The beginning of the end: Maughan & Westminster

In the final week of my time in London and the UK, which also means our final LIS class trips.

TUESDAY, JULY 22nd began the final week of class as Monday was a travel/get settled in London day after mini break. The day began with an optional trip to the Maughan Library, one of six libraries that serve Kings College London (our dorms are also a part of Kings). Having gone to college in a more rural setting, I've been surprised at how spread out Kings and the University of Edinburgh are. The campuses are located all over town, not just a specific area of town. Anyways, we took the #4 bus over to the library and once again, the architecture amazed me! So beautiful. Built in 1851, the library was originally a public records office. In 1998 Kings took over a 125 year lease and began fitting the space for their needs (as much as the "listed" status would allow) and then the library opened in 2002. 

Many remnants of the building's former life still exist. As a public records office until the 1960s, fire prevention was taken very seriously. Slate shelving and individual rooms known as cells (in fact, it looks very much like a prison might in places) were used to safeguard against fire and other possible damage. Access to water was also restricted in the building to keep everything as dry as possible, bad to this day there is only one drinking fountain, located in the basement. 

The library has recently been slightly remodeled to allow for the introduction of self checkout machines and an electronic sorter, as well as try combining of the transaction and enquiries desks to better serve patrons. While we've seen self checkout at many of the libraries we've visited, this is the first time I've seen an electronic sorter in the UK (although the British Library did have an electronic delivery system). The sorter is different than the ones used by SLCLS, but it is set up in much the same way. However, instead of the self-raising bins I'm used to, they use soft drop bins at each sort point. I can see the advantages and disadvantages to the soft bins. I don't think the bins will ever get full from the system's point of view, but they are more cumbersome and difficult to empty if full. The Maughan Library's sorter was so QUIET! Loved that! Another thing I was impressed by is that during peak times the library is open 24 hours. 

After the main tour we headed across the courtyard to visit the Foyle Special Collections. Like a lot of libraries and archives we've seen, they provide exhibitions throughout the library. However, one thing that they do that I was really impressed by is that they digitize their exhibitions after they end so that they are available entirely online for anyone who wasn't able to see them in person. Also, their acquisitions policy is interesting. They provide a home for collections that meet their standards when they can't be adequately maintained in their current place. 

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After the Maughan Library we ventured over to the Old Bank of England Pub for lunch, which blessedly had AC. Once again, I tried the fish and chips (with peas!) and it was better than the first time! Then we headed over to Westminster Abbey to visit the library there. 

Westminster Abbey and it's library are very unique. There has been a church at the site of Westminster Abbey since AD 960, when a monastic church was founded. The construction of the church as we see it today began in the 1200s and the library at Westminster Abbey was established by John Williams in 1591 after the Abbey became a collegiate church in 1560 under Queen Elizabeth I. He donated the books and shelving and a former monastic dorm became the library space. 

The library's collection is theological and is considered a closed collection, meaning that books aren't added to it. Very rarely, if a book with a direct connection to the Abbey becomes available it might be acquired for the collection. Most of the books in the collection date back to before 1801. 

The books are mostly shelved by size, rather than following a classification scheme and the catalog is still the old fashioned card catalog variety (how quaint! It is a dream of mine to own a card catalog someday!), although they are currently working on computerizing it. 

I also bought a double decker bus Christmas ornament at the Abbey gift shop for way too much money. :)

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After Westminster Abbey and a group photo in Trafalgar Square, a classmate and I took the Tube back to Waterloo. We were so tired and hot that it took us a of couple stops to realize that we were going the wrong direction (although we were on the right line)! After getting off the train and finding the southbound train, we made it successfully back to the dorm. :) After dinner, I joined this same classmate and another to see "Some Like it Hot" with Marilyn Monroe on the big screen at the BFI. It was hilarious! 

Ever heard of Rosslyn? Thanks to Dan Brown, you probably have!

