Netflix Partners With British Library, Sets Talks Series With Florence Pugh, Zoe Kazan and More — SkimNews
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- Netflix is partnering with the British Library to donate collections of books behind its adaptations—including "Frankenstein," "Pride and Prejudice," "Heartstopper," "One Day," "The Thursday Murder Club," and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"—to 100 public libraries across the U.K.
- The partnership launches alongside 2026's National Year of Reading initiative and includes dedicated Netflix funding for the British Library's literary conservation and archives work.
- Netflix and the British Library will run a programme of author and adaptation events streamed nationwide; the most recent featured Florence Pugh, Zoe Kazan, Christopher Abbott, and Mike Faist discussing their "East of Eden" project, with earlier sessions spotlighting stars of "Frankenstein," "The Thursday Murder Club," and "The Seven Dials Mystery."
- Anne Mensah, Netflix's VP of Content for the U.K., framed the partnership as extending the adaptation experience beyond the screen: "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."
- British Library head of culture programmes Helen Schulte said the deal activates the institution's Living Knowledge Network and provides "much needed philanthropic support for conservation, helping to preserve the treasures we care for as the U.K.'s national library."
- The U.K. National Literacy Trust's 2025 Annual Literacy Survey found children's reading enjoyment has fallen to its lowest recorded level, but it also showed books linked to favorite shows and films can motivate reluctant readers; Nielsen BookData found 12% of adult fiction bought by occasional readers was discovered through or chosen because of a screen adaptation.
Why it matters: It positions Netflix alongside a national cultural institution at a moment when children's reading enjoyment has hit a record low, while Nielsen BookData shows 12% of occasional adult fiction buyers already gravitate to screen-tied titles—turning 100 public libraries into a promotional funnel that pulls viewers back to print.
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