Exhibitions

The BBC radio serial The Archers and the Museum of English Rural Life both came into being in 1951. A new display at Main Library Whiteknights offers a preview of a major exhibition to be staged at the Museum from 1 May to 22 December. This will show how these iconic institutions have reflected 60 years of change in the countryside.

An accompanying series of special Anniversary events will include:

• MERL Symposium on media and the countryside, 12 May
• Museums at Night ‘50s night, 14 May, 8pm to midnight
• MERL Village Fete open day, 4 June, 10am to 5pm
• Family events and workshops, spring half term and summer holidays

The Museum is located in Redlands Road, adjacent to the London Road campus. Full details of forthcoming events can be found in the What’s On guide available from the Museum or by telephoning, emailing, or visiting the Museum website.

Tel: (0118) 378 8660                Email: merlevents@reading.ac.uk   www.reading.ac.uk/merl

Visit the new exhibition at the Special Collections Service and discover the archive of the publisher Leo Cooper.

The Leo Cooper archive is one of many publishers’ archives held at the University of Reading’s Special Collections. Leo Cooper worked in publishing for over thirteen years before setting up his own firm to publish books with a military theme, including regimental histories, escape stories and war memoirs. For more information, see the exhibition web page at http://www.reading.ac.uk/special-collections/news/exhibitions/sc-exhibition-leo-cooper.aspx

As a celebration of the completion of the cataloguing of the archive, this exhibition focuses on some of the highlights from the collection. The exhibition will be on display in the staircase hall at the Special Collections Service until 15 April 2011.