THURSDAY, JULY 17th was the start of "mini break" and another classmate and I decided to join Dr. Welsh on a short trip to Rosslyn Chapel before going our separate ways for mini break. Rosslyn Chapel is located in the village of Roslin, a relatively short bus ride from central Edinburgh. One of the most intriguing things about Rosslyn Chapel is the fact that William Saint Clair (eventually shortened to Sinclair) originally intended Rosslyn to be a grand cathedral. However, when he died during its construction in the 1400s, only the "choir" was built and it remained that way. So now there is a very petite chapel with hints of what could have been. 

Rosslyn Chapel remained virtually unknown to tourists until a certain author visited and decided to feature the chapel in one of his books. Dan Brown mentions Rosslyn Chapel at the end of his book The Da Vinci Code and when the film came out, the chapel (with some Hollywood liberties and modifications) was featured as well. However, never having read the book or seen the film, I don't feel qualified to tell you what those were. I will tell you that seeing the chapel has sparked my interest in seeing it, just so I can compare. 

The really neat thing about Dan Brown's visit and the subsequent popularity of the chapel as a tourist attraction is that the increased revenue has allowed the chapel to receive some much needed restoration. The chapel used to only see 30,000 visitors a year, but after it became known to the general public, they saw that many visitors in one month. 

After visiting the chapel, we had lunch at the cafe (another delicious sandwich!) and then we ventured along a somewhat steep path past the graveyard to see the remains of Rosslyn Castle. Oh my, I can't believe how beautiful Scotland is! After seeing the castle ruins, we walked back to the village to take the bus back to Edinburgh. We found that we had a few minutes before the bus arrived, so we wandered into the local library just down the street. Such a cute village library, well stocked in a small storefront. 

I can't tell you why the village and the chapel have different spellings, I wasn't able to figure that out. 

Dunfermline - "let there be light"*

On WEDNESDAY, JULY 16th a small group of us ventured to Dunfermline on an optional day trip to visit Andrew Carnegie's birthplace and the site of the first Carnegie Library. I have to say that this is the first time I've ever visited an empty library, but it was neat nonetheless. Why was it empty, you ask? (Well, maybe you didn't, but I'll tell you anyway!) The library is currently undergoing renovations to become a "hub" - a concept we've learned about in the UK. Essentially, a hub is a building that serves multiple purposes, i.e., a community center. By housing libraries in these facilities, they are in a better position to provide library services, save on operating costs and make it a type of "one stop shopping" experience. In the case of Dunfermline, the goal is to continue to provide library services, while also creating a museum and cultural experience. The library building will be connected to another building nearby and the two will function as the hub. According to projections, it will open in 2016. 

Our visit to the library coincided with the end of the move out phase. As we walked up to the library, we saw movers loading crates into a moving truck (lorry?). While some might think it disappointing to see an empty library, the historian in me really loved it because I could see the building (almost) in its original glory, not obscured by modern accoutrements (how's that for a word choice Auntie?). 

During the transition phase, library services are spread out amongst four buildings across town. We arrived at one of these, St. Margaret's House, to begin our tour a little early and I had the opportunity to visit with one of the librarians for a bit. This wonderful librarian also happened to be an officer in the Jane Austen Society UK (and the first Scottish officer!) and I had a great time discussing all things Austen and Persuasion with her. She gave me some great insights for my paper. 

After the tour of the library, we made a quick stop to see Andrew Carnegie's birthplace before heading back to the bus station. A few classmates decided to stay in Dunfermline a little longer, but two of us decided to return to Edinburgh with our professors (a wise choice in my opinion as it started pouring rain shortly after boarding the bus!). On our way back to the dorms we decided to stop at the Hard Rock Cafe, which I'd never been to before, anywhere. I had the most delicious fresh vegetable sandwich. When the server brought it to me, he said that I'd ordered the best thing on the menu. At first, I thought it was a line, but after tasting it, I think he meant it. At least five times on this trip I've been told that whatever I've ordered was a great choice. Maybe I have a knack for reading the menu?! Honestly, all I try to do is pick something I recognize, and if possible, something vegetarian (the meat dishes are usually too "heavy" or too much food and they don't do "to go" boxes here. I've really loved sandwiches here - they come up with some fascinating combinations. 

*"Let there by light" is inscribed on many Carnegie libraries at the entrance. I think it's fitting, given a library's purpose. 

