A Living Library exhibition

Explore new ideas, discoveries and arrivals. Until 16 December 2023.

About the exhibition

Did you know that the Rylands continuously collects books, archives, and objects? Existing collections can reveal new stories, discoveries, and perspectives.  Rather than sitting unloved on a shelf, our collections are used in teaching, research and exhibitions. Inspiring new generations and sparking ideas and connections in the minds of inquisitive students, researchers and visitors

Explore new collections and recent discoveries in this display and see how the Rylands is alive with questions.

Items on display

• Explore new archives relating to pioneering female film critic CA Lejeune and Parliamentary commentator Normal Shrapnel.
• See a Dead Sea Scroll fragment and uncover its role in a recent research discovery.
• Browse books with surprising histories including a 16th century book donated by the Friends of the National Libraries as part of an effort to rescue a significant UK literary collection for the nation.

Browse online exhibitions to explore our collections and curated research from anywhere in the world.