Home

I've been home for about 15 days now, and still sometimes wake up wondering how my tiny London dorm room window got so large. Of course, it is big because it is not my London window at all, it is my street view bedroom window in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Now that I have been working and volunteering at my old jobs for a couple of weeks, living in the UK for a month seems like a dream. I was able to see and experience many things. I am fortunate that I was able to participate in such an awesome learning adventure.

My friend, Bonnie, came out to visit for a few days and we had a blast. We got to see some of the tourist attractions as well as hang out at local pubs. We saw a special exhibit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's art on display at Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace. This collection is only available for a finite period of time, so seeing it this time was a priority. The Barbican Centre had a weekend event involving a silent disco. Attendees wore headphones to listen to either of two DJ's, Bonnie and I rarely listened to the same one. The funniest part is taking off the headphones and seeing everyone dance to music that cannot be heard. We had a great time looking for a pub where Liam Gallagher from Oasis used to hang out. We took the tube and searched the area for this illusive spot. Upon giving up we ate some nachos at a Mexican restaurant. We sat and contemplated what the queue outside the window was for. Hours later, returning to our room, we once again looked up the sought after pub and saw that we were sitting right next to it, the queue was for the pub we had been searching for all night. In the end, we agreed that we probably had a better time walking around, seeing beautiful houses and interesting streets and people, than hanging out at a dark basement bar.

One of my favorite parts of this trip was exploring the city alone, and with fellow students I had met. I love the busy city, but my most memorable days were spent at the parks. Hyde Park and Regent's Park were much more than any park around where I live. Both of these parks could be explored for days, there are so many activities and gardens to see, they were quite impressive.

When asked what was my favorite part, I struggle to find an answer. While I enjoyed the difference between London and Edinburgh, I definitely preferred London. Usually my answer is, "all of London." Before traveling to London, I always pictured it to be just like New York City. I figured it would be so similar to NYC that the only difference I would notice would be in the accents. I was wrong, there are many cultural and physical differences. I guess I did not realize the immense amount of history that would be right there in the city. I learned so much from museums and touring historical buildings. I never knew a lot about British history, but now I know the basic facts. Like NYC, London has everything and then some. I have never seen or imagined a place so over the top as Harrod's. True, Macy's on 34th Street, is large and contains an array of luxury and expensive items, but it is not nearly as lavish as Harrod's. I met a local who told me about people purchasing lions from Harrod's at one point. It is hard to believe that the bulk of London is only in about four miles. Four miles packs in Buckingham Palace, Tate Modern, National Gallery, St. Paul's Cathedral, Tate Britian, National Portrait Gallery, Covent Gardens, Soho, Hyde Park, enough live theatre and musicals to keep entertained for a month and much much more. I fell in love with everything London, the Tube, theatre, Yo!Sushi, shopping galore, people watching, chilling out in cool parks and more. Another favorite of mine was just walking around. Walking around in a new city, especially one as vibrant as London, is entertainment itself. Many times, I really did not know what I would find around the corner (this was slightly shocking in Soho.) It was great though, walking and discovering. I feel like the best advice for someone traveling to London would be, 'walk to all the sites, and get your walking shoes on because it is all walking distance.'

Canterbury Library

The beautiful Victorian building that houses the Canterbury Library is currently being remodeled. Unfortunately, visitors can only view the building from the outside right now, which made me all the more curious as to how it looks on the inside. Plans include a glass elevator in the center and a general expanding of the building. The library still considered their patrons in this endeavor, since of course, serving the public's needs is generally the number one goal of a public library. During the renovation, a temporary library site is used to offer books for all ages, DVD's, and computer access. While the temporary library cannot be nearly as aesthetically pleasing, it serves its purpose in bringing information to the local community. Books in the temporary library are organized according to genre.

Much like many of the other libraries we visited, it has the bookstore feel. These displays are highly browsable and make it easy to find what is needed. The temporary site even offers story time for different age groups of children. The high use and importance of the library was demonstrated in my visit, which was on a Saturday afternoon. The small room was filled with all sorts of people, men in work uniforms, families, students doing research and so on. It is no wonder why over ten million dollars is being spent to renovate the older building. Hopefully the new library will be open the next time I visit the charming town of Canterbury.

