LibraryofBirmingham

Opening Hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 9pm Sat: 11am - 5pm Sun: closed.

[LibraryofBirmingham @LibraryofBham]

What’s on June! Free events and activities at the Library of Birmingham 📚🪐

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#BirminghamLibraries 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 @LibraryofBham @LibrarySheldon

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#Pride2026 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 @LibraryofBham @BirminghamPride @birminghamlgbt

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#SundayShowcase today is World Football Club Crests. An illustrated book looking at the design, meaning and symbolism of football club badges by Leonard Jägerskiöld Nilsson. Ref - 929.804 @LibraryofBham @LeonardJN @FIFAWorldCup

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

The Aliens Register – or Returns of Certificates of Naturalisation (1868 – 1916) is located in the Heritage Research Area. Find out more on our blog, here: https://t.co/ggHDT9YmWE @LibraryofBham

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

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 @LibraryofBham @TownJnrSchool @FOLIOsutcol

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#MapOnATuesday 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 @LibraryofBham

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#CityOf1000Trades Chaucer Head Bookshop was founded in 1830 by John Cadby. William Downing born in Birmingham in 1844 succeeded Cadby in 1870. Our archive holds a collection for Downing - MS 1366. Ref: L 50.1 D/2 @LibraryofBham

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#BirminghamHistory the Birmingham Cinderella Club formed in 1893 took poor children on outings and provided entertainment. In 1898 over 600 children were taken to Sutton Park. Ref: WK/B11/441 @LibraryofBham

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#BirminghamLibrary The Birmingham War Poetry Collection was donated to the library in 1921 by William Cross of Rubery: https://t.co/J2JSLOudI4 Ref: L 53.31 @LibraryofBham

[Library of Birmingham Reader Services @BhamLibReader]

The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) hosts National Crime Reading Month every June in partnership with The Reading Agency. We have set up a display on the Upper Terrace, Foyer, featuring a curated selection of books available to borrow.
@LibraryofBham #TheReadingAgency

[Library of Birmingham Reader Services @BhamLibReader]

June marks Pride Month, and we have a new display featuring books available for borrowing.

@LibraryofBham #PrideMonth2026

[Birmingham Mobile Library Service @bhammobilelib]

This Saturday we will be out at our usual monthly stops in our smaller replacement van. Still plenty of books onboard to borrow! @LibraryofBham @BhamCityCouncil

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#PhotoFriday is the Midland Red bus station opened in 1963 as part of the new Bull Ring development. The station never fared well and was closed in 1999. Ref - WK/B11/5924 @LibraryofBham @Brumpic

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

We’re sorry to hear of the imminent closure of the House of Fraser. Here’s a trip back to the glory days of the Rackhams Food Hall in a brochure from 1966. Ref – L 62.31 @LibraryofBham @houseoffraser

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

It’s 100 years since the first Birmingham School of Printing publication under the direction of typographer and printer, Leonard Jay. Kathyrn, one of our Archivists looks further: https://t.co/WCdj0uTQJS Ref: E 094/BIR/1927 @LibraryofBham @unibirmingham

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#MapOnATuesday is this March 1913 plan of Reddicap Hill, Home Wood and New Hall Farm #SuttonColdfield. Surveyed by Richard Fowler and Son. Ref: MS 20/434 @LibraryofBham @FOLIOsutcol

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#SundayShowcase is A History of the World in 47 Borders by Jonn Elledge. Those inconsequential lines can mask years of conflict, political identity, hubris & foolishness. This book explains why our world looks the way it does. Ref: 526.09 HRA Map Area @LibraryofBham @jonnelledge

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#CityOf1000Trades: An illustration of John Rubery's Charlotte St premises. The firm made umbrellas, parasols, furniture & steel frames. John inherited the firm from his late father, Jeremiah and his mother, Frances. Ref: New Illustrated Directory, LF 06 @LibraryofBham

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

Howdy 🤠 - for today's #PhotoFriday, we bring you a little slice of old Americana courtesy of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. The location is New Street and was taken between 1900 - 1903. Yee - Haw! Ref - MS 4623 @LibraryofBham @Brumpic

[Birmingham Archives & Collections @TheIronRoom]

#LocalHistoryMonth - let’s think about place and street names and what they tell us about the development of a location. Books including Carl Chinn’s Streets of Brum and Joe McKenna’s Birmingham Place Names to help you on your way. Reference – BCOL 89.1 @LibraryofBham @histassoc