This week here at Leeds Central Library we hosted the opening of a British Library and Living Knowledge Network partnership exhibition, Writing: Making Your Mark 

To compliment the British Library’s four month long exhibition in London, 20 partner Libraries around the UK are also exhibiting their collections and hosting events to celebrate a rich history spanning 5000 of years of writing.

Through images of carved stone inscriptions, medieval manuscripts and early printed works, the family-focused pop-up displays from the British Library will span five millennia and five continents to deconstruct the act of writing and consider its future in the digital age. In our Room 700 exhibition (1st floor of Central Library) we have treasures from the library’s special collections dating back to the 15^th century and historic documents and artefacts on loan from Leeds Museums and Galleries and the West Yorkshire Archives. We also have four impressive prints on loan from creative design studio Split created on their People Powered Press  In addition, Artist Kasia Breska is creating a mural inspired by the history of the alphabet throughout the duration of the exhibition and a dedicated writing space will be created to inspire visitors.

Kasia Breska’s mural in progress

Roman Numeral print from Split 

Cruickshank’s Comic Alphabet

Print objects loaned from Leeds Museums & Galleries

Loaned from Leeds Museums & Galleries

Writing: Making Your Mark is in Room 700 in Central Library until 31st May 2019. You can also head up to Local and Family History on the second floor to see a petition from the workers grafting on the Town Hall for some beer money for their efforts in 1858, Edwardian crosshatched letters and a selection of  our Leeds and Yorkshire collections on the theme of writing and print.

Check out not only the exhibitions but events in Leeds Libraries during May around the theme of writing including talks, calligraphy, library treasures and more.  You can click HERE for our events > https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/leedslibraryevents 

Share your experience of the exhibition and events on social media with the hashtag #MakingYourMark