93/4 Kings Cross Platform and British Library

One of us almost didn't make it ;-).

Along the Way

On Thursday (July 12) we made our way to the British Library via the Tube taking time of course to stop by the famous Kings Cross 9 and3/4 Platform for the special entrance to the Hogwarts Express. Very exciting to finally view the Platform and have a picture made. A brief moment of panic in the Tube Station though when we got separated from the group. But never fear we had "London Libby" to guide the way, or maybe not so good when LL is talking and misses the stop. We did finally catch up to the group however, at King's Cross so all was well.

Amazing British Library

Inside the British Library

The British Library was amazing. Having been there the day before on our London Alive walk, I felt somewhat of an expert knowing where the bathroom was located. The library has 2300 employees, imagine that! The total collection is 174, 000,000 volumes with 35, 000,000 housed at the library itself. Most of the books excluding the King George collection, more about that later, are kept under the library (in the basement so to speak) which has four floors of shelving. Our guide, Kevin, explained that the length of the collection would be equivalent to driving 8 hours at 100 miles per hour and seeing nothing but shelves of books. He also said the collection grows by 8 miles of shelving every year. The three main goals or mission of the library are 1)to acquire all national bibliographic output 2)to keep all national bibliographic output (archive it) and 3)to make all bibliographic archive available (accessible). Librarians sound familiar ; ). The library processes one million requests per year and 40,000 per day. The collection is only accessible to those who have a Reader Register's pass. There are special procedures set up for the whole process. For instance, I am interested in a certain book or collection and I don't have a pass. I would have to go to the Reader's Registration Room where I would fill out an electronic information form and wait to be called for an interview with library staff where I should receive my Pass, barring any international incidence. To request material I could go to any reading room and make my request. The process is so precise the the state government proposes target time limits for each step. The library has 20 minutes to get you your card and 70 minutes to get you your requested item if it is on site. Who said librarianship was a low stress profession!! Wait till I tell our ILL staff this tidbit of information. Another interesting fact about the collection is that they classify according to size. This is because of the limited space. Something to suggest at the next staff meeting : 0.

I seem to be running on and on here about the library but it does seem to go on and on and on....

Oh yeah I forgot about the King George Collection. Right in the middle of the library is this long glass tower with books lining all the windows. An awesome sight. This is the phenomenon King George Collection, 90,000 items. King George left the collection to the country with the stipulation that it had to be displayed and it had to be used, hence the large glass tower. Amazing that I could actually request something from the collection and put my grubby little hands all over it, shudder. Kevin (our guide) explained that since most of the books our bound with a leather cover, the oil from the hands actually keeps them from drying out so no need for the white gloves. Well that is the highlights from the library visit or at least my highlights. So amazing and too much information. The library of course also has a cafe, book shop and exhibit rooms for displaying special collections. There is the British Libraries treasure room which among many other things holds the Magna Carta as well as the Sacred Collection exhibit going on until Sept. 23rd. This collection has a piece of the Dead Sea Scrolls on display. Just one more thing to mention before I close, touch screen book viewer/reader. I loved this contraption!!! A touch screen provides a menu of book selections and you just have to choose a book and touch the screen as if you were turning the pages with your finger to go through the book. Now that electronic book I could handle. No more scrolling down the page on a tiny computer screen. I imagine we are not far from curling up with our electronic readers. I think I could get into that. Thank you Bill Gates!