What's on

A General History of the Science and Practice of Music: a tragedy in two acts

Sir John Hawkins' greatest literary achievements were thwarted by bad timing and, according to some accounts, by the 'paltry malice, and base tricks' of his mean-spirited contemporaries.

Virtual Tour – The Cottage

Take a virtual tour of the cottage which has been the live-in residence of Institution Librarians and Housekeepers for over 200 years

Anna Laetitia Barbauld’s Evenings at Home; or, The Juvenile Budget Opened

Parents all over the country are preparing for what could be many months of ‘home schooling’ – but it’s easier said than done. This little book – a two-hundred-year-old ‘domestic […]

Read-along

Join our virtual Book Group and read-along with other members

Mystery trade cards – Our Region Revealed

Are you familiar with the businesses on these trade cards? Do they still exist? Who owned them?

Due to the current situation the DEI will remain closed until further notice.
In the meantime we are proud to be bringing much of our programme and events online to provide diversion, entertainment and activities while we are all shut away from the real world. Keep checking our website and social media for new content.

Saturdays at the Institution

Bookworms Junior Members’ club – 2020-21

We look forward to seeing you again soon...

Archive Display Programme

Our archive collection of displays are now available as downloadable PDFs

Colour Our Collections Week (1-5 February 2021)

The first week of February is ‘Colour Our Collections’ week. This annual event, organised by the New York Academy of Medicine, invites libraries and museums all over the world to celebrate their collections in colour. This year we have chosen three recently-digitised drawings from our prints and drawings collection. Whatever you choose to colour with – whether coloured pencils, felt-tips, crayons, pastels or paint - click on the images below, print the colouring sheets, and get colouring! You can share your creations on social media by tagging us and adding the hashtag #ColorOurCollections.