Andrew Carnegie's Birthplace Museum-Dunfermline, Scotland

Andrew Carnegie is not only known as the father of modern philanthropy, but also the father of the modern day free public library. His life story is a true rags to riches case of a young man who moved from Scotland to America in search of a better life. He worked hard at constantly improving himself and learning, to eventually become one of the richest men in the world. His story is incredible, and proves that hard work can change a person's socioeconomic circumstances. He did not believe in charity, but rather enabling people to learn for themselves with free books from his libraries. When he was young there were no free libraries, only subscription based ones, that a poor person could never afford. He saw the problem in this, that the poorest people needed books to get themselves out of their situation.

In order to preserve his life and teach people about his accomplishments, his wife refurbished and founded the Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum in the cottage where he was born and lived during early childhood. His parents worked right out of their house on a loom. Now there is a display of the loom and mock up of what the house looked like when he was born. His parents did not have much money and the house is not large, it is two stories, with just enough room for a little free space, some small bedrooms, a dining area, and a work area. Visiting this tiny house was very cool since it physically shows the humble beginnings of a self-made man. The gentleman who works there was welcoming and told us some stories about Andrew Carnegie. The house is small, and the town is small, but Carnegie was able to think larger and create massive structures with his money to make libraries that are still in use today. The Detroit Public Library, near me, was built from his donations. Anyone who has been inside this library knows it must have taken a great deal of money to build the massive building with multiple levels, marble flooring, and murals. To think that this was just one of the thousands is funded is a fact that is hard to comprehend. Andrew Carnegie has had his share of critics, but what he, singly, has done for public libraries is so impressive, librarians owe thanks to him.

Maughan Library

Since we had been staying in King's College dormitories, it was cool to get to see more of the college in visiting the college's Maughan Library. The current library was opened in 2002 and has an awesome collection for students interested in American studies (those would be interesting to read), classics, French studies, linguistics, geography, music and many more. The library is housed in the former public records office, which lends the library some historic character. The price of having gorgeous rooms to study and work in, is that, since it is a historic building, the library must maintain the old rooms and is responsible for the care and upkeep of these treasures.

One new idea used by the librarians is the roaming concept. Many librarians have tried this out to make libraries more user friendly and less intimidating to new and even experienced users. The librarian simply walks around to see check on users to see if they need any assistance. The overall consensus from the students is mixed, but I am certain many freshman have been helped by it. The large, multi-level library can be very intimidating to a new student, so having a kind librarian to help out is surely a good thing.

National Archives of Scotland

The job title "Keeper of the Records of Scotland" belongs to one person at the National Archives of Scotland. This person is head of this immense undertaking, which employees about 140 other staff members in various divisions. The basic goal of this institution is to preserve and collect the records of Scotland. Sounds simple enough, but when you consider they are in charge of all the historic records and current ones including wills, railway records, photographs, private records, tax records, church records, maps, plans, court records, just to name some of them, you can see why it is necessary to employ so many people. The National Archives is housed in Scotland's People Center, making it accessible to the public. Users need a Readers Card, which can be obtained by showing two proofs of ID, this card is valid for three years. People can do high tech ancestry research by purchasing credits to download information on their past relatives. Much of the old information has been conveniently added to a searchable database. Once a person has found the desired records, they can zoom in on specific areas and make printed reproductions. These copies end up looking very similar to the original document or photograph. Since I do not have any Scottish ancestors, I enjoyed looking at some other documents they allowed us to peruse with white gloves.

One was the Balance of Commerce of Vera Cruz, from 1802. This early Excel Spreadsheet looking document listed the total imports and exports for Vera Cruz, to and from the United States and Spain. While the format was similar to an Excel document, this handwritten form was much more aesthetically pleasing. Large, small and multi-colored script was used to write out the goods and highlight the totals. The handwriting was exquisite and made this otherwise formulaic document look like a work of art. The items traded included indigo from America, and Brandy, cacao, coffee, silver, gold, sugar, cotton, pepper, cloves, tabasco, pimento, and pickled cucumbers which were sent to Spain.

Another interesting document I browsed was a book of infirmary records. Again, all handwritten, in perfectly neat columns, were listed the person's name, age, sex, reason for admittance, date of death or release. Many came in for fever, and one 49 year old man had a "flatulence" problem.

The librarian confirmed what I was taught in reference class, it goes along the lines of the fish parable. "Give a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man to fish..." Basically she told us that she never just answers questions, even though sometimes it is tempting. She always leads the user to find the answer for themselves. I have noticed that many of the libraries we visited put much importance on teaching users to find their own answers, and showing them how to use all that the library or archival collection has to offer.

