Netflix teams with British Library to put adapted books in 100 libraries
Netflix has partnered with the British Library to put books behind its films and series back on library shelves across the U.K.
The national partnership, reported on 21 September, links the streamer with the British Library and local libraries across the country. It coincides with 2026 as the National Year of Reading, an initiative aimed at reversing a decline in reading for pleasure Variety.
The need is stark. The U.K. National Literacy Trust's 2025 Annual Literacy Survey found children's enjoyment of reading had fallen to its lowest recorded level. Separately, Nielsen BookData found that 12% of adult fiction bought by occasional readers was discovered through or chosen because of a film or television adaptation.
Money is part of the deal. Netflix is providing dedicated funding to support the British Library's literary conservation and archives. The two organisations will also donate collections of books adapted into Netflix films and series to 100 public libraries.
The shelves will look familiar to viewers. Donated titles include Frankenstein, Pride and Prejudice, Heartstopper, One Day, The Thursday Murder Club and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Variety.
There is a live element too. Netflix and the British Library will host a programme of events, also streamed to libraries nationwide, about how books are brought to the screen. The programme has included Q&As with the stars of Frankenstein, The Thursday Murder Club and The Seven Dials Mystery.
One focus is East of Eden. Florence Pugh, Zoe Kazan, Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist took part in a discussion about the making of the show. It is a Netflix limited series, meaning a story told in one season with a planned ending, based on the John Steinbeck novel with Kazan adapting Deadline. Pugh plays Cathy Ames, and the series starts streaming on Oct. 1, according to Netflix's Tudum site Tudum.
The British Library scheduled 'East of Eden: In conversation with Florence Pugh and Zoe Kazan' for 21 September at 19:00 at the Pigott Theatre and online British Library. The Netflix U.K. content lead is Anne Mensah, Vice President of Content, U.K., while Helen Schulte is the British Library's head of culture programmes.
For fans, this means the path runs both ways. Watch the series. Then borrow the book. Then watch the cast explain what changed in between.
