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Introducing the Shakespeare Collection

About the collection

The Library of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s (LoB) Shakespeare Collection is the first Shakespeare library in the world and one of the biggest resources for Shakespeare studies.

The collection is one of the Library of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s most important cultural treasures with more than 100,000 items, including:

  • books
  • production posters and photographs
  • scrapbooks
  • illustrations

In effect, the collection belongs to the citizens of Â鶹ÊÓƵ.

In 1864, the ‘Our Shakespeare Club’ was instrumental in proposing a Shakespeare library in the city to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth.

Rather than commissioning a statue or portrait of Shakespeare, the club decided that a living celebration such as a library would encourage educational and cultural progress in Â鶹ÊÓƵ.

Explore the collection

The Everything to Everybody project has created an overview of the Shakespeare Collection:

Download the collection overview PDF with images 

You can search for items from the collection using:

  • The Archives and Collections catalogue

You can also navigate the collection using the .

  • The general library catalogue

You can also view items from the collection in person.

To check if you need to make an appointment to view your chosen items, email us at: archives.appointments@birmingham.gov.uk.

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The Works of Shakespeare, Â鶹ÊÓƵ, 1768. S176.8:

Open book titled the Works of Shakespeare in nine volumes. The book is aged and there is a picture of William Shakespeare on the left-hand page.

Page last updated: 23 October 2023