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History of Libraries

@histlibraries.bsky.social
146 followers 191 following 9 posts

History of Libraries Research Seminar, University of London. Open to all. Sponsored by the Institute of English Studies, Institute of Historical Research, Warburg Institute, and CILIP Library & Information History Group.

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History of Libraries @histlibraries.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Join us online or in person on Tuesday 6 October 5.30pm BST @warburginstitute.bsky.social. Alex Laar's topic is A ‘Revolutionary’ at Lincoln College, Oxford? The seventeenth-century Arminian library of Gilbert Watts (d.1657). Info: bit.ly/ArminianLibr.... Image: bookowners.online/Gilbert_Watts
Armorial stamp of Gilbert Watts.
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Marsh's Library @marshslibrary.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Wednesdays in the Archive📜 In 1918, Marsh's Library paid £1 17s 6d to repair bullet holes in the doors of the old reading room. Other bullet holes in the books and bookcases were not repaired and can still be seen today. Look out for them when you visit the library!
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Sue Wilkes @suewilkesauthor.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Llanrwst library books overdue by 116 years returned in 'excellent condition'
Peter O'Sullivan found the books among his late grandfather's belongings and said returning them was "the right thing to do".
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Maryland State Library Agency @mdstatelibrary.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
📚 Throwback to BCPL in 1969 and 1971! These photos highlight library history across the county—from a New Year’s Eve celebration at Randallstown, to the new Catonsville Branch information desk, to opening day at the Parkville Branch.
Black-and-white photo of two people standing among stacks of books in front of library shelves.Black-and-white photo of the library's information desk with staff assisting patrons.Black-and-white photo of a busy library circulation desk with staff and patrons.Black-and-white photo of a library room filled with hundreds of sponsor-logo balloons for opening day.
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Laura Cleaver @laurajcleaver.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
#BookHistory #LibraryHistory
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Cambridge UL Special Collections @theulspeccoll.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
An exciting project to catalogue Charles #Darwin's personal library is underway! Learn about it in our latest blog: specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=32108
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American Libraries magazine @amlibraries.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Over the past 150 years, librarianship has consistently evolved to continue meeting user needs. Review some of the most important moments that redefined librarianship in our May feature. #ALA150 americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2026/…
americanlibrariesmagazine.org
55 Moments That Redefined Librarianship | American Libraries Magazine
To celebrate 150 years of ALA, a timeline of events that changed librarianship since the Association's 1876 founding.
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History of Libraries @histlibraries.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Join us online or in person for our seminar on Tuesday 2 June 5.30pm BST @warburginstitute.bsky.social. @ellenwerner.bsky.social's topic is 'Early modern cultures of reading in North West England' using case studies from Manchester's @chethamslibrary.bsky.social. Info: bit.ly/ReadingInNor....
Historic book stacks at Chetham's Library, Manchester.
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The Victorian Society @thevicsoc.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
Top Ten Endangered Buildings 2026 Former Library and Mechanics Institute, Devonport Grade II, A, Norman, 1843-44 Read more: bit.ly/3P47tkd Photo: The Victorian Society #TopTen26 #endangeredbuildings #listedbuildings #heritage #architecture #SouthWest #Devon #Plymouth #Devonport
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libraryhistoryrt.bsky.social @libraryhistoryrt.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Webinar–The Library of Saint Augustine: Between History and Legend [Institute of English Studies | School of Advanced Study University of London] This looks to be a fascinating lecture!: "Over this longue durée, the goal is to shed light on the representations—and, at times, the fantasies—that the…
lhrt.news
Webinar–The Library of Saint Augustine: Between History and Legend [Institute of English Studies | School of Advanced Study University of London]
This looks to be a fascinating lecture!: "Over this longue durée, the goal is to shed light on the representations—and, at times, the fantasies—that the memory of a lost library can inspire, using the example of the ‘ideal library’ of one of the greatest thinkers and guiding figures of the Western intellectual tradition." Get the full details at
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History of Libraries @histlibraries.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Join us online for our next seminar on Tuesday 5 May 5.30pm BST. Jérémy Delmulle’s topic is The Library of Saint Augustine: Between History and Legend. All welcome. Information & booking: bit.ly/LibraryOfSai.... Image: The Trustees of the British Museum: www.britishmuseum.org/collection/i...
