Shakespeare 'digital library wallpaper' from British Library and Vodafone

Vodafone and the British Library have partnered to make some of the earliest and rarest editions of Shakespeare’s plays available to download from specially-designed wallpaper featuring virtual library bookshelves.

The 'Digital Library' wallpaper will feature QR codes on the spines of virtual books that will allow the public to download first editions of 14 of Shakespeare’s plays, including "Midsummer Night’s Dream", "Hamlet" and "Romeo & Juliet", from the British Library collections. The initative is intended to "encourage young and old across the nation to remember the great works of the playwright, poet and pioneer and celebrate his achievements".

The wallpaper will also provide digital links through to the British Library’s Discovering Literature website, in order to reveal more about the world of Shakespeare and his plays.

Vodafone and the British Library are also giving families, schools and young people across the country the chance to win their very own roll of Digital Library wallpaper – with 400 rolls created by Vodafone and the British Library.

The interactive digital wallpaper from Vodafone and the British Library in Trafalgar Square, London.

Adrian Edwards, head of printed heritage collections at the British Library, said: “This extraordinary collection includes a number of Shakespeare’s original quartos held by the Library containing the earliest record of some of his most famous plays. The quartos were designed to be read by the broadest possible audience, and so it is extremely fitting to share them digitally in the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death via the Digital Library tour with Vodafone."

Helen Lamprell, Vodafone UK’s director of corporate & external affairs, added: “Mobile technology is playing an increasingly vital role in bringing culture and communities together and this wonderful initiative with the British Library builds on our global campaigns supporting young people’s constructive use of digital technology."

The Digital Library tour kicked off yesterday (25th April) and will visit cities and rural locations across the UK, including Birmingham, Penzance and Silchester, which is one of the UK’s oldest villages.