National Records of Scotland

MONDAY, JULY 14th we visited the National Records of Scotland. I have to admit that my favorite part of the visit (aside from the amazing architecture and our wonderful guide) was hearing about the family history division, known as ScotlandsPeople (that's not a typo), and the brief mention of how the LDS Church has helped them. Little reminders of home always make me so happy! 

So, recently the NRS has become sort of an umbrella for a variety of records services offered by the Scottish government. The integration process is currently underway, but the divisions under this umbrella include:

General Register for Scotland

National Archives of Scotland

ScotlandsPeople

ScotlandsPlaces

Scottish Register of Tartans

and a few others...

Currently these divisions all have separate web presences, but one of the goals of the integration is to create a web presence that encompasses them all, as some information available at one location benefits from information at another. 

While Scotland is considered part of the UK, there are areas where they are separate - they have a separate legal system and parliament, as well as a separate education system. This means that the records created by these entities are separate as well and they need storage space. This was first recognized when Scotland began keeping vital records, such as marriages and census data in the 1840s and 1850s. Like other archives we've visited, the NRS is currently facing a space problem. Unlike other places we've visited, the NRS also has the power to weed superfluous records, but that doesn't solve the problem because of the amount of records accumulated annually. 

About one third of the records are stored at the General Register House (the site we visited), which opened in 1789 and another site known as the New Register House. The other two-thirds are housed at the Thomas Thomson House outside the city. Thomas Thomson is also home to an imaging suite that allows for the digitization of records. The suite was created in partnership with the LDS Church to facilitate family history research. 

It was cold and rainy the day we went, so I didn't get a good photo of the outside. The General Register House is the dome-topped building in the center. The buildings on either side are actually across the street. Photo found here.

Kew & Beatrix Potter, round two

Due to some, shall we say, unfortunate technical difficulties (I pressed the DELETE key while the text was all highlighted), my first post about Kew has disappeared. So here's round two...

FRIDAY, JULY 11th the class visited the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew to learn more about their archives, tour the herbarium, learn more about Beatrix Potter and finally, enjoy a lovely (said without sarcasm) walk through the gardens in the rain. 

Before coming on this trip I had no idea that Beatrix Potter (of Peter Rabbit fame) had any connection to Kew. It was only in talking with another classmate (who hoped that the gift shop would have some Peter Rabbit memorabilia) that I realized the connection. Before the now-famous books, Potter studied fungi at Kew Gardens. And she is responsible for a number of botanical prints in their collections. 

Aside from the gardens themselves, the herbarium was my favorite. First, the word "herbarium" is just cool. Second, the herbarium is essentially a library of plant specimens. Countless plants and their seeds have been mounted on cardstock and preserved in archive boxes with complete catalog records dating back to the garden's founding in 1759. In 2003 the garden was made a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is also an art collection and a botanic books collection, which features some very old and rare books that are still used in research by the garden's botanists. 

The day also included a wonderful presentation on Beatrix Potter and her secret code diary, a delicious lunch in the Orangery and a successful trip to the gift shop. 

What is Beatrix Potter's secret code diary? Beginning at age 14, Potter began keeping a journal or diary written in secret code that she devised herself. She wrote about all sorts of things. In 1958, this journal was finally decoded (after lots of frustration and false starts) by Leslie Linder (ancestor of our presenter, Andrew Wiltshire) and published.

Most interesting random fact of the day... despite my frustrations over how small the Beatrix Potter books are when trying to shelve them at the library, their size serves a specific purpose: Beatrix Potter wanted the books to be easy for little hands to hold. Using that reasoning, I can't seem to feel frustrated anymore. It's too cute! :)

Note: I realize that date-wise my posts are now out of order. The aforementioned technical difficulties and an excitement over the Edinburgh Central Library are to blame. ;)

Edinburgh Central Library {I'd work here if I could!}

(warning: photo heavy post!)

TUESDAY, JULY 15th - I LOVE Scotland! And our visit today to the Edinburgh Central Library did not disappoint. In fact, of all the places we've visited throughout England and Scotland, this is my favorite (hence, the number of photos from my normally photo-phobic self)!