Dunfermline Carnegie Library

Back in March this year, I did a presentation on Andrew Carnegie. I used Keynote presentation software to talk about his contributions to create public libraries and show pictures of the many examples throughout English speaking countries. I highlighted the first library he built, which was in the town he was born, Dunfermline, Scotland. Andrew Carnegie's ambition and drive definitely inspired me and I greatly admired all he had accomplished. I envisioned myself, one day, in the very distant future having the luxury to travel and see this landmark library in person. Never did I imagine in this very same year, 2010, I would be in Scotland, getting to walk through the doors of this special library myself.

The Dunfermline Carnegie Library opened 100 years before I was born, and is still very much in use and contributing in awesome ways to the local community. According to its website, it is Fife's busiest library. Many portions of the library are part of the original building, including shelving and display cases. The librarians, events and collection, I am certain, would make Andrew Carnegie proud, they continue to carry out his mission in his own home town. Speaking of being proud, the librarians are proud to work at this library, I can see why, it truly would be an honor to be employed in such a historic and yet still happening library. The librarians keep Carnegie's tradition and mission in mind while changing with the times and offering new, still free, services such as computer training. For people interested in the past, there is the relatively newer Local and Family History Department, for genealogy research. This collection is staffed by a more than helpful librarian, and includes not only records but photographs as well. Future plans for the library include a museum and art gallery. This library is everything Carnegie could have asked for in a free public library and more. Job hunting resources, and computer lessons allow people who could not necessarily afford this technology at home the ability to learn and use it in the free public space. Sometime resources such as computers and the internet can be unappreciated, but to those who cannot afford at home access, the library is the only place where they can train and learn with these crucial technologies. Andrew Carnegie's purpose was to educate those who could not afford books in his time, now information is not only in books, so the library has changed with the times and kept the original purpose.

Central Library- Edinburgh Public Library

Edinburgh Public Library is a large Carnegie library built in the heart of Edinburgh. The original building is still in use, and there are additional buildings for the music and children's libraries. This is a great design, since children can have story time and be as loud as they like without disturbing patrons who prefer silence for reading or studying. It also allows the music library to actually play featured music, which is such a great idea, since it does not necessarily need to be silent in a music library.

The librarians gave us a thorough presentation on Web 2.0 and how they handle reader's advisory, which they call reader development. They create a monthly e-newsletter, and use a blog for special interest features, Twitter is also used for quick updates. The response on all of these has been positive, and readers are more inclined to leave feedback.

Reader Development is an active branch that is constantly reaching out to the public. The team strives to expand the readers' imaginations, and keeps reading as their core focus. They also try to turn the solitary act of reading into more social act. Book clubs are recommended and encouraged, and several copies of about 54 different books are kept on hand for this reason. One of the librarians mentioned how he is aware that many book clubs involve 20% book discussion and 80% other discussion and wine, but that's ok. That is what the librarians work for, to get people reading, discussing and socializing. This creates a better sense of community and helps friends get together, which is greatly beneficial to everyone. The librarians also are aware that crime fiction is the most popular genre in Scotland, and keep this in mind in purchasing.

My favorite part of this library tour was heading downstairs to the music section. Jazz happened to be the theme during our visit, and I could hear one of my favorites, Chet Baker, playing through the speakers. Along the staircase down, there was cork board covered in advertisements for live music events, music lessons, instruments for sale, and other items musicians and other patrons may enjoy. Once in the library, one could really tell it was a music library, there were CD's to borrow, a room with sheet music, and many books on theory and artists. There was even a display area that showcased the items that were available to borrow from him and other great jazz artists. This library is truly a community space, a place where music lovers and artists can meet.

This library enables people to meet, socialize and grow together as people and a community. The bonding aspect of this library is priceless.

National Library of Scotland

The National Library of Scotland is solely a reference library. This fact however, should not discourage people from visiting this spectacular building. In addition to the collections in the reading rooms, there is an exhibition space, cafe and gift shop that features books and other items pertaining to Scotland and whatever may currently be on display in the exhibition rooms.

Golf lovers and historians would appreciate the collection of historic books, game cards, handbooks, manuals and so on that are always in the collection along with other aspects of Scottish culture. During my visit, the exhibition room had an excellent, museum-like display of golf in light of the recent tournament, called "A Swing Through Time." This display was very impressive since a couple rooms were filled with golf artifacts, including the Gutta Percha ball, which revolutionized the type of ball used in the game. The ground had cut out astroturf areas resembling greens, and even a putting green complete with fake scorecards that gave information on the exhibit. No details were spared in creating this space. The exhibit was interesting to golf enthusiasts, and non-golfers alike. I enjoyed a featured quote from Arnold Palmer, "What many people find in poetry or art museums, I find in the flight of a good drive." A collection like this truly can bring in the public in to a library they may have normally just passed by. The importance of bringing in more patrons grows as funding decreases for many libraries.

