Welcome to the BMI. The Birmingham & Midland Institute has been at the heart of Birmingham’s cultural life for almost 170 years. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1854 for the “Diffusion and Advancement of Science, Literature and Art amongst all classes of persons resident in Birmingham and Midland counties.” Charles Dickens was one of our biggest advocates and one of our earliest Presidents. We are also the site for the original Birmingham Library. The library's holding has steadily increased since joining the Institute in1955. We have collections you can't find anywhere else in the world. We also offer our wonderful rooms for hire, Each room in the BMI is fitted with modern AV equipment, complimentary WIFI and wonderful coffee lounge. Our rooms can accommodate capacitates of up to 250.