Netflix has teamed with one of the most famous cultural institutions in the U.K., the British Library, to help “more people discover the books behind some of the world’s most popular films and series,” it says.
The new national partnership, which will include local libraries across the U.K., comes as 2026 marks the National Year of Reading, an initiative aimed at reversing the sharp decline in reading for pleasure across the U.K.
Alongside dedicated funding from Netflix to support the British Library’s literary conservation and archives, this new partnership will see collections of books that have been adapted into Netflix films and series donated to 100 public libraries across the U.K. The collections will include titles including “Frankenstein,” “Pride and Prejudice”, “Heartstopper,” “One Day,” “The Thursday Murder Club” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
In addition to the donated collections, Netflix and the British Library will host a programme of events also streamed to libraries across the country about how books are brought to the screen. The programme has already included Q&As with the stars of “Frankenstein,” “The Thursday Murder Club”, and “The Seven Dials Mystery.” On Monday night, Florence Pugh, Zoe Kazan, Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist discussed the making of “East of Eden.”
“Every great adaptation starts with a great story. We are proud to bring these stories to audiences all over the world, but we also know the experience does not have to end when the credits roll,” said Anne Mensah, Vice President of Content, U.K. at Netflix.
“Books and screen adaptations can introduce audiences to different worlds, ideas and voices. Through our partnership with the British Library, we hope to help more people discover the books behind the shows and films they love, while supporting the public libraries that make reading accessible to communities across the country.”
The U.K. National Literacy Trust’s 2025 Annual Literacy Survey found that children’s enjoyment of reading had fallen to its lowest recorded level. Howvever, it also showed that books linked to favourite films and TV series can encourage reluctant readers. The same is true for adults, with Nielsen BookData finding that 12% of adult fiction bought by occasional readers was discovered through, or chosen because of, a film or television adaptation.
‘’We are delighted to be partnering with Netflix. With this partnership we’re helping to bring Netflix’s exciting literary adaptations to new audiences across the U.K. via our Living Knowledge Network of public libraries,” Helen Schulte, the British Library’s head of culture programmes. “We’re so grateful to Netflix for partnering with the Library and providing much needed philanthropic support for conservation, helping to preserve the treasures we care for as the U.K.’s national library.”