It’s Halloween, so what better time to delve into our oral history collections in search of accounts of the eldritch, mysterious and paranormal?

British Library Volunteer, Dr Amy Evans Bauer, writes: The Library’s Evolving English WordBank holds many imperatives, sage warnings and pick-me-ups. These reveal a strong relationship between idiomatic language and our behaviour, even our emotional responses, which is passed down through generations via spoken codes of conduct. While reflecting on this,…

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