The British Library

Gaining access to the Reading Rooms of the British Library takes some doing - such as having a passport, legitimate research purposes and purchasing a pass.  For the unsuspecting tourist who just pops in for the day, a little preparation is needed prior to the visit.

 Unfortunately, that wasn't what I did - one just wandered in, but the library was still ready with plenty of treasures waiting and was a great place to spend a day away from Londons crowds.

In the centre of the building, the Kings Library features in a custom made glass tower 6 storys high.  The collection dates from the 1700's and books are retrieved for use in the rare books and music reading rooms.  

 The Kings Library in its glass tower:

Library tourists can also view the 'Treasures of the Library' collection in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery, which features the Magna Carte, Leonardo Da Vinci's notebook, original music score of Handel's 'Messiah', Charles Dickens notebooks,.......

A temporary exhibition called ‘Writing Britain’ was on display at the time – celebrating over 1000 years of English literature.   An Aladdin’s cave of manuscripts, belongings and drawings had been assembled from authors including Tolkien, Lennon, Blake, Dickens, Shakespeare, Rowling, Chaucer, Bronte, AA Milne, Stevenson, Zadie Smith, Orwell, Bram Stoker, Yeats, Pinter – and the list goes on and on….. One felt encouraged that some authors journals looked no different to ones own.  Others, however, looked like magical codexes of spells to fire the inspiration.  

www.bl.uk/writing britain

The newsletter of Friends of the British Library had an interesting article outlining the time of Dame Lynne Brindley’s time as chief executive of the Library as it comes to an end.  The purpose of the British Library had changed over the past decade – from being a mere large repository to having to make its own income, make the libraries resources as digital as possible, and adapt strategic marketing to capture wider audiences.       

www.bl.uk/friends

The British Library website is well worth checking on a regular basis for keeping up to date with library practices, technologies and what is happening at the forefront of the library world - and to keep finding amazing things.  The Library has reached out to us from London – and we can visit anytime from any country and keep informed. 

www.bl.uk