The Central Library is a Carnegie library (remember my earlier post about Stratford?) that opened in 1890. As the name suggests, this library is located in the center of town, directly across from the NLS. A fellow classmate and I got there a little early and had a great time exploring on our own before meeting with our group to tour this amazing (both in space and service) library. 

"I need to read a book."

I overheard a young boy say this (in the cutest Scottish accent) as we began our tour of the children's library. The children's library is a recently renovated space (only open about 6-8 weeks) that is AMAZING! Wonderful murals on the walls by illustrator Catherine Rayner add charm and whimsy to the rooms and bright paint colors and lights subtly accent the space which also benefits from an abundance of natural light. 

The programs offered by this library (both in the children's department and elsewhere) are so inspiring. In addition to the "standard" summer reading programs and story times offered by public libraries, this library also offers a number of programs and services for dyslexic readers - both children and adults. Story times are offered in English, Polish and Gaelic and the successes of the children's area have increased the library's circulation and patron stats incredibly. 

(the general "lending library" near the main entrance)

(Reference room at the top of the library - incredible architecture and an amazing amount of books)

("secret" stairs leading to gallery pictured above in the Reference room)

The Central Library is part of an extensive network of 28 brick-and-motar and a vast virtual library that serve the city of Edinburgh. Part of what's so great about that is that the population of this city is just under half a million. In contrast, Salt Lake County has just over one million people served by 24 (18 county, 6 downtown city) libraries. No matter where they are, a resident of the Edinburgh area is within 1.5 miles of a library. They also provide library services and programming to the local prison and have won awards (such as the 2012 UK library of the year) for services to the general population and the prison. 

A majority of the digital services offered by this library were very familiar to me - Zinio, Overdrive and OneClick Digital are all services offered by SLCLS. However, they also offer a wonderful "book map" of the city (see it in action here, because there is no way I could do it justice!) that allows users to see certain titles related to specific areas of the city. They also offer a map that allows users to gain a unique perspective of the old and new of the city. Even if you've never been to Scotland or never plan too, their map projects is so fun to explore! 

The library has grown and changed so much over the last few years, specifically because of a three-year plan (which ends 2015) and a push to make this Victorian-era Carnegie library relevant to all patrons in the 21st century. Visiting the library, either in person or via the web, it is easy to see why they are so successful - it's just a FUN place! 

Archive at the British Museum

THURSDAY, JULY 10th the LIS class visited the archive at the British Museum. The #1 thing I liked about this visit was how passionate the archivist is about her job, how concerned she is with doing what's best for the archival collections and her desire to make the collections as accessible as possible. 

The British Museum began with the passage of the British Museum Act in 1753. Initially located in the Montague House (which was hated by everyone at the museum), this was torn down and a new building was completed on the same site in the 1840s. Another site considered for the museum was the Buckingham House (now known as Buckingham Palace!). The museum has been in the "new" building ever since and once upon a time shared space with the organizations now known as the British Library and the Natural History Museum before they became separate entities. The reading room that once housed the library still exists in the museum and, until recently, it served as an exhibition space for the museum. Its future is now under debate as museum staff consider the best use for the space. 

(the round reading room, former home of the British Library)

Part of the museum's interesting history centers around WWII. During this time, the Germans were doing their best to loot valuable artifacts from museums across Europe. To protect against this, the museum had a number of security measures in place. While they couldn't remove everything from the museum lest they arouse suspicion, they found "reorganization" to be a useful tactic. They put less valuable or duplicate items on display in the public spaces while hiding the rare and more valuable items in the basement, a nearby post office and in Aldwych tube station. By doing so, the museum was able to minimize the losses to their collections during the war. 

Related to this, the museum still fields claims from other museums and individuals regarding items in the collection that may have ended up there through looting during WWII, indirectly. If these claims are discovered to be valid, the items are immediately returned to the proper owner as the museum cannot maintain anything acquired illegally. 

The archives of the British Museum are now located in the same basements once used to hide artifacts. These archives house the administrative records of the museum dating back to its founding, including committee minutes, officer reports, photos and architectural plans. The archivist is currently working on creating a catalog of all items so that one day soon these items will be searchable online. It's only been within the last five years that interest in the archive's collections has really grown. 

