A right royal read

This week in the 101 Treasures series we take a look at a very special copy of the works of Prosper of Aquitaine. Have a look on the website to find out who was the famous owner of this beautifully bound book.

You're under arrest!

The Librarian recently returned from a Scottish holiday to the Moray Firth, where he spotted this rather alarming sign on the A98 at Portsoy. Knowledge, clearly, is no guarantee against the threat of riots and unrest...

Birds and their nests

This week's feature in the 101 Treasures of Chetham's series explores the exquisite work of James Bolton in his Harmonia Ruralis, a two-volume work describing and illlustrating the birds of Britain. Find out more about the author and his passion for natural history on the website.

Minutes of the Albert Memorial

Another of the Library's treasures to have a look at over on the website.

Many thanks for all your concern over the Library's safety during this week's events in the city centre. Happily we can report that no damage was done and everything is as it should be. Work on the Reading Room is now complete and we will be open again on Monday as usual.

Sex, sermons and wig-making

The diary of Edmund Harrold is a closely-written journal full of early eighteenth-century books, religion, sex and wig-making. Read more about this remarkable survival on the 101 Treasures page.

Treading the boards

Just a quick snap to show the reason for the Library's current two-week closure... not too much reading going on in here at the moment.

We'll be closed until Monday 15th August while structural engineers carry out investigations into the strength of the medieval floor joists. The operation is being overseen by English Heritage.