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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

@thefnl.bsky.social

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries, or FNL, awards grants for acquisitions to regional and national archives, libraries and museums. www.fnl.org.uk.

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries @thefnl.bsky.social · Feb 27

*Apply now* for acquisition grants for rare books, mss, archives, fine bindings etc. UK's national, regional, local and specialist collecting institutions are eligible. Next trustees' meeting is soon, so apply now if you have an acquisition in your sights & need support.

www.fnl.org.uk/apply

Applying for grants | Friends of the Nations' Libraries

www.fnl.org.uk

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries @thefnl.bsky.social · 5h

Delighted we could help! The manuscript comprises eight tables, which bring together the fundamental tools for computing conjunctions (a term encompassing planetary conjunctions and lunar and solar eclipses), one of the most complex phenomena to compute in the Middle Ages.

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries @thefnl.bsky.social · 4d

A wonderful addition to CUL's collections and a fantastically generous donation from Herbert Kretzmer's family.

Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 4d

💫Today marks the 40th anniversary of the London premiere of Les Misérables! We are honoured to hold the archive of Herbert Kretzmer, the renowned lyricist of the English language version of #LesMis.

🔎Learn more: loom.ly/V0cRKHg

@cam.ac.uk

'Born under a rhyming planet'

Archive of famed Les Misérables lyricist Herbert Kretzmer has a new home at Cambridge University Library

loom.ly

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries @thefnl.bsky.social · 8d

This IS good news!

Archives West Midlands @archiveswm.bsky.social · 8d

Good news 📣
Walsall #Archives is extending its opening hours to include Fridays and the first Saturday of every month! Offering residents, researchers and history enthusiasts more opportunities to explore the borough’s rich heritage.
#ArchivesWM

Walsall Archives extends opening hours to welcome more visitors | Walsall Council

Walsall Archives extends opening hours to welcome more visitors

go.walsall.gov.uk

Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Norfolk Record Office @norfolkro.bsky.social · 10d

Behind the Scenes Experience! See areas of the record office not normally accessible to the public including our strongroom, conservation studio and view some of our favourite documents.
📅 7 October 2025
⏲️ 10:00-11:30
🎫 £7, booking essential buff.ly/4L4EDrm
#behindthescenes

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Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Archives & Collections, Library of Birmingham @theironroom.bsky.social · 11d

For this week’s blog, Archivist Nicola opens the page on the work she has been doing to safely move the archives and local studies collections from Sutton Coldfield Library to the Library of Birmingham - theironroom.wordpress.com/2025/09/29/s... Image Ref: BCU/13 #LibraryofBham #RoyalSutColTC

A page of a book. The writing is from left to right across the page. The words are written in ink. The page appears to have been subject to some time of erosion due to the passage of time as the book is of some considerable age.

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Liz Rees @lizarees.bsky.social · 16d

Staffordshire History Centre www.expressandstar.com/your-world/2...

High visitor numbers, thousands of volunteer hours given, well-attended events and strong customer satisfaction at the new Staffordshire History Centre are amongst the successes of the county’s Archiv...

www.expressandstar.com

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Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Society of Genealogists @sogorg.bsky.social · Sep 4

🏆 Gloucestershire Archives has been named Record Keeping Service of 2025! 🎉
Celebrate with us this September:
📅 16/9 – Online talk (FREE) portal.sog.org.uk/Ev...
📅 17/9 – Library tour, SoG London portal.sog.org.uk/Ev...
📅 23/9 – Visit Gloucestershire Archives portal.sog.org.uk/Ev... #GenHour

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Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Buckinghamshire Archives @bucksarchives.bsky.social · Aug 7

Next Tuesday we'll be visiting our friends over at Wycombe Museum for one of our archive drop-in sessions! Come along and learn a little about what we do and have your questions on our upcoming move answered.

We'll be there from 11am to 3pm with some historic documents out on display.

A photo of Wycombe Museum with the following text overlaid:

'Archive Drop-In at Wycombe Museum

12th August, 11am to 3pm'.

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries @thefnl.bsky.social · Aug 7

Happy Birthday to the wonderful NLS!

National Library of Scotland @natlibscot.bsky.social · Aug 7

🎪 The mayhem begins!

Celebrate with us! Doors open at 10am at George IV Bridge (Edinburgh) and Kelvin Hall (Glasgow). Be among the first 500 at each site to get your special edition centenary comic, created by Beano!

