Government House is delighted to announce Ms Chynna Trott as the successful candidate of the Chevening British Library’s Overseas Territories Fellowship. The one year fellowship will commence in January 2027 with the aim of helping redefine how the British Library collects, preserves and represents the Caribbean and Atlantic Overseas Territories in its collections. Ms Trott’s selection followed a competitive application process which was open to applicants from Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, St Helena and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Co-funded by the British Library and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Fellowship will be structured around three key tasks:
- Building on existingbibliographies and resources, to discover and promote heritage materials in the British Library’s collection relating to one or more British Overseas Territory
- To survey historicand current collecting practices relating to one or more British Overseas Territory
- To provide an overview of the currentand cultural landscape of British
Overseas Territories, with a view to informingfuture British Librarypolicies and practices.
Philip Abraham, Eccles Institute Programmes Lead Curator at the British Library, said: 'The British Library is delighted to announce Chynna Trott as the 2027 Chevening British LibraryFellow for the British OverseasTerritories. The Fellowship champions the Library's belief that by making knowledge freely accessible, we can create a global networkof shared history,research and innovation. We look forward to seeing Chynna's development and work preserving Bermuda's heritage through this powerful exchange of ideas between the United Kingdom and wider Overseas Territories community.'
Ms Chynna Trott said "Beingselected as the 2027 CheveningBritish Library Fellow for the British Overseas Territories is an incredible honour and an exciting milestone in my professional journey. As someone passionate about Bermuda's history and cultural heritage, I am especially grateful for the opportunity to further develop my skills in librarianship, research and heritage preservation while representing Bermuda on an international stage.
Through this fellowship, I hope to explore how Bermuda's history is represented within the British Library's collections, particularly the stories and experiences that have often been overlooked. Most importantly, I look forward to bringing the knowledge, experience and professional connections I gain back to Bermuda to support greater access to, engagement with and preservation of our local history. My goal has always been to help ensure that Bermuda's stories remain accessible and meaningful to future generations, and I see this fellowship as an important step towards that goal."
The British Library is one of the world's most important centres of knowledge and cultural heritage. As the national library of the United Kingdom, it houses an extraordinary collection of over 170 million books, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, sound recordings and archives from across the globe, preserving over two millennia of human history and creativity. For researchers and fellows, the Library offers unparalleled access to world-class collections, leading experts and cutting-edge research resources, creating a unique environment for discovery and innovation.
Beyond its role as a repository of knowledge, the British Library is a vibrant international institution that fosters collaboration, learning and culturalexchange, making it an exceptional place to developnew ideas, buildprofessional networks and contribute to global research and understanding.
Governor Andrew Murdoch CMG, CVO said ‘This is a significant personal achievement and a reflection of the talent and potential we have here in Bermuda. The Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to work with world-leading collections, expertise and networks, developing knowledge and relationships that will benefit not only Chynna, but Bermuda and the wider Overseas Territories community. By helping to preserve,explore and share our historyand heritage, opportunities such as this ensure that the voices and experiences of our communities continue to be recognised and understood. I wish Chynna every success and look forward to seeing her share the benefits of this experience upon her return.’
A Chevening Fellowship delivers benefits that extend well beyond the individual, creating opportunities to bring new knowledge, international connections and best practice back to Bermuda. Fellows gain access to world-class expertise and a global network of leaders and specialists, helping to strengthen Bermuda's capacity in key sectors, support innovation, and raise the island's profile on the international stage. The fellowship offers the chance to bring fresh ideas, meaningful international connections and new expertise back to Bermuda, creating benefits that can be sharedacross the community and helping the island buildeven stronger relationships with partners in the UK and beyond.
About the British Library
We are the national library of the UK and we are here for everyone. Our shelves hold over 170 millionitems – a living collection that gets biggerevery day. Although our roots extend back centuries, we aim to collect everything published in the UK today, tomorrow and far into the future. Our trusted experts care for this collection and open it up for everyone to spark new discoveries, ideas and to help people do incredible things.
We have millions of books, and much more besides. Our London and Yorkshire sites hold collections ranging from newspapers and maps to sound recordings, patents, academic journals, as well as a copy of every UK domain website and blog. Our public spaces provide a place to research, to meet friends, to start up a new business or simplyto get inspired by visitingour galleries and events. We work with partners and libraries across the UK and the world to make sure that as many people as possible have the chance to use and explore our collections, events and expertise. And we're always open online, along with more and more of our digitised collection.
For further information visit:https://www.bl.uk
