Category Archives: Collections

Background Collections Technology

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

November 7, 2012 – 11:23 am

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 »

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Arts Collections

Birmingham Library’s photography collections

September 21, 2012 – 3:52 pm
East Street from Treasury, Canton

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 »

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Collections

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

May 25, 2012 – 1:53 pm
The graphic Queen's Diamond Jubilee Number

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 »

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Collections

Exploring our Collections – Brummies aboard the Titanic

April 12, 2012 – 5:10 pm
sis-whitestarlineadvert-1a

As we prepare for the move to the Library of Birmingham we’re doing lots of work on our collections – preserving, digitising, packing – and in the process we’re finding out lots of fascinating nuggets of information.  For instance, I didn’t know that it was two lovers from Birmingham who inspired the film Titanic.  As read more »

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Arts Collections

Animators challenged to bring life back into Silent Movie music

March 14, 2012 – 10:31 am
silent movies

Animators everywhere are being challenged to bring to life a unique collection of silent movie scores that have been recorded by the City of Birmingham  Symphony Orchestra and form part of Birmingham’s world-class archive and special collections, which will be housed at the new Library of Birmingham (opening 2013). The Silent Movies Animation Challenge is read more »

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Collections

Conservation work on the Parker Collection

December 7, 2011 – 10:16 am
Railway game

Children’s educational games form a small part of a special collection called the ‘Parker Collection of Children’s Books and Games.’   They are named after the donors, Mr and Mrs J. F. Parker from Bewdley who gave them to Birmingham Libraries in the 1950’s.   There are just over 100 items in the collection, mostly Victorian and read more »

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Collections

Archives reveal story of Boulton & Watt’s Soho Mint as steam engine pioneers appear on new £50 note

November 2, 2011 – 9:52 am
Illustration-showing-the-ex

Matthew Boulton and James Watt to appear on new £50 banknote Boulton’s Soho Mint pumped money into 18th century economy Duo’s Soho Mint strikes the first large copper British penny As the new £50 banknote comes in to circulation on 2 November, Birmingham City Council’s Boulton and Watt Collection held at Central Library reveals that, read more »

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