Libraries main menu
Welcome to Birmingham Libraries online
Contact Details and Opening Hours | Holiday Opening Times
Use the Online Catalogue to search our stock, place reservations and login to check your loans, renew online and change your PIN
Digital Library | Archives & Heritage online catalogue
Important Notices
Sutton Coldfield Library closed until further notice
Sutton Coldfield Library has closed due to urgent building works. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused. Your library card can be used at any Birmingham community library. The nearest to Sutton are Mere Green Library, Boldmere Library, Erdington Library, Walmley Library and Wylde Green Library.
Please e-mail your comments on any aspect of the library service to
libraries@birmingham.gov.uk or fill in this feedback form
Find out What's New in Birmingham Libraries
Titanic Centenary - from our collections
Read about some of the passengers from Birmingham on the Library of Birmingham blog.
Sutton Coldfield Celebrates Royal Occasions
Swarming a pole, Sack Racing and Collar Grinning: Sutton Coldfield Celebrates Royal Occasions. June 2012 sees the celebration of 60 years on the throne for Queen Elizabeth II. Sutton Coldfield Reference Library has a large collection of photographs and ephemera. We have put together a collection of recently digitised material to illustrate how Sutton Coldfield has celebrated Royal events in times past. Find out more....
Erin Kelly & Louise Millar
Thurs 24 May 2012 6.30pm (for 7.00pm start) @ Birmingham Library Theatre, Central Library, Birmingham (This is a free event) Spend an evening with 2 psychological thriller writers, Erin Kelly (author of the best selling Richard & Judy read The Poison Tree) and Louise Millar. If you would like to attend this event, please do book in advance! A guest list will be in operation for this event. To book seats, please email:reader.development@birmingham.gov.ukor call 0121 303 2895/0121 464 2690.
eBook service launched
We are pleased to announce that our Downloadable eBooks service is now available for members of Birmingham Library and Archive Services. Details of the Downloadable eBooks.
New ! Harry Potter ebooks available now.
Silent Movie Scores Collection
Preparations for the move to the new Library of Birmingham have uncovered what could be the UK's largest collection of silent movie scores, including a unique Charlie Chaplin theme tune.
The collection consists of 500 scores and parts for use with silent movies. It is representative of the entire oeuvre of silent movie music between 1915 and 1929, the golden age of the silent movie, and reveals what audiences at the time were listening to. Find out more about the Silent Movie Score Collection.
The Library of Birmingham - Rewriting the Book
Latest news about the Library of Birmingham - opening date announced: Tuesday 3 September 2013.
Central Library changes
The new Shard End Library
Six New 'Faces of the Library of Birmingham'
Six new 'Faces' join the 11 already chosen for the ‘ Rewriting the Book ’ campaign. This aims to find 26 people whose inspirational stories reflect the diverse ways in which libraries can change lives. A group of Library of Birmingham Faces - old and new - visited the site and met Councillor Mike Whitby.
Big City Read
Birmingham Libraries are delighted to announce that Birmingham has been chosen by Transworld Publishers (in partnership with The Reading Agency) to be the destination for their ‘Big City Read’.
Find out more about the Big City Read and see S J Watson's visit to Birmingham Library Theatre.
Boulton and Watt on new £50 note
Boulton and Watt are most famous for the invention of the steam engine, but they also ran the Soho Mint in Birmingham, manufacturing currency for the UK and around the world. Find out why they are appearing on the new £50 banknote.
Birmingham Poet Laureate 2011-12
The Birmingham Poet Laureate 2011-12 is Jan Watts.
Jan will be writing and performing poems in the city throughout the next year.
Archives Searchroom
It is now essential to book an appointment to use the archives searchroom before your visit. We offer two sessions each day on Wednesdays, Thurdays and Fridays between 10am – 1pm, 2pm – 5pm. Appointments can be made by email at: archives.appointments@birmingham.gov.uk or by telephone : 0121 303 2468
Visit the Virtual Library - visit the library in the library!
The Library of Birmingham opens in summer 2013 but you don’t need to wait until then to walk round it. We’ve built the library in Second Life, an online virtual world and you – or your avatar – can visit the building now and have your say on how you’d like to use the service in the future.
Find out more about the Virtual Library
Downloadable e-audiobooks
This service is now available again for library members. Download talking books for your PC, iPod or MP3 player at any time. Please follow this link for further details - Downloadable eAudiobooks
Keep Birmingham Working
This is a broad partnership initiative, delivered through libraries, to help people in Birmingham find work, start a business, learn new skills or become self employed.
Your local library is a community hub that can help you back into the world of paid employment, or be your own boss and upgrade your skills through its range of services. Find out more about our Library Work and Enterprise Clubs.
Online Language Learning
Our new Online Language Learning service is for all library members. Just set up your account on a library computer, then access it anywhere.
Fly through the Library of Birmingham
New computer-generated video tour of the Library of Birmingham by architects Mecanoo. Click to see -video tour of the Library of Birmingham.
Ancestry
Ancestry Library Edition is available FREE on computers in Birmingham Libraries. Trace your family history using records from England, Wales and Scotland censuses 1841 to 1911, UK parish and probate records and now incorporating the complete General Register Office index of births, marriages and deaths in England and Wales from 1837 to 2005.
Now includes British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index cards 1914 - 1920
New addition National Index of Wills and Letters of Administration (Probate Calendar) from 1861 to 1941. Find out how much your ancestors left in their will and to whom.
Your Digital Library
You can use many online reference books without even coming to the library, as long as you have a library membership card. Click on this link to see what's available outside libraries - www.birmingham.gov.uk/websitesathome
Online Resources
Websites to help you with the Driving Theory Test and Life in the UK and British Citizenship tests are now available to library members both on library computers and computers outside libraries. Follow this link - Driving Theory Test and Go Citizen.
Computer Booking
Netloan Computer Booking System
This is now operating in most Birmingham libraries.There's no more queuing for computers, but please remember to bring your library card number and PIN to book a session. In response to your comments your allowance is now 6 hours per week. Find out more about changes in Netloan
Shakespeare
Midlands Historical Data
www.midlandshistoricaldata.org/
This project is making digital copies of rare books, maps, photographs and documents about the West Midlands for viewing online. It's free to use on computers in Birmingham Libraries. The site has Birmingham electoral registers for 1912/13, 1918 (absent voters list), 1920, 1925, 1930/31 and 1935/36 - fully searchable by name - which makes it a useful source for family history research.
Maps of Birmingham
Map prints for sale
You can now order copies, colour or sepia, of many of the historical maps of Birmingham from the Archives and Heritage Service in the Central Library. These are A3 high definition prints on quality matte paper, cost £8 each (Postage and packing free).
Credo Reference
An online reference library that gives you access to a huge range of information, including encyclopaedias, dictionaries and books of quotations, plus a range of specialist subjects. You can search all these sources with one keyword search. Available on your home or office computer too, if you are a member of Birmingham Libraries.