The BMI Library, traces its origins back to 1779, when button manufacturer John Lee, founded it.

This private lending library was categorised in 1781 by Dr Joseph Priestley. We still use the Priestley categorisation system to this day. The library moved into a purpose-built location on Union Street in 1797 where it remained for just over a century until it moved to its present location on Margaret Street in 1899.

The Library became part of the The Birmingham & Midland Institute in 1955, and in 1966 the Institute moved to Margararet Street, as its Paradise Street premises were subject to a compulsory purchase order.  They were subsequently demolished.

The library’s collections are being steadily increased by the generous bequests of books. We are focusing on local history, poetry and 18th – 19th century manuscripts. We are proud and happy to support the research of PhD and other students; we foster links with local universities and colleges.

The Library has a total holding of over 120,000 books including:

• Copies of The Owl and The Dart, Birmingham-based satirical and investigative journals of the 19th and 20th century.

• 18th century volumes from the earliest years of the library.

• 19th and 20th century purchases, including books on history, literature, natural history, science and travel

• Late 19th and early 20th century novels and detective fiction

• Over 6000 biographies and autobiographies

The Library collection is being steadily increased by the regular purchase of new books, principally in the fields of art, science, poetry and modern fiction.  It may be accessed by arrangement with Honorary Librarian. The Library continues, as it has in the past, to benefit from gifts and bequests made to it by generous members.

The Birmingham and Midland Institute Library is proud to be an active member of the International 18th Century Libraries Project, facilitated by Professor Mark Towsey of Liverpool University. We are the largest library involved in the project, which aims to investigate the effect of subscription libraries in the 18th Century. We have hundreds of books which were de-bound in the 1970s, which potentially show the most used books through the first two hundred years of the Library.

Currently, we do not have a digital catalogue, although we are in the process of creating one. As soon as it is available, it will be hosted on this website. Until then, please contact the Honorary Librarian for more precise information on our holdings.  Please direct specific enquiries about our library collection to library@bmi.org.uk.