The John Murray Archive features several famous historic people, such as Jane Austen, Charles Darwin and Lord Byron. It had many interactive computer screens and tables. Patrons can use touch screens to learn factual historic and quirky information about the selected figures. The display of Charles Darwin includes clothing, and a wig resembling his famous beard and hair. Another entertaining piece was "The Publishing Machine." It illustrates the process of how some writers may get published by breaking down the themes used in many books. The user, or 'author,' can choose from "fact" or "fiction," then subject, genre, title, and cover. Libraries that have exhibitions like these should not fail in raising funds and drawing crowds.

Bodelian Library

The Bodelian Library is the research library of the prestigious University of Oxford. One hard-working, diligent person gets to be the head librarian, who is called "Bodley's Librarian." Sir Thomas Bodley saw the need for a librarian, and the first one was hired in 1602. Currently, Bodley's Librarian is Sarah Thomas, the first women, and the first American to reach this position. By earning an MLIS from Simmons college, and ten years laters a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins, she is a great inspiration for a current library student.

Sir Thomas Bodley gained a fortune by marrying a wealthy widow, this money was used to refurbish the library that is now called the Bodelian. His goal was to keep it a research library and not allow patrons to take books home, but rather complete their research at the library. The library still operates this way, as an academic reference library. Much of what Sir Bodley desired is still kept in mind by the current employees. There have been many gifts throughout the years that keep the library funded. Kenneth Grahame, the author of Wind in the Willows gave the royalty money from his copyright to the library. The Bodelian was able to collect these funds for 70 years after the author died. Another statute that Bodley required was that the library must be open to any scholar, so anyone studying anything can take the oath to become a reader at the Bodelian. Bodley truly wanted the library to benefit everyone. The oath still requires readers to promise not to light a fire in the library. Broken statutes include the one regarding lighting and the librarian allowing to get married. No lights were allowed in the Bodelian, making it hard for professors who taught all day to do research in the evening. It was not until the 1920's that lights were installed. Fire was the main concern, rightfully so, since the collection is vast and contains rare books including a Gutenberg Bible. Modern lights do not pose as a severe fire risk. Bodley also insisted that the head librarian not be married, but later broke his own rule by allowing his very first one to marry.

The librarians know how to handle the collection very well. Books needed for undergraduate studies are highly accessible, and students are able to get to the information themselves without the assistance of a librarian. The cataloging system is in Latin, but is also done by subject. The library can benefit researchers who are not even in England because some of its collection has been digitized by Google. The parts available are books that are both out of copyright, and would be useful to scholars. This does not infringe on any copyrights.

Portobello Market

Today was a beautiful day to visit Portobello Market. We have had excellent weather since we've been here, and today was no exception. It has only rained a few hours on a couple days, but nothing that ruined any plans. Since we did not have class today, I slept in then slowly made my way to the market, I got there around 10am and it was already crowded. Portobello Market is an open air market on Portobello Road, and is broken down into sections of antiques, new items, clothes, and food.

The streets are also lined with permanent shops of the same themes. There are many vintage shops, including ones with designer items. I happened to pick up a pair of Ferragamo leopard print heels, with a price tag of just over $1,000. Needless to say, I put them right back down and walked out empty handed. I was giddy over the record shops. There just are not many record shops around anymore, and these are the classic browsable type. Small, and lined with CD's and vinyl according to the kind of music the shop specializes in. There was a CD of a Calypso group from Trinidad that visited London in the 50's, and made an album about it. These shops are also enticing because they play really good, but rare, music loudly that definitely lured me in to more than I can count.

The food booths offer fresh fruits and vegetables as well as to go dishes. One tempting booth sold toasted bread with Bruschetta and another had fruit salad. I chose a bowl of chorizo stew and bread from a steaming large vat. It was about $5. The smells of onions, peppers, spices and sausage were too good to pass up. The stew was delicious and I ate every bit of it while people watching.

After the market, I headed back to the flats so I could do laundry and pack for our trip to Scotland tomorrow. A few of us went out for some Indian food, and I am still a happy camper, ready for bed, we have an early morning tomorrow, our bus leaves at 6am.

