
Rylands 125
In 2025, the John Rylands Library celebrates 125 years with a special programme of events and exhibitions.
Rylands125 honours the Library's important past, highlight its vibrant present, and looks forward to a promising future.
Founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband, John Rylands, the Library opened in January 1900 as a gift to the people of Manchester. One of Europe's finest neo-Gothic buildings, the Rylands is home to an astonishing variety of rare books, manuscripts, archives, maps and visual materials.
Among the Library's world-class collections are ancient papyri, early European and Chinese printing, Islamic and medieval manuscripts, bibles, and modern archives. These collections, which came to the Rylands as gifts, purchases, and loans, tell stories of global significance. The Rylands embodies Manchester's tradition for ingenuity and innovation. It has grown to be a renowned cultural and academic destination, welcoming readers, researchers, and visitors from around the world.
Opening New Exhibition Spaces
As part of the Rylands125 celebrations, two newly designed galleries will open in May 2025, marking a significant milestone in the John Rylands Next Chapter project:
- Collections Gallery: Presenting over 40 remarkable objects that illuminate the history and evolution of the Library's special collections, with many on public display for the first time. This eclectic display includes Shakespeare's First Folio; a clay cylinder from Nebuchadnezzar's temple; a Qur'an manuscript; a parchment roll signed by Elizabeth I; Alan Turing's notes on the MARK I computer; and Rob Gretton's Joy Division notebook.
- Special Exhibitions Gallery: The opening exhibition, The Secret Public: LGBTQ Pop 1955-1985, explores the profound influence of LGBTQ performers, artists and activists on mainstream popular culture. Based on the book by Professor of Popular Culture, Jon Savage, the exhibition draws on his personal archives and The University of Manchester's British Pop Archive.
Events
Look out for related programming on our What's On and Exhibitions and Events. Discover the library's past, present and future with Rylands125.