Thread by @britishlibrary

This year we all need that warm, fuzzy Christmas feeling. So for the next twelve days we’ll be sharing an updated rendition of a Christmas classic with a British Library twist (deep breath) 👇

“On the first day of Christmas the Library gave to me… a world of ideas and discovery” #BLThanksYou

And though you’re special, this year we opened up this world of inspiration to 5.9 million online learners who consulted 3.1 million collection items. And our events were streamed to 45,000 living rooms in 1,134 locations around the globe. Phew!

“On the second day of Christmas the Library gave to me – two calling birds” #BLThanksYou

🔊 Recording by Lawrence Shove
🪶 Shelf mark W1CDR0001391 BD7
🔗 ow.ly/8bet50CKJIO
🏷️ @BLSoundHeritage

Just one sound from over 250,000 recordings preserved with your help for future generations by @BLSoundHeritage.

More tweets: British Library - Sounds (bl.uk) 🐦 🔊 Thank you for the support of @HeritageFundUK, @GarfieldWFdn and other generous donors.

“On the third day of Christmas the Library gave to me – your favourite stories…” ✨💫🌟 (and a chance to adopt them!) #BLThanksYou

Choose a classic – A Christmas Carol, Alice in Wonderland, Jane Eyre and more – adopt a book for £40 to give a sustainable gift that preserves our collections for future generations: ow.ly/78Pk50CLPM5

“On the fourth day of Christmas the Library gave to me… four major exhibitions” enjoyed by everyone… #BLThanksYou

Spirited family fun with Marvellous and Mischievous: Literature’s #YoungRebels and a little quiet contemplation with #Buddhism.

And rarely-seen treasures from the 10th century in #HebrewManuscripts, through to those fighting for a fairer world today in #UnfinishedBusiness: ow.ly/Slfe50CNdoz

#HebrewManuscripts: Journeys of the Written Word is generously supported by the Dr Michael and Anna Brynberg Charitable Foundation. #UnfinishedBusiness: The Fight for Women's Rights is supported by @BarkerJoannaM

“On the fifth day of Christmas the Library gave to me – the King’s Library TOWERRR!” #BLThanksYou

A symbol of the knowledge which ignites new ideas every day. King George III’s collection – including William Caxton’s first edition of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and Robert Hooke’s Micrographia – sits at the heart of the Library in St Pancras: ow.ly/NJIe50COcMq

Shop our eclectic selection of carefully-curated gifts and books, including unusual exclusives you won’t find anywhere else. There’s something for everyone:
ow.ly/mYew50COcwl

“On the sixth day of Christmas the Library gave to me – start-ups-a-growing” #BLThanksYou

Our @BIPC pivoted to deliver face-to-face support online and in 2020, through all the uncertainty, we’ve been supporting businesses to start, grow and survive. Find help and advice for your business: bl.uk/business-and-i… #businesssupport

Follow some of the businesses we’ve supported with help from our partners 👉 @jpmorgan @santanderukbiz – @Bushwoodbees, @HappyStanceYoga, @BottleFarm @teal_app_uk

“On the seventh day of Christmas the Library gave to me…. 80 million treasures in Yorkshire” 🏛️🤝🏛️ #BLThanksYou

We’re proud of our home-from-home site in Boston Spa. We house over 70% of our collection here, including the @BNArchive.

To celebrate @LightNightLeeds with the community, we commissioned an interactive experience that imagines a #Yorkshire woodland using wildlife sounds from our @soundarchive: bit.ly/2UXvXMq

#LightNightLeeds2020
@BLSoundHeritage @invisibleflock

“On the eighth day of Christmas the Library gave to me… Agatha Christie”

Delve into the plots of #AgathaChristie’s novels and our other hit digital events from this year on the British Library Player: bl.uk/british-librar… #BLThanksYou

And @BritishBakeOff may have finished but you can still get some Christmas cooking inspiration with our #FoodSeason. Featuring @ChefTomKerridge, @ChefKenHom and @MelissaHemsley: bl.uk/british-librar… Supported by @KitchenAid_UK

“On the ninth day of Christmas the Library gave to me, all my cherished childhood stories”
#BLThanksYou

Once upon a time a tiger came to tea, a Gruffalo went for a walk with a mouse and we put them all together online in #DiscoveringChildrensBooks to inspire curious young minds, support parents home-schooling and teachers… The End: bl.uk/childrens-books

“On the tenth day of Christmas the Library gave to me – some medieval lords-a-leaping (well… saints)”

📜 From the Theodore Psalter, 2 Feb 1066, including Psalm 151 and The Book of Odes (Rahlfs 1088).

Our @BL_digitsation team are experts at making our ancient manuscripts like these available to everyone online. Even what can’t be seen, like this secret signature 🔍👀

“On the eleventh day of Christmas the Library gave to me... our Reading Rooms! #BLThanksYou

Readers, we’re nothing without you – researchers, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, students – everyone who brings our collections to life. Normally 400,000 people from around the world visit our Reading Rooms – that’s one heck of a Christmas card list.

“On the twelfth day of Christmas the Library gave to me.... (big breath, nearly there) over 170 million collection items” – open to everyone for research, inspiration and for pure, simple enjoyment.

The recording is of festive cheer in The Black Bull pub, in Ecclesfield, Sheffield in 1972. Recorded by Ian Russell and is part of the @UniversityLeeds Dialect & Heritage project.

Wow. What a year. Our community is extraordinary. Members, Readers, Business Partners, donors, exhibition goers, event viewers. Your support helps us open up a world of inspiration and ideas to everyone. From all of us - thank you. Have a safe and happy New Year.

If you’d like to support the work we do, you can donate here: ow.ly/cgbs50CTOzb #BLThanksYou