Hyde Park "London's Personal Space"

Between the squawking Thames seagulls by day and the wailing sirens by night, London is a city that is never quiet. Any time of day or night there is something going on somewhere, which can just as exciting as overwhelming at times. After touring the V&A and browsing Harvey Nichols, I made my way to Hyde Park. What a relief this spacious green area was! I immediately felt more relaxed in the cool breeze, shining sun and shade trees. Getting away from the hot, smelly concrete streets and into the green park truly was a breath of fresh air. There are many paths to use to walk around the park, and to the Serpentine, which is a pond that people can use for boating, swimming, fishing, or just relaxing. A recent addition is the Senior's Playground, this area is designed as a playground for older people, and includes fun items for strength training and core stability. This park does have something to offer for every age group. There are lounge chairs that can be rented for as little as a pound. I strolled through the park, with two attractions to visit in mind.

The first was the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. This fountain was opened in July 2004 by Her Majesty The Queen. The gates have a photo of Princess Diana's face, not in a posed smile, but laughing in a carefree way. The fountain is a large circle in the ground, designed to look like a glistening necklace when viewed from above. My favorite part about the fountain is that while being reverent to the purpose, visitors are encouraged to sit and rest and dip their feet or hands into the water. What a novel idea! I always wondered why more fountains are not this way. What good is having beautiful, crystal clear, cold running water just to tease viewers on a hot day? Children, tourists, families and even business men in suits, rolled up their pants to enjoy the fountain.

The second spot I wanted to check out was Speaker's Corner. I made the walk across the park to the area where the pulpit stands. Anyone can get up there and talk about anything. Hecklers are encouraged to start dialogue. Unfortunately, when I got there no one was speaking. I hear Sunday's are good days to go, so hopefully I will make it back there sometime this month.

National Art Library

The National Art Library is a public art reference library located in the Victoria and Albert Museum. This library is open to anyone who desires information on art. It has two stories of books in two rooms open to the public, then many more periodicals and books in the massive storage space which is not open to the public. This library would be a spectacular place for a fashion student to be inspired, there are many years of fashion magazines bound together for storage in stock. Patrons may request books and every half hour an employee will pick up the requests to retrieve the needed items. One of the rooms is for silent reading while the other room has the inquiry desk and patrons do not have to be completely quiet. There are copy machines available with a "Binder Minder" which allows patrons to easily copy pages from books. If a color photo is preferred, there is also a digital camera station that allows patrons to take a snapshot which can either be printed out, or stored on a memory stick. Conservation is the books is an important issue, and many actions are taken to protect the books.

Even with what seems like a great deal of storage area, space is still very limited, and often when the museum needs more room, it will be taken from the library. An example was the west room that was once part of the library, was now turned into the 20th century exhibit for patrons to view. The walls are still lined with books, but the floor, which was once full of book shelves is now full of art. The library had to put bars over the wall book shelves so museum patrons cannot steal the books. If a book is requested form this area, a screwdriver must be used to first remove the bar, so the library employee can get to the book.

Since many books are in areas not accessible to the public, the OPAC is used to request books. Patrons are expected to use the OPAC and find what they need, and only if they need more help are they to ask a librarian. The librarians are there for the more in depth research questions. The cataloging system uses numbers and a "findings list" to locate the books. This is more efficient since the books are shelved according to size, rather than genre or anything else. This makes it easier and quicker to add new books to the shelf. This system does not make for good browsing, but in this case it does not matter since most books are away from the public's view anyway. I like the benefits of this system, however I see one big downfall, if a book is re-shelved in the wrong place, it would be very tricky to find it in the masses of shelves. Any person re-stocking books must be very careful and pay close attention to detail. This is also why the public is not allowed to re shelf the items they use.

If I lived near this library, I would probably regularly spend my free time in the reading room, reading old fashion magazines and design books.

London Library

At a time when my local public library in Michigan cannot get the necessary $30 more per year from each household to stay open, the subscription based London Library is a luxurious change of pace. The library in Michigan is a top quality public library with several types of useful resources, but unfortunately the general public does not appreciate its worth. All the library needed was 30 measly dollars per year, which was not much considering residents did not have to pay an increase in a couple decades. To visit the London Library and see people shell out roughly $600 per year to be able to use the collection of books was a wonderful sight.