Woodcut of St Augustine of Hippo in bishop's garb, holding a book on which a heart pierced by an arrow is resting; the Christ Child holding a spoon; with leaf ornaments against black ground in upper corners; illustration to an unidentified publication. Date of production: 1490-1520.
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Hugh Jones @hbsj.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Here's a #HigherEducationPostcard of @liverpooluni.bsky.social This is one of a series of fundraising postcards produced in the 1920s, showing the campus as it was, and as they hoped it would become If you like this image, I’d really appreciate a repost - remember, BlueSky has #NoAlgorithm
An old monochrome picture postcard showing a line drawing of a university library. There's an alcove with bookshelves and a card index, behind which a young scholarly man is seated at a desk, reading. Above on a mezzanine atrium more bookshelves, with a gallery

Tagging @livunilibrary.bsky.social
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American Library Association @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
"Librarians We Have Lost," a crowdsourced initiative from ALA's Library History Round Table, seeks to honor the memory, service, and professional contributions of librarians, educators, and library workers over the past 50 years. Read more and learn how you can add a tribute: bit.ly/4uPGc4Y
A black and white photo of Mollie Huston Lee, a Black librarian wearing glasses and looking away from the camera in front of a library bookshelf. Text over photo reads: "Librarians We Have Lost: A crowdsourced initiative honors the memory, service, and professional contributions of librarians, educators, and library workers over the past 50 years." ALA150, American Library Association
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Institute of English Studies @ies-sas.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Join us tracing the legend surrounding the supposed miraculous survival of the library of Hippo to explore the representations — and, at times, the fantasies — that the memory of a lost library can inspire ✨🧚 ⏰ 5 May 2026 📍 Online via Zoom The event is free to attend & open to all BOOK NOW 👇
ies.sas.ac.uk
The Library of Saint Augustine: Between History and Legend
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Simon Briercliffe @simonbriercliffe.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Today has been a big day at @bclivingmuseum.bsky.social - we've just opened the final* building in our big capital project, and it was a big one: a brick-by-brick relocation of Woodside Library from Dudley, set in the glamorous world of 1963. www.expressandstar.com/news/nostalg...
expressandstar.com
New chapter begins for historic Dudley library as Black Country Living Museum brings it back to life
A popular Dudley library is set to bring back memories of childhood books after being moved brick-by-brick and reopened at the region's largest heritage museum.
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The John Rylands Library @thejohnrylands.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Library Catalogues and / as Research Data: the hidden voices of early printed books in the John Rylands Free and online via Teams. Booking essential via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/john-rylands…
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News on Teesside @newsonteesside.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Library book returned more than 60 years late
bbc.com
Library book returned more than 60 years late
The copy of Dogs and Their Management was due back on 8 September 1962, library bosses say.
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British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
We’re delighted to share that A History of the British Museum Library, 1753–1973 by P. R. Harris is now digitised and freely available to all interested in the history of the Museum and librarianship. Find out more here: link.bl.uk/vvx
Author Phil Harris on his retirement with a view of the Round Reading Room of 1857. Photo: BL Corporate Archive, PH 034/342
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History of Libraries @histlibraries.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Join online or in person on Tues 3 March 5.30pm @warburginstitute.bsky.social. Emmeline Ledgerwood's topic is The National Lending Library for Science & Technology & its collection of Russian scientific literature in Cold War Britain: bit.ly/NationalLend.... Image: British Library Corporate Archive
Photo of interior of the National Lending Library for Science and Technology
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Oxford Bibliographical Society @obs1922.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Our next talk! Francesca Galligan on 'Sir Christopher Hatton and his books: reconstructing an Elizabethan library.' How and why do we reconstruct historic libraries? Thurs 12th February, 5:15 pm T.S. Eliot Theatre, Merton College, Oxford (+ online via Zoom - register secretary@oxbibsoc.org.uk)
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The Bibliographical Society @bibsoc.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Happy New Year! For this month’s Council’s Choice, Julia King highlights the Medieval Libraries of Great Britain database, which aims to list every manuscript and printed book associated with an institutional library during the Middle Ages: bibsoc.org.uk/councils-cho...
bibsoc.org.uk
Council’s Choice for January 2026 - Bibliographical Society
Medieval Libraries of Great Britain In the spirit of the renewed year, one renewed Bodleian resource is sure to delight those interested in medieval libraries: the newly re-released Medieval Libraries...
