This week marks the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. Dickens 2012 is a year-long and world-wide celebration of the novelist’s life and work. And indeed it would have been difficult to have escaped the deluge of Dickens inspired television dramas and spin-offs which have already hit our television screens. But it’s maybe worth a reminder that Edinburgh City Libraries has a vast reservoir of Dickens material to tap into. From his earliest writings to his final unfinished novel, we’ve got it all, including criticism, guides and companions to the literature to help with essays and project work.

We’ve just made available a lovely collection of colourful portraits by artist Claud Lovat Fraser which capture the personalities and eccentricities of many characters from the stories of Charles Dickens. The online exhibition mixes the well-known and best-loved characters like the dastardly Fagin and orphan Oliver Twist, with the more obscure personalities such as Uncle Pumplechook from Great Expectations or Mrs and Mr Mantalini who appear in Nicholas Nickleby. Take a look and test your knowledge or maybe find some inspiration to try something a little less televised.

If you’re popping into the Central Library this month, look out for the ‘Best of Times, Worst of Times’ displays throughout the building highlighting Dickens and the world he portrayed in his writing. The displays will feature gems from the Reference Library and Fine Art collections including the original instalments from the serialised stories Dickens wrote for the weekly journal, ‘Household Words’ and a wonderfully evocative book entitled ‘London: a pilgrimage’ with illustrations of Dickensian times by Gustave Dore.