The London Library is the world's largest independent library, it greatly appreciates the continued support from T.S. Eliot's widow, Valerie Eliot. T.S. Eliot was once the president of the London Library, and of course, a patron. This was the library Charles Dickens used to research the French Revolution while writing "A Tale of Two Cities." The collection surrounds the humanities, while there is a science section, it has more to do with history of science than actual science itself. The library prides itself on offering "five star service," in that the library will go to many lengths to find satisfy the patron. Whenever a person first becomes a member, they get a one on one meeting with a librarian to get oriented with the library, and see the location of where their unique interests lie. The backdrop is royal, with deep eggplant purple walls lined with a multitude of hardcopy books without their dust jackets. The library only contains nothing but books, no DVD's, CD's, online databases, or anything else. Patrons include writers, researchers, artists, and people who just have a general interest in the collection as well. Patrons are privy to some very old, rare books, and can take home just about anything in the collection. Only 3% of the collection is not available for circulation. I'm guessing many individuals would not even want to be responsible for taking those highly valuable books home anyway.

One unique feature of this library is that it has its own quirky cataloging system. Creating this system could not have been easy, but it seems to work very well for this library. My cataloging professor assigns a tough final, but also offers students the choice to instead create their own complete cataloging system. In the several years that he has been teaching, no one has ever taken him up on that challenge. This system is more user friendly in that there are no numbers, only letters and words that create the individual record for each book. For example, art books will always begin with "A", then a word which describes the category of art represented in the book. This system is great for browsing, which I am sure is a feature many patrons enjoy.

National Maritime Museum Caird Library

The National Maritime Museum includes three buildings, which are the Royal Observatory, Queen's House, and the Museum itself. There is one library in the museum, the Caird Library, which is open to the public. People doing research on marine issues including family history, boat restoration, Masters dissertations or just curious about shipwrecks or other maritime information can visit the library during one of the three days a week it is open. The library contains a wealth of everything to do with the sea, from books, journals, and charts, to ephemera, navigation information, immigration logs and even naval architecture. To me, this topic is highly specialized, and that only a certain amount of people would be interested in what they have to offer, however they still handle about 50 inquiries a month. Just as the reference desk at a public library will get many questions regarding the location of the restrooms, the information desk at the Maritime Library must answer many questions about the museum itself. The person working that desk must be knowledgeable about both the library and museum and also be resourceful. Since the library is a national museum, it is publicly funded. This may be how they are able to move into a newer location, one with more open glass windows. This move will hopefully make the library more accessible to the public and be a good way to market the library to a broader audience. Currently only people aged 16 and up are allowed to use the library, but this rule is being considered to possibly change.

The items I enjoy most from this library's collection are the fascinating tales told in the personal journals from people who at some point traveled, worked or lived on the sea. The journal I was able to see was from Edward Mangin, from 1812. This book proves the journal is a lost art. It seems that many people now do not create written journals anymore, or even have online version to record their daily thoughts. This is a shame because I just love reading someone else's thoughts from a different time and place. They can paint the truest picture of their own life and give insight to common thought at that time. Mangin's journal is definitely a work of art itself. Fancy, handwritten scripts and pictures are drawn on the title page called, "Some Account of the Writer's Situation as Chaplin in the British Navy." The pictures and handwriting are gorgeous, with a personal touch that could not be reproduced by any machine. Now, a blogger can choose from a limited amount of pre-selected themes to try an spice up their blog, but nothing can come close to these awesome black and white or color illustrations. The journal could easily be made into a book, exactly how it is, from cover to cover. The high quality writing is formal, and eloquent which matches the differing fonts that make the entire book very attractive. His work was most inspiring to me to want to study calligraphy and writing more.

The librarians in this library are fortunate to work in such a historical a special library. It was a very enjoyable visit, and I am so glad to have had this opportunity to see this unique collection.

British Library

The British Library, which opened in its current location in 1998, was previously housed in the Reading Room at the British Museum. This is why the British Museum Archives still contains the old records from the former employees and patrons. The British Library is an impressively large building that includes an underground storage space that goes 75 feet under the courtyard. It is hard to believe the librarian when she says they are running out of space, but when you consider that they receive about 8,000 new publications each day, it makes more sense. They must accept a copy of everything published in the UK, including all periodicals, shopping catalogs, books and so on. If you want your book in their collection, feel free to bring it along on a visit. As most of the libraries here, they are all about being efficient. The employees have come up with some ingenious ways to save space, such as shrinking the size of newspapers by ironing new editions down each day.

