Books for Everyone?

Today our explorations took us to the British Library.

How the library is set up is very interesting. Anyone can come into the library, but to be able to look at a book, you must register with reader services. You must provide two forms of ID that include proof of address and signature, no copies are allowed and there are NO exceptions. You must also state the nature of your research. The majority of the users are doing academic research (68%). None of the collections are browsable, and there are 186 miles of shelving in the basement for storing the majority of the collections. These materials have to be requested and pulled for you, so you need to use their catalogue and determine what you need before you come in. All publishers must submit one copy of everything they publish, and according to our guide, the library will "hold it in trust for the nation". There is no censorship and they claim to have the most historical collection in the world.

This new library was opened by Queen Elizabeth in June 1998. Arts and Humanities are located on one side of the building and sciences on the other. The humanities and rare books areas have the largest reading rooms, and almost always have an occupancy rate of 96-98%. The rooms are available on a first come first serve basis, and once they are full no one else can come in. There is no limit to the amount of time you can spend in the room, so some researchers are there all day.

The library is also home to the King's Library of George III, which is a working collection of over 60,000 items. There are no plans to digitize this collection, because according to our guide it would take one thousand years.

One of the most interesting parts of the library was the Sir John Ritblat Gallery which houses the Treasures of the British Library. Original writings from literary greats, illustrations, religious sacred texts, one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta, and Beatles lyrics. A page in a notebook with the conclusion to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre: "Readers - I married him. A quiet wedding we had." Also impressive were the number of artists who had illustrated Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Salvador Dali's surreal interpretation and the black and white drawings by Marketa Prachaticka both gave you a different feeling for the story.

In the front entrance of the library there is a book sculpture titled "Sitting on History". It is an open book with a ball and chain, contrasting the availability and suppression of knowledge. The British Library is safeguarding the world's knowledge.

Steps at the British Library

Our photography focus today had been on smaller things, details.

Detail from what appeared to be a large abstract painting