(a somewhat awkward photo of the shelving in the basement archive space at the museum)

Greenwich & the Caird Library at the National Maritime Museum

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9th we traveled via the Thames Clipper to Greenwich to visit the Caird Archive & Library at the National Maritime Museum. The boat ride was awesome and upon arriving at the dock we saw a book bench! I love these benches! Such a neat idea! 

Prior to our tour of the library, we had a meeting with one of the archivists who showed us some of the rare and significant items in the museum's collection, including a ship's log book from the man who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace" (if you don't know the story behind the hymn, I highly recommend checking it out, it's a moving, incredible story) and another that was "acquired" from the USS Chesapeake during the War of 1812. The log book from the USS Chesapeake actually had musket balls in the spine. Supposedly, these musket balls were to ensure that the book would sink when tossed overboard instead of ending up in the hands of the enemy... Obviously there wasn't enough time for that or it was unsuccessful because it now sits in the museum. :-) 

(log book from USS Chesapeake)

The Caird Library is a very modern space, with a ton of natural light and great study space. Downstairs, we were taken to see the stacks that are kept in climate controlled rooms (read: very cold) on rolling shelving used to maximize space. 

After our visit to the library I had lunch in the museum's cafe (I've been able to try some very yummy and interesting sandwiches whilst in the UK) and then ventured up to the Royal Observatory for some incredible views of greater London and a visit to the Prime Meridian and atomic clock.  

I realize that a Hollywood film never gives a completely accurate representation of a story, but this movie made me want to learn more about John Newton and Amazing Grace. Worth watching! 

Library at St. Paul's Cathedral {way, way up}

TUESDAY, JULY 8th - After visiting the Barbican Library and a lunch break, the LIS class took a tour of the library at St. Paul's Cathedral, which is way up above the main part of the cathedral, but thankfully not as high as the dome (which you can also tour). The present cathedral building dates back to the 1600s and was designed by Christopher Wren (as have some other well known buildings throughout London). The library is an amazing space, and it is evident from the architecture that it was always meant to be a library. While the library isn't part of the usual public tour, it is open to students and others for research and study. The library houses books original to the library, dating back to the 1500s, as well as a few select documents dating back to the original St. Paul's that show the architecture, etc. of the original cathedral. 

(Photos of the interior of the cathedral aren't allowed, so the librarian said we could use photos available on their website)

One of the most interesting things the librarian showed us at the library was the problem of "hooking" books and the damage that is done to the integrity of the book's binding when this is done. At St. Paul's and elsewhere books are usually packed pretty tightly on the shelves. When a user tries to remove a tightly wedged book from the shelf by hooking the edge of book, they break the protective edge designed to guard the text block and spine. Instead of using such a damaging method to remove a book, the librarian showed us the proper way - push the books surrounding the book to be removed inwards. This allows you to grasp the book more firmly around the spine without causing damage. 

This document from the British Library details some of problems caused by mishandling books, including "hooking." 

Barbican Library

TUESDAY, JULY 8th - So, interesting fact: the City of London proper is only one square mile, with 5,000 permanent residents (what most people consider as "London" has approximately 8.9 million people). Within this square mile lies the Barbican Centre, once voted the ugliest building in England and, I agree, from the outside it's not much to look at, but on the inside one finds a little micro city with shops, restaurants, theatre, (very expensive) flats and... a library, the largest public lending library in London known as the Barbican Library. 

Our tour of the library was so great! Our guide/librarian was hilarious and a fount of information, not only about the library, but about libraries and the professional librarian world in the UK. within the library there is a dedicated children's library - not just a space, but a separate room, as well as a general adult library and a well-known music library staffed by professional musicians turned librarians. Also, given its location within the Barbican Centre and just because of library policies, this is NOT a quiet library and you won't find any librarians trying to shush you. ;)

The first stop on our tour was the children's library. Several interesting things to note, the first of which is that a stroller is known as a "buggy" to the Brits. And this library has an area to park them during story times. Other things of interest were that no fines are assessed on children's cards and the borrowing limit on all items throughout the entire library is 12 items, which compared to SLCLS' 30 (and now, 50) item limit, surprised me. Their story time program, known as "rhyme time," became so popular at the library that it had to be expanded to three times per week to accommodate the various age groups that wanted to attend. 