The requirements for getting a reading room pass are so stringent that users must know exactly what they need from the collection, and provide proof that they have exhausted all other resources first. They must have a purpose to their research and a state a goal. There is an application and interview process that a person must pass first in order to gain entrance. An example that our librarian guide gave was, if a person wants a certain cookbook, it is probably somewhere else, and they do not necessarily need access to a reading room, so it would not be granted. If they can prove that they need something specific that cannot be found anywhere else, then permission to enter would be allowed. In order to help a person determine if the British Library has what they are looking for, there is an OPAC accessible from the website.

Once the reader pass is granted, a person may use the OPAC to request the book needed. The book will be sent to the proper reading room, and held there for 3 days. If the reader needs more time, then it must be requested. Obviously this library is not your typical public library, in fact the goal is not to make books open and accessible to the public. The British Library is more concerned with preservation of the materials they gather. Perhaps this is why even MLIS students were not allowed in any of the reading rooms or storage spaces.

While I do understand the importance of preserving information, this library felt too strict and uptight for me. Proven in the message of Bill Woodrow's sculpture, "Sitting on History," it is a necessary and great institution, I just would probably not care to work there. There were some very cool sounding items that I wish I could have seen, but of course, I have no research reason to see them except for interest. One of the cool sounding items mentioned was a map of the coast of Africa done solely with pictures of the animals that live there. The most interesting project they are working on is the recording of oral history. This is used to record stories in the way that people from different areas here speak now and in the past. Johnny Depp once listened to these recordings to become more familiar with certain accents while he was researching for a role.

The most accessible are would be the business center. Many UK citizens who are out of work are able to collect Redundancy Money, this money is often used to start a new business. So the business center is filled with these people researching the hows of becoming a successful business owner. There is a nice display of the success stories of people who used the library to make their business or product sell.

All in all the British Library is a necessary and stunning institution that aids in research, knowledge and preservation. There are may other public libraries that fill the need of allowing anyone to enter and read, the British Library serves its purpose well and efficiently.

Bath & North East Somerset Central Library

If I could build my dream public library it would be very similar to the Bath Public Library. This wonderful library is integrated into the city, and is conveniently located inside The Podium Shopping Centre. The shopping centre has restaurants, cafes, galleries, and other shops as well. What I appreciate most about this library is the inviting signage throughout the interior. The first sign pointing to the library says, "Bath Library Straight Ahead, A place to relax, discover, create & be yourself." These signs make the patron truly feel welcome, comfortable, and want to go to the library.

There are many signs throughout the library directing patrons where to go. They are large, and hung near to ceiling, so not only are they visible from every area, they are also readable. The shelving is never high, and the whole space is very open. The library is large enough to contain an all-emcompassing collection, for a general public library, but not too large to be overwhelming. The signs indicate all the library has to offer, such as Career Help, Children's, Quick Select, Study Area, Self-Service Reservations, Reading Area, People's Network, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Reference, Entertainment, and Service & Information. Each category is then broken down into smaller sections with signs on each bookshelf guiding patrons to what they want. The general feel of the library is user friendly, much like a bookstore. If I wanted a local travel book, I would to go non-fiction, then locate the sign for travel, then find the broken down category signs for each travel location in England. I would never necessarily need to use the OPAC if I did not have a particular title in mind.

The writing on all of the signs is friendly as well, they convey quirky suggestions for what the patron may need or want. For example, the sign for the Children's section says, "Need to find out something for your homework? Not sure what to read next? What about a graphic novel, film or talking book? Why not come along to story time, holiday activities or special events?" The informal tone of these signs makes the library seem more approachable, and a place that anyone can use no matter their reading or other skill level.

There is also a featured section called "Quick Select" that highlights books, music and movies that are popular and may be of interest to many people. This area is right near the entrance, so a patron can run in, grab a book, do the self-chekout, and easily be back out the door in a few minutes.

This library manages to keep up with the times in the old city of Bath. It is a relevant place for people to use for exhibits, work, leisure, information seeking, studying, and even socializing. This library is a great example of a public library staying part of the community and molding itself to the needs of the locals. More communities need small libraries like this, to make them more accessible and convenient to everyone.

British Museum Archives

The British Museum has a wealth of artifacts from all over the world. It is home to the Rosetta Stone and Hoa Hakananai'a, a sculpture from Easter Island. The pieces are organized by geographic location, and there are many levels to wander.

