We cover a wide range of subjects and below is a guide to the main themes. To find out more choose the subject area you are interested in.

Poetry Place

We have a Poetry Place which is an area in the library where poetry is collected together, and is dedicated to raising the profile of, and promoting the best of contemporary poetry. The Poetry Places are recognised as centres of excellence by the Poetry Society. We host a Poetry Reading Group once a month which looks at modern published poetry and is a lively discussion forum.

Information is available about poetry competitions. Every month we display published poems from the library book stock to give library users something interesting, thought provoking or simply enjoyable to read. The "Poems in the Lifts" in Central Library were originally launched in 1999 to coincide with National Poetry Day. The Poem of the Month is on display in Arts, Languages and Literature and here on the website. Have a look at the latest Poem of the Month and the Poems in the Lifts and make a suggestion for next month. If you would like to see your own poems displayed on our ‘Your Poems’ display in the Arts Languages and Literature area of the Central Library please hand them in to staff at the enquiry desk when you visit.

In stock we have poetry magazines including titles now out of print showing first publications of seminal modern poets from the 60's 70's and earlier. We have put together a list of current poetry magazines in the Midlands. Also the War Poetry Collection, one of the largest of its kind is well worth looking at. We subscribe to The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry which allows you to search for poems by author, title, first line, subject and keywords.

Starting Point

The aim of the Starting Point Collection is to provide material at an introductory level, usually GCSE and A level standard. It includes all the subjects covered by Arts, Languages and Literature.

Exam Papers

The Central Library has a useful collection of exam material covering main GCSE and A level subjects. As well as exam papers from previous years we also have the current year's specifications (syllabuses).

The websites of the examining boards now have archives of recent past papers, current syllabuses and other useful examination material. Some of the main addresses are -

www.aqa.org.uk
www.ocr.org.uk
www.edexcel.org.uk

Need to study one of the literary classics or interested in classical films ? We hold an extensive collection of Shakespeare videos as well as literature and film classics. You can watch videos about film, theatre, dance, painting, sculpture and craft.

Finally found time to learn a language? We stock books, tapes and CDs covering 57 languages.

Come and discover the audio visual material we have available for use within the library.

Birmingham Central Library holds many unique, interesting and major research collections that have been built up over a number of years by donations and library purchase. These collections contain exquisitively beautiful or historically important items. Some of the material is very rare and in some cases unique.

Birmingham Shakespeare Library including Hamlet, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest and Introduction to Shakespeare

Sir Barry Jackson and Birmingham Repertory Theatre Archives
Cervantes
Early and Fine Printing Collection
Johnson Collection
Milton Collection
Parker Collection of Children's Books
Parker Collection of Children's Games
War Poetry Collection
Exhibition Catalogues
Oberammergau Passion Play Festival Collection

We have an extensive selection of journals available covering the majority of our subject areas. Find out more about the journals we subscribe to.

We take many journals which go back to the 19th Century and earlier. To find out about our historical collections then please use the Library Catalogue or contact us directly.

Are you a budding writer who would like some help and advice on publishing your work?

Would you like to know more about writers and copyright, agents, self publishing or just general advice and information on the publishing industry?

The Writers' Pack may be just the thing you need to kick-start your writing career.

To help you find the information you are after we have a compiled a number of lists and guides. Below are those available online. For more information about other guides please refer to the subject pages.

A great deal of information can be found in newspapers and journals. To make it easier to locate this information we have produced our own indexes and collated together articles into information files.

Indexes: TV/Radio Programmes, Play Reviews, Film Index, Biography Index, Ballets, Fan Clubs, Drama Index and Anthology.

Harry Greatorex Theatre Index - Do you have relatives who played at Derby's Theatre, Music Halls or Taverns? Are you researching the entertainment industry? Then you need to access the Harry Greatorex Music Hall Database. The database built up by Harry Greatorex of Derby is the result of many years research and work in the entertainment industry.

Illustrations Collection - is made up of boxes of pictures on a range of subjects such as Film Stars, hats etc.

A series of six photographic banners are now hanging from the Central Library's Social Sciences (floor 4), above the Arts, Languages and Literature reading area (floor 3).

They are entitled Satellite I - VI and the work of local artist Lee Lapthorne. The images represent the time cycle rulers The Sun and The Moon and are extremely visual as they are produced in vibrant colours on translucent fabric.

They look wonderful and form a dramatic backdrop to the library surroundings.

Satellite I | Satellite II | Satellite III | Satellite IV | Satellite V | Satellite VI

Do you have a question about any of our services or subject areas ? Then check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Find out about the smallest, largest, heaviest and oldest books and other facts about Birmingham Libraries .

The Arts Team at Birmingham City Council provides a variety of accessible, challenging, enjoyable and inspirational arts experiences that present Birmgham as an exciting and diverse city to visit and live in. They run projects, provide training and services and promote the Arts to all sections of the community.