
Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art
January 26
100 greatest maps in the world to go on display in the British Library's major summer exhibition...
Preserving our digital heritage
January 22
Digital Preservation Coalition and British Library Preservation Advisory Centre join forces to build digital preservation skills
Secretary of State's behind-the-scenes look at the Library
January 22
Ben Bradshaw MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, tours state-of-the-art digitisation facility at the British Library at Boston Spa
A vision for the academic library and information services of the future
January 22
Exploring the challenges faced by higher education, libraries and information services to facilitate strategic planning.
Growth in UK's postgraduate sector driven by overseas students
January 20
Major study of UK postgraduate landscape focuses on the dominant shifts in trends of postgraduate education since 2004.
A call for joined-up services to help businesses out of recession
January 19
Sharing business information more effectively, particularly through colleges, universities and major reference libraries, could help recession-hit companies out of crisis and stimulate innovation, according to a JISC report undertaken by the British Library Research Service.
British Library investigates world's hunger for science
January 15
'GM Crops and Food Security: Curing the World's Growing Pains'
21 January 2010, 18:00 – 20:30 – British Library, 96 Euston Road, London.
Cambridge Imaging Systems help build British Library Moving Image Archive
January 15
A highly prestigious contract to supply the British Library with an advanced digital archive management system, known as Box of Broadcasts or simply ‘BoB', has been secured by Cambridge Imaging Systems.
Full speed ahead for UKRR as membership doubles
January 12
The UK Research Reserve (UKRR – www.ukrr.ac.uk) is pleased to welcome 14 new Higher Education Institutions as members, taking its final membership to 29.
Innovative new web interface improves access to UK's largest free online life sciences resource http://beta.ukpmc.ac.uk
January 11
Helping researchers access and exploit over 1.7 million full-text, peer reviewed biomedical research articles and over 19 million other life science research papers, on 12 January the British Library will showcase a whole range of new search and data mining tools designed to unlock the scientific knowledge held by UK PubMed Central.
'Lost in translation' - Tracing the impact of cancer research from discovery to public policy
January 08
The British Library and the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) host half day conference for stakeholders from across the research spectrum to assess the challenges in translating research findings into clinical practice.