This week’s selection comes from audio engineer Robert Cowlin. Instantaneous lacquer discs frequently contain unique or rare recordings and, due to the instability of their sound carrying layer, are a preservation priority at the British Library Sound Archive. Also known as acetate discs, they generally consist of a metal substrate…

This week’s selection comes from Dr Janet Topp Fargion, Lead Curator of World and Traditional Music. Visitors to the Ake Arts and Book Festival to be held in Lagos, Nigeria, from 25-28 October 2018 will be able to see a new digital edition of the British Library’s West Africa: Word,…

Paul Merchant examines the state of ‘religious unbelief’ held by Professor Sir Fred Holliday [1935-2016], marine biologist, founding Chairman of Northumbrian Water, Vice-Chancellor and Warden of the University of Durham, and Director of Shell and of British Rail

By Jonathan Summers, Curator of Classical Music For Black History month in previous years I have highlighted the career and work of classical musicians such as Dean Dixon and Cullen Maiden. While considering people for this year’s blog, I received a donation which included a fascinating disc. The performers are…

This week’s selection comes from Emme Ledgerwood, Collaborative Doctoral Award student with the British Library’s Oral History department and Leicester University. “I think great science comes from this natural curiosity” This recording for #EarthScienceWeek comes from Stephen Sparks, a volcanologist who describes how the Montserrat Volcano Observatory advised the government…