In terms of collection, the way children's fiction books are arranged intrigued and impressed me. They found that parents were really wanting to know which books were appropriate for certain ages, so the library began color coding and shelving by age group. While not a perfect science, as a child may enjoy reading something slightly above or below his/her age, parents have really found the service useful. The children's library also has a volunteer program where adults and university students come in to mentor a child on a weekly basis who is learning to read. The volunteers sign up to work with one or two children specifically, so there is consistency in the program. 

In the main library, I was impressed by the signage, not only of call number and general areas, but of specific subjects (see photos for examples). The library uses a modified version of Dewey to catalog and display books. This allows them to better work within the space the library building offers. The library offers everything from the very old (as in 1738) to the latest titles for borrowing, as well as ILL service, although there is a charge for ILL requests. Like other libraries we've visited, there is a charge for AV materials which serves as a source of revenue for the library. Given that there are no residency requirements or fees to obtain a membership, this makes sense. A person only need prove permanent address (no matter where it is) and that they are reasonably able to return the items they borrow. So, while it might not be feasible for me to get a library card, a person who lives outside London, but comes into the city regularly or commutes could easily get a card. 

The music library is located on the lower level of the library space. The music library opened in 1983, a year after the main part of the library opened. It is staffed by specialized staff that are particularly knowledgeable about music. The library not only offers an extensive CD collection, but reference works on music, journals, sheet music, exhibitions, and historical materials. There are also listening stations, study space and piano rentals where students or aspiring musicians can study for exams or practice. 

Bath Central Library

(a more in-depth post about my visit to Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge is on its way)

(while I was able to get some good interior photos, this exterior shot is from here)

FRIDAY, JULY 4th a few of us took a guided tour to Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge. While exploring Bath we decided to visit the local public library since one of our assignments for class is to visit a couple of library-related sites on our own time. The library we visited was the Bath Central Library, which is part of the Bath and North East Somerset Council Libraries and Archives. The library is right in the center of town and shares space with a local Waitrose (a food store). The library is above the store, accessible by escalator or lift. As you approach the entrance you are greeted with glass display cases advertising library programming as well as the library's operating information.

One thing that struck me immediately about the library is how similar it is to my home library. Like SLCLS, the library offers self checkout stations and self service holds pickup. The library is very modern inside and offers several catalog computers, public access computers and free Wi-Fi to patrons. It appeared that the reference desk and circulation desk were located in the same spot, which makes sense given the library's size. 

One thing we have all noticed at the public libraries we have visited thus far is that while books check out for free, there is a small charge for the rental of DVDs and other AV material. However, since being in the UK, I have not seen any rental places or Redbox-type kiosks, so perhaps the library is the only option for such items. 

There was also a large study area that appeared to be well-loved, although there was no private study space. Despite the library being quite busy, it remained very quiet and it was easy to find things. There were a number of interesting displays and end cap shelves stocked with books according to topic. The library uses the Dewey Decimal System to catalog all their books. I didn't notice how the AV was arranged. 

On our way out of the library we were stopped by one of the librarians, who I think was a little suspicious of our picture taking and wandering around. After explaining to him that we were library students exploring libraries around the UK, he was very forthcoming and warm and shared a lot of information about the programs they provide and the people who visit the library. 

a visit to the British Library

"The world's knowledge."

THURSDAY, JULY 3rd we visited the British Library, roughly the UK equivalent of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., but so much cooler (at least from a tourist perspective). The British Library was originally a division of the British Museum housed within the museum itself, but as the collections grew, the need for more space also grew. Under the direction of architect and former Navy volunteer Colin St. John Wilson, the plans for the new library began to take shape in the 1970s, although construction was not complete until 1997. The library is the largest public building in the UK built in the 20th century. 

