Face of Library of Birmingham, Carol Pemberton, interviewed by BBC UK black

Carol Pemberton, one of the Faces of the Library of Birmingham, is the founder of the UK’s leading female a capella quintet, Black Voices. This year, Black Voices celebrate their 25th anniversary, and Carol was interviewed by Karen Gabay from BBC Manchester’s The People on November 24. They discussed the success of the group, their read more »

Changes at Birmingham Central Library announced

Changes at Birmingham Central Library announced as final stages of preparations for move to Library of Birmingham get under way With just 10 months to go until the opening of the £188.8 million Library of Birmingham on Tuesday 3 September 2013, the third phase of changes to the services at Central Library have been announced read more »

Creative England and the Library of Birmingham announce today an investment programme for digital innovators to deliver new products and services for the UK’s first truly 21st century library

In advance of its opening in September 2013, the Library of Birmingham and Creative England have joined forces to invest in digital solutions to help deliver what will be the UK’s first truly “21st century library”. From today Creative Sector SMEs are invited to apply for support through the Regional Growth Fund*.  Those wishing to read more »

Birmingham Book Festival Talk – 9 October 2012

The Birmingham Book Festival is a Writing West Midlands project, which ran from 4 – 13 October. The aim of the Festival was to promote excellent writing, and events included conversations, book readings, book launches, performances, poetry slams, quizzes, writing workshops, reading days and much more. From 2013, the Birmingham Book Festival will partner with read more »

Birmingham Library’s photography collections

Birmingham Library is loaning two sets of important photographs from its nationally and internationally significant collections to a major exhibition in Birmingham’s Sister City of Guangzhou. The exhibition, The Unseen, to be shown at the Guangdong Museum of Art, forms part of the Guangzhou Triennial Festival. The Fourth Guangzhou Triennial, one of the biggest art read more »

Faces take tour of construction site

Yesterday the Faces of the Library of Birmingham met with deputy leader of Birmingham City Council Ian Ward and were given an exclusive tour of the inside of the building site by contractor Carillion. The Faces saw for themselves how work has been progressing on some of the Library’s most striking  features, including the impressive read more »

The Library of Lost Books

If you love books and libraries and art (and we think you do!) you might be interested in a fascinating new project called The Library of Lost Books. The Library of Lost Books is a collection of old, discarded and damaged library books which we have rescued from certain death-by-pulping…because life is pretty hard for read more »

Birmingham and the Olympics

The final countdown has begun! The Games of the XXX Olympiad will begin in London next week and although the bulk of the Olympic events will take place down south, Birmingham and the Midlands will still play a large part in their success.  This also includes a staff member from Library of Birmingham!  Paramjit Hans,  read more »

Young Readers Festival Fun!

Our Young Readers Festival is in full swing. It kicked off last Saturday when I saw Cressida Cowell, the author of the ‘How to train your Dragon’ books, featuring Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III the awesome sword-fighter, dragon-whisperer and the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. It was great fun and I even learned how to read more »

Exploring our collections – the Diamond Jubilee 1st time around.

Birmingham Libraries are currently gearing up for events to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, with a Right Royal Family Fun Day at Centre for the Child on Saturday 2nd June and the Jubilee Book Bash at Aston Hall on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th June.  Would Queen Victoria have been amused?  I’m read more »