#NLS100 #Beano

A sign reading ‘It’s our birthday! 100 today’ in front of the National Library of Scotland building in Edinburgh.

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Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · Jul 23

Huge congratulations to Lord Smith, outgoing Master of @pembroke1347.bsky.social, who has been elected Chancellor of the University.

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Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Royal Berkshire Archives @berksarchives.bsky.social · Jul 18

If you have visited us recently, you may have noticed that we now have a Tap to Donate station. This goes towards our Documents Purchase Fund which enables us to buy Berkshire's archives that are at risk. They can then be preserved and made accessible. We appreciate your support!

Contactless payment station at reception

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Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Scottish Council on Archives @scotsarchives.bsky.social · Jul 19

Just a few days left to apply for our new Sector Development Manager role!

Help strengthen the impact of archives & records across Scotland, shape sector programmes, and advocate for lasting change.

🔗 Apply now: www.scottisharchives.org.uk/latest/new-v...

New Vacancy: Sector Development Manager - Scottish Council on Archives

1 July 2025

www.scottisharchives.org.uk

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Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

The National Manuscripts Conservation Trust, aka NMCT @thenmct.bsky.social · Jul 18

*Jobs klaxon* A fantastic opportunity to train future generations of book & paper conservators and be part of the dynamic team at the @uofglasgow.bsky.social's
Kelvin Centre for Conservation & Cultural Heritage Research.
www.jobs.gla.ac.uk/job/lecturer...

Lecturer in Paper Conservation and/or Book & Archival Materials Conservation (R&T or LTS)

Job Purpose To lead (Grade 8) and develop (Grade 7 and 8) research-led practical and theoretical aspects of book, archival materials and paper conservation of our new MPhil in Book & Archiva...

www.jobs.gla.ac.uk

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Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

National Museum of Ireland @nmireland.bsky.social · Jul 14

Manuscript Makers at the National Museum of Ireland
📍 Kildare Street, Dublin
📅 Wednesday 16 July | ⏰ 10:30am–12:30pm
Explore how manuscripts were made over 1,200 years ago!
Handle replicas like vellum, wax tablets & quills
Discover ancient inks & pigments
www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museum...

Pop-Up Handling Table: Manuscript Makers | Archaeology | National Museum of Ireland

Museum Educators at our pop-up handling table to find out about the creation of manuscripts in Early Medieval Ireland.

www.museum.ie

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Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Norfolk Record Office @norfolkro.bsky.social · Jul 14

We are excited to advertise three new roles as part of the Hall Marks project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The roles are project manager, project officer and project assistant. More details here careers.norfolk.gov.uk#en/sites/CX_...
#hallmarks #norfolkcountryhouses #archivejobs

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Northumberland Archives @nlandarchives.bsky.social · Jul 14

We are recruiting!

Are you a qualified archivist who is looking for an 18-month, full-time position?

Would you like to work in a stunning location with a wide range of collections? Enjoy being part of a team and talking up archives to a wide audience?

www.northeastjobs.org.uk/job/Archivis...

a cartoon of homer simpson and bart simpson sitting on a couch with the words join us above them .

ALT: a cartoon of homer simpson and bart simpson sitting on a couch with the words join us above them .

media.tenor.com

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries @thefnl.bsky.social · Jul 11

Delighted we were able to support the BL to save for the nation five exceptional medieval mss from Longleat House - Including an unparalleled volume for the study of Hebrew in medieval England, comprising a trilingual Hebrew-Latin-Old French dictionary, glossed Hebrew Psalter, & Hebrew grammar.

British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · Jun 4

Explore the collection online 📜

Five outstanding manuscripts acquired for the nation

We are thrilled to announce that the British Library has acquired five medieval manuscripts of outstanding national heritage significance, formerly in the collection of Longleat House. Together, these...

bit.ly

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries @thefnl.bsky.social · Jul 11

@thomasplumes.bsky.social began to replace scarce 17thC books that were listed in early inventories but found to be 'missing' in the early 20thC. We have supported the library in this quest on many occasions over the years and were delighted to give a grant towards these latest acquisitions.

Thomas Plume's Library @thomasplumes.bsky.social · Jul 10

Thank you so much to @thefnl.bsky.social for funding the purchase of these three books as replacements for those missing from Plume's collection!

Title page of James Howell, A German Diet, London 1653

Title page of Robert Wittie, Scarbrough Spaw, London 1660

Title page of John Nalson, A True Copy of ... the Tryal of K. Charles I, London 1684.

Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Kent Archives and Local History Service @kentarchives.bsky.social · Jul 10

#DidYouKnow that the earliest document held by Kent Archives is quite possibly the oldest possessed by any county repository in the United Kingdom? 📜👀

It's a charter issued by King Wihtred granting freedom from taxation to the churches and monasteries of #Kent, AD 699

☟ See U140/T1: bit.ly/4lioB0h

Shown here is a charter issued by King Wihtred (c.670 – 23rd April 725) granting freedom from taxation to the churches and monasteries of Kent, AD 699 [ref. U140/T1]

Dated at Cilling, the witnesses include Archbishop Berhtuuald; Gemmund, Bishop of Rochester; Tobias (Gemmund's successor); and Hadrian, described as 'indignus monachus' – a colleague and advisor of Theodore of Tarsus, a former Archbishop of Canterbury.

This charter was purchased by Sir Albert Stern at Sotheby's in 1946, for presentation to the county. Some information as to its previous history can be gained from its endorsements. It was sold by Messrs Puttick, auctioneers, in 1861 and purchased by Sir Thomas Phillipps. Prior to this it was probably in the Surrenden Dering collection for 200 years – Dering's ownership indicated by marks of a saltire cross in a circle and a Greek letter Delta. An earlier endorsement, possibly dating to the late 12th century, indicates that it was formerly preserved at Christ Church.

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Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Kresen Kernow @kresenkernow.bsky.social · Jul 9

One of the most amazing aspects of Cornwall’s unique landscape is its richness of ancient sites. Two of our archivists recently spent their day off exploring ancient sites around St Just in Penwith. A couple of the beautiful manor maps we care for depict some of these sites.

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries @thefnl.bsky.social · Jun 25

Preeminent collection of working and design drawings of outstanding aesthetic quality and technical clarity - and acquired with the help of a grant from @thefnl.bsky.social !

Brunel Museum @brunelmuseum.bsky.social · Jun 25

In our latest blog, Collections Volunteer Arran Saunders provides a wealth of new insights into the Thames Tunnel Designs acquired by the Museum in 2017, following a period of cataloguing and research.

Read more on our blog:

New Insights into the Thames Tunnel Designs - Brunel Museum

In our latest blog, our Collections Volunteer Arran Saunders provides new insights into the Thames Tunnel Designs acquired by the Museum in 2017, following a period of cataloguing and research. Calling into question received ideas about artistic attribution and highlighting new archival discoveries about the production of the designs and their purpose, the project has …

thebrunelmuseum.com

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries @thefnl.bsky.social · Jun 24

Wonderful! And an opportunity to remind colleagues in UK libraries and archives that FNL doesn't 'just' award grants for the conservation of rare books, manuscripts etc etc, but also for fine bindings.

Marsh's Library @marshslibrary.bsky.social · Jun 24

Feeling like a kid in a sweet shop deciding which of our beautiful bindings from Farmleigh to put in our new exhibition! #BeautifulBindings #librariesofinstagram #book #Gold

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Royal Berkshire Archives @berksarchives.bsky.social · Jun 17

Last Monday we hosted a private viewing of our new exhibition 'Our River Thames'. It was wonderful for people to finally see the completion of months of hard work and hopefully learn something new about the River Thames. Come along and see the installed version for yourself now!

People around a table looking at boards and documents.

People around two tables looking at boards and documents.

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Friends of the Nations’ Libraries @thefnl.bsky.social · Jun 17

Delighted that we could help @cburycathedral.bsky.social acquire this interesting volume, which will help tell the story of the Cathedral's music in the 19th century.

Canterbury Cathedral @cburycathedral.bsky.social · Jun 12

Our #ObjectoftheMonth is a diary, kept by William Henry Longhurst (1819-1904), from 1848-1850.

Longhurst was involved in the Cathedral’s musical life for 70 years.

The volume was purchased from Simon Beattie, bookseller, with a grant from the Friends of the Nations’ Libraries. @thefnl.bsky.social

Reposted by Friends of the Nations’ Libraries

Katrina Navickas @katrinanavickas.bsky.social · Jun 11

Local authority run county record offices and local archives are absolutely the under appreciated repositories of British history.

Victoria County History @vch-home.bsky.social · Jun 11

Local archives, run - mostly - by or on behalf of local authorities across England, are the backbone of our work.

Most of what appears in our footnotes, and in our text, is derived from them, they contain multitudes. Cherish them.

Buckinghamshire Archives @bucksarchives.bsky.social · Jun 10

Welcome to the archives.

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