British Library

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Channel · 3 Shows

Books

Books

Updated 05/30/2022
Books

Books

Updated 05/30/2022
Books

Books

Updated 03/27/2023

03/17/2020

Uncovering mysteries and secrets

Hear how a Librarian solved a 33 year cold case, why the British Library is currently researching some mysterious toilet paper and how a library in Manchester is helping it's patrons uncover the secrets of their own past.
05/28/2020

Libraries under lockdown

Amid the pandemic, we hear from the British Library team ensuring crucial documents are delivered to public health services, a library that has exchanged books for food parcels, and a bridal studio, supported by our Business and IP Centre, who pivoted to ‘something new’ when the crisis hit.
12/19/2019 · Bonus

Joining the library: Blindboy

‘He was writing in the way that I speak. He was talking about country roads that I know….it was me.’ Author and podcaster Blindboy tells us about the writing that made him: The Third Policeman (written in 1939 and published in 1967) by Brian O'Nolan, writing under the pseudonym Flann O'Brien. Contains plot spoilers and some profanity.
05/18/2021

The Accidental Technologists

Too often, men design the technology that shapes our world but in this episode we’re getting excited about the feminist possibilities of tech. British Library Curator Polly Russell is joined by Alice Wroe, an Augmented and Virtual Realities Lead at the Atlantic Institute. Together, they’re exploring the diversity issues in the industry and hearing from women who’re working to disrupt the scene. Judy Wajcman, a Fellow at The Alan Turing Institute, looks backwards to explain why from the 80s onwards women in the UK became less involved in this field. Looking to the future, we’re donning Virtual Reality headsets as artist and VR creator Deepa Mann-Kler takes us through some of her alternative projects. Co-Founder of non-profit organisation Feminist Internet Dr Charlotte Webb explores how feminist chatbots can change the ways tech can converse with us. And the self-proclaimed ‘accidental technologist’ Stephanie Dinkins will be questioning how technology can care for us in the future… Unfinished Business podcast series is generously supported by Joanna and Graham Barker and The Eccles Centre for American Studies. A Pixiu Production.
03/27/2023

Truth with Vanessa Kisuule

Why is poetry such a powerful lens for exploring truth? From personal truths to shedding light on topics society would rather overlook, performed poetry in particular, has a special ability to communicate experiences and emotions in incredible shorthand. In this episode Lemn Sissay is joined by award-winning writer and performer Vanessa Kisuule to explore this potency. Together they listen to interviews and poetry readings from the British Library Sound Archive, featuring Indigo Williams, Anthony Joseph and David J – as well as discussing parallels in Vanessa’s own work. Vanessa Kisuule’s poem Hollow went viral in the days after a statue of slave-trader Edward Colston was toppled into Bristol Harbour by protesters in 2020. At the time she was Poet Laureate of Bristol (2018-2020) and has also been the official poet for Glastonbury festival. She has published two collections and won more than ten poetry slam titles. Recordings in the episode in order of appearance: Vanessa Kisuule performing her poem 'Hollow' as originally released on Twitter. Link: https://twitter.com/Vanessa_Kisuule/status/1270011146544783361 Indigo Williams on the importance of poetry as a tool to process emotions and stay 'mentally healthy' – with excerpts from her poem 'The Organist', recorded in 2014 by Hannah Silva in the British Library recording studio. British Library shelfmark: C1874/3 Lemn Sissay in performance at the National Poetry Centre, London in 1990 and digitised as part of the Unlocking our Sound Heritage (UOSH) project. British Library shelfmark: C15/440 Anthony Joseph on the act of reading a poem out loud in order to access 'the collective language' as part of the writing process – with excerpts from his poem 'The Art of Ageing', recorded in 2014 by Hannah Silva in the British Library recording studio. British Library shelfmark: C1874/1 David J, Vocal Pugilist, demonstrating and explaining the origins of his unique sound poetry style, recorded in 2016 by Hannah Silva in the British Library recording studio. British Library shelfmark: C1874/15 James Berry performing 'New Reading, Like Rebellion' recorded at the 1983 Angels of Fire Poetry Festival at the Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone, London. British Library shelfmark: C104/6 You can now listen to original recordings from this series, and thousands more, at http://sounds.bl.uk
12/11/2020

"A Scar In Our Society"

We’re living in what some have called an epidemic of domestic abuse in the UK. It’s sadly a large part of the ongoing struggle for women’s rights, justice and the ability to live a life free of the threat of violence. In this episode, British Library curator Polly Russell is joined by bestselling author and Women’s Aid Ambassador Holly Bourne to explore why it happens, how it can affect anyone, what is being done to improve the situation, and what still needs to change. They’re hearing from survivors as well as Pragna Patel, a woman who’s worked to change the landscape over the last 40 years. Pragna is the Director of Southall Black Sisters, an organisation which has been highlighting and challenging all forms of gender-related violence against women since 1979. If you’d like any support or advice on anything in this episode visit womensaid.org.uk or southallblacksistsers.org.uk Unfinished Business podcast series is generously supported by Joanna and Graham Barker and The Eccles Centre for American Studies.
05/23/2019

The library is open

‘The freedom to dream. That’s the most beautiful thing about a library. No matter who you are, there’s a book for you.’ We take a look at a world-famous document that’s a powerful symbol of liberty, hear how the prison library at HMP Nottingham is working with those who’ve lost their freedom, and travel to Nepal where a library in a remote village is helping women vulnerable to human trafficking.
10/24/2019 · Bonus

Joining the library: Billy Childish

Punk painter and writer Billy Childish discusses the writing that made him: Lust for Life by Irving Stone (1934).
09/26/2019 · Bonus

Joining the library: Simon Doonan

‘I defy you not to get lost in it.’ Writer, Creative Ambassador and editor, Simon Doonan, tells us about his love of The Flight from the Enchanter by Iris Murdoch (1956).
10/23/2020

The Politics of Pleasure

Does pleasure exist outside of politics? Can we have feminist sex? And how has the online realm affected young people’s views on the subject? Professor Amia Srinivasan, a philosopher at The University of Oxford, is delving into these thorny questions with British Library curator Polly Russell. They’re laying things bare with Laurie Nunn, the creator of TV drama Sex Education, examining some unusual objects from the past with historian Zoe Strimpel and heading to a school to hear from a group of 16 year old students. Unfinished Business podcast series is generously supported by Joanna and Graham Barker and The Eccles Centre for American Studies. A Pixiu Production.

Podcasts from the British Library.