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History of Libraries @histlibraries.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Wishing everyone a happy Christmas and New Year, from all at the History of Libraries Research Seminar. Image: Brixton Library libraries.lambeth.gov.uk/-/brixton-li...
Brixton Library in the snow.
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Consortium of European Research Libraries (CERL) @cerl-community.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Join us in London on 5 Dec 2025 for CERL’s Seminar at Guildhall Library (guildhalllibrary.bsky.social)! Explore how Europe’s founding library collections continue to shape research today. With support from @abararebooks.bsky.social! Register: secretariat@cerl.org Livestream coming soon!
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History of Libraries @histlibraries.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
All welcome (online & in person) to our seminar on Tuesday 2 December, 5.30pm GMT @warburginstitute.bsky.social. Tracy Cosgriff’s digital humanities topic is 'Reading in a Renaissance Pope’s Library: The Bibliotheca Iulia Instaurata'. More info at: bit.ly/RenaissanceP.... Image: Vatican Museums
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History of Libraries @histlibraries.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
All welcome (online & in person) to our seminar on Tues 4 November, 5.30pm @warburginstitute.bsky.social. Jason McElligott's topic is 'Books for Old Soldiers. The Pensioners' Library at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, 1833-1929'. Info: bit.ly/BooksForOldS.... Image: heritageireland.ie/places-to-vi...
Courtyard of Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
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RCP museum @rcpmuseum.bsky.social · 25/10/2025
Did you know the @rcphysicians.bsky.social lost nearly its entire library in the Great Fire of London? Storyteller Vanessa Woolf @londondreamtime.bsky.social has created a fabulous story all about the library, join us Mon 27 Oct to discover more! Book👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/events #BodyOfKnowledge
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Peter McCullough @mcculloughp.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
Celebrating 50 years since the conversion of one of Oxford's most iconic buildings into one of its most beautiful libraries @lincoln.ox.ac.uk (Yours truly also in the slideshow getting very excited showing things from the historic collection.) lincoln.ox.ac.uk/news/lincoln...
lincoln.ox.ac.uk
Lincoln Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Library | Lincoln College Oxford
Lincoln Library 50th Anniversary
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Matt Shaw @matthewshaw.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Manchester celebrating public libraries - 175 years since the Public Library Act
Public library anniversary exhibition
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Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
New merch alert! 🛍️🎉 Celebrate Guildhall Library's 600th anniversary with our new tote bag and postcard. Tote bag - £5 Postcard - 40p Both are ready for purchase at the Library.
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History of Libraries @histlibraries.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
All welcome (online & in person) to our seminar on Tuesday 7 October, 5.30pm. Sophie Coulombeau will be discussing classicist, author, critic, educator, clergyman & thief Charles Burney (1757-1817). More info here: bit.ly/LibrariesAnd... @sophiecoulombeau.bsky.social @warburginstitute.bsky.social
Book cover: Reading with the Burneys: Patronage, Paratext, and Performance, by Sophie Coulombeau.
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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
The Reading Room at Cambridge University Library in 1934 and 2025. Which era do you prefer? #CambridgeUniversityLibrary #OldPhotos Images: 1. Photograph of the Reading Room in 1934 (Cam.bb.934.7) 2. Photograph of the Reading Room taken in 2025
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Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Please share! Our new FREE exhibition celebrating 600 years since the founding of Guildhall Library is up! Opening Monday! It'll be open Mondays-Thursdays 10-4 as well as Saturday 20th for Open House! Includes the history of the original library, medieval manuscripts and early printed books!
Entrance to the exhibiton featuring a large sign saying Guildhall Library 600A view of the cases and the wall panelsTwo of the display cases holding 14th and 15th century manuscripts and printed books. A selection of the books on display, Top left, modern illuminated manuscript, the Chronicles of France from 1399, a 16th century chained Bible, A tiny 19th century dictionary, John Stow's Survey of London, and the Library's oldest book, an 800 year old Bible! Our only book owned by the original library 600 years ago!
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History of Libraries @histlibraries.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Hello world! We're the History of Libraries Research Seminar, University of London account. Sponsored by the Institute of English Studies, Institute of Historical Research, Warburg Institute, and CILIP Library & Information History Group.
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