Stratford-upon-Avon, a library and a play

TUESDAY, JULY 1st the LIS class embarked on a coach ride to Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare and home to a little Carnegie library. 

First, the library. Although it's a Carnegie library, it isn't built in the Carnegie style. Andrew Carnegie deviated from his usual requirements and allowed the original building to remain in place because of its historic value. The only thing denoting it as a Carnegie library from the outside (or the inside for that matter) is a little plaque at the entrance. Inside, the library is very modern and provides an impressive number of services despite its modest size. One of my favorite things were the murals on the windows in the fiction section (see photos for detail). 

The tour of Stratford was largely an independent one. I thoroughly enjoyed going at my own pace and exploring the shops surrounding the library and also Waterside Street. I wasn't brave enough to venture farther out, but like everywhere we've visited so far, the architecture is amazing! I ended my exploration of Waterside with a self tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company theatre, its cool paper mâché characters and gift shop before meeting up with the class to see Henry IV, Part 1 at the RSC. Once I got over my fear-of-heights issues (and really, the seats were very secure), I thoroughly enjoyed the excellent (and often times hilarious) production. Now I want to see Part II! 

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A brief introduction to Andrew Carnegie and his libraries. A native Scotsman, Andrew Carnegie eventually relocated to the United States and to Pennsylvania in particular. He made his fortune as a steel magnate after growing up very poor. He chose to channel his financial success into philanthropic efforts, such as Carnegie Hall (who hasn't heard of that?!) and in libraries, which became known as Carnegie libraries. 

The first Carnegie Library was opened in Dunfermline, Scotland (which I'll have the chance to visit in a couple of weeks). Initially libraries were only opened in places where he had a personal connection, but the endowment was later extended worldwide. Carnegie libraries were built until 1929 and many of the over 2,000 libraries built worldwide are still standing and operating as libraries. One example in Salt Lake would be the Chapman Branch of the SLCPL. Others were also built in Utah, but most of these have either been demolished, remodeled or repurposed. 

We also have Andrew Carnegie to thank for the concept of "open stacks" - library collections accessible to the public, rather than limited to library staff for retrieval. 

(Tatiana from A Midsummer Night's Dream)