The library was formally opened by Her Magesty the Queen in 1998, and as a legal deposit library, the library is required to retain copies of everything published in the UK and Ireland. One thing that took me by surprise was the reason for the 18+ age requirement for use: when they say they have to keep everything, they mean everything published, including pornographic and other "adult" materials. Since users have access to all of the library's materials, a user MUST be over 18. However, a user who is 16 or 17 years old may be able to use the library on a restricted access basis if the library is the only library that provides access to a specific resource needed for a school assignment. This is done on a case-by-case basis. 

There are quite a few interesting facts regarding the library's construction. While the building was designed in the 1970s, delays and other issues (such as finding plague pits while excavating the basements!) meant that by the time construction was complete, some elements were no longer needed or were a bit "odd." The space designed for the card catalog in the 1970s was no longer needed by the 1990s due to technological advances, so that space became the King's Library tower which houses the collections of King George III, required to be on display and accessible at all times. 

(Sorry, it's not a very good photo, but this tower goes from the ground floor to the top of the building, directly in the center.)

As a Jane Austen fan, the highlight of the trip for me was seeing an original copy of her novel Persuasion (my absolute favorite!) in the Treasures Room. Unfortunately, photos aren't allowed in the Treasures Room because of the rarity and importance of the items there. A trip to the gift shop was absolutely necessary to purchase a postcard for 60p instead. 

Another thing I did not realize, but was quite happy to discover is that the British Library is literally right next door to St. Pancras train station. It's a beautiful building now being used as the gateway for Eurostar trains to/from France and Belgium. The library's facade was actually influenced by its proximity to St. Pancras - the library is the only modern public building to utilize red brick. Custom-made bricks were created so that the two buildings would be in harmony with one another, although the architecture of the library is much more modern and actually resembles a ship (thanks to Wilson's naval background). 

And... check out this neat video on Jane Austen's manuscripts at the British Library.

(I was unable to get a really good photo of St. Pancras because the streets were so crowded, so this image is from here.)

Stowe Library in Buckinghamshire

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2nd the LIS class visited the library at Stowe School, part of the larger estate of Stowe House and its National Trust gardens. The estate is exactly like something you'd see in a Jane Austen movie adaption and in fact, the estate has been used in several popular movies. The neoclassical architecture is amazing and the house, the school and the library itself each have an interesting and colorful history. 

The Stowe House is larger than any picture I could ever show - over 400 rooms. And it is undergoing extensive renovations. The preservation trust was created in 1997 and they work to raise money for specific projects before completing them. In the 1960s it was determined that the gardens were becoming too much upkeep for the estate to manage, so in the late 1980s the gardens were turned over to the National Trust to maintain - over 1,000 acres. 

In regards to the school, the preservation trust is working to restore rooms to their former glory while still ensuring they are functional for students. For example, the current "cafeteria" was once a very, very large guest chamber. However, such a large bedroom isn't very functional for a school that serves 1,000 meals a day, so that room will not be restored to a bedroom. Stowe School is a coed boarding school with over 90% of pupils being full time boarders during the school term. Most of the remaining pupils live nearby and attend Stowe on scholarship.

The library itself has an interesting history. Its contents have been sold a couple times over since the late 1700s in order to help irresponsible owners remain financially solvent (along with the rest of the estate's contents). Right now, the only original fixtures in the library are the built-in bookcases and the restored (and impressive) plaster ceiling. This is a working library, meaning that this library (that was once also used as a dining room) is used by the students daily with World Book encyclopedias intermingled with the very old books in the gallery. Although none of the photos show it, there are also computers for student use (they were taken out for a "Leavers' Ball" held the night before). 

The school started as a boys' school in May 1923, with 99 pupils. It only recently became a coed school for ages 13 until they finish their studies at age 18. Current yearly tuition rates are about £33,000 a year. The tour guide paused for a moment after telling us that to allow us to calculate that in USD - almost $57,000 a year. As she put it, "we're not the most expensive, but we're up there."

The current librarian told us that the library was initially set up by a qualified librarian, but then suffered years of neglect before another qualified librarian was brought in in the 1980s. She said that even so, when she came to be the school's librarian (along with her husband, who also works at the school), the library was a "sad place." She, along with the preservation staff, have worked hard to make it a functional, inviting place for students and teachers. 

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)