Going into the archives, I was not sure what to expect, a friend, who specialized in archival administration has told me a little of what she does, so I was looking forward to actually seeing real archives for myself. What exactly is in an archive? First of all, just as everything I have ever heard about archives, they were located in the basement of the British Museum. Being that the British Museum is massive, I expected there to be a team of full time archivists working to preserve, maintain and organize the collection. Surprisingly, there is only one archivist for the entire British Museum. She and her assistant handle about 50 inquiries each month. Considering it may take several hours to find the information that is requested, this seems to be quite a bit of work. There are records with significant historical value, like Karl Marx's signature for the library reading room, and other of no consequence, for example, who showed up late to work on a particular day. Some inquiries do not provide the patron with the answer they suspected, such as "when exactly did my great grandfather work here?" If there is no record, it is very probable that he never worked there. In a case like this, the archivist tactfully suggests that perhaps the grandfather worked in a another museum.

The process used in archives has developed throughout the years. Back in the 1970's an exhibition to King Tutankhamun was documented in a plastic book with pictures of the exhibit itself, the long queue of people waiting all day to get in, the layout and other items about it. If those pictures are to be removed, they would be ruined, because are bonded to the plastic. It was a great way to allow anyone to handle the records, but not good for preservation. So now, when an exhibit is archived, acid free paper is used to hopefully preserve the record longer.

What I found most interesting was the process that a patron had to go through to use the reading room in the British Library, the British Museum archives holds all of these records. The process for applying for a reading room card and applying for a job have seemed to switch places since then. The example shown was T.S. Elliot. In order for him or anyone, to use the room, they must have a letter of recommendation from an authoritative source, and write a very formal, polite request, which proves the person is trustworthy enough to use the room. Then the person who applied waits, he or she must wait for an approval letter in the mail. Once the letter is received, it must be presented at the library to obtain the reading room card. The card was only valid for six months, at which point the person must reapply in order to continue use.

In contrast, the job application form consisted of little more than simply name and address. That's it! Name and address was about all it took to get hired in some cases. All of the formalities associated now with resumes, cover letters and the entire interview process are much more complicated than then. Also most public libraries allow anyone to come in to read, and most anyone to take books home. The British Library still has stringent policies about who can use their reading room, I will write more about this in my blog on that topic.

The British Museum is a great place for tourists and locals alike to learn about the entire world. They are now featuring "A History of the World in 100 Objects." Currently outside, in front there is a garden featuring African plants. The colors and types are out of place in the city, but add a beautiful aesthetic to the entrance.

Barbican Library

I am most interested in public libraries and thought that there would not be much of a difference between the public libraries I have visited in the States and the ones I would visit in the UK. I was slightly wrong, while there are enough similarities to understand how their libraries work without much explanation, there were also some unexpected differences. This was a great chance to learn a few things as to how this library copes with common issues.

The librarian's motto regarding patrons was, "we are open to everybody who can get here to use us." This rang true since our group was greeted with such a warm welcome, which made me feel very comfortable and not intrusive at all. All of the librarians were incredibly kind and hospitable to our large group. They worked as a team to give all of us a proper tour and entertained our questions. They even gave us a break complete with coffee, juice and shortbread.

The Barbican Library is tucked away in the larger, Barbican Centre, which includes venues for the arts, such as a theatre, music school, and gallery. So the library is a general public library, with a slant towards the arts. There is a large section dedicated to art, and an even larger section for music. My favorite was the music section which is better than many small music shops, no wonder Orlando Bloom was spotted looking for sheet music here. The library also has a children's section with separate areas according to four different specific age groups, up to age 14.

Since it took many decades to design, develop, and build the current library, aesthetics are important. Any interior change must be approved by a designer first. The quick new RFID tag checkout system allows patrons to check out multiple items within seconds. In order to set up this system, designers had to construct a way to hide the bulky system, and made it look like furniture to blend with the decor of the library.

Now, even though the library offers its services to anyone, it is not without restrictions. In library school, I have heard many true stories of public libraries dealing with school children or even mentally handicapped adults who are left at the library during work hours by their caregivers, and picked up when the work day is over. This can result in problems with these patrons abusing their privileges and causing troubles for the librarians and other patrons. The general consensus is that the librarian cannot do anything about the children who spend hours everyday at the library. The library is a public and open place, where parents feel safe leaving their kids, then the librarians become babysitters. This is unfair to all parties involved. Since the library is a public place, everyone has a right to be there. The Barbican Library ran into a similar problem. The library is located in an area where only about 9,000 people live, and 35,000 people commute during the day to work there. Business men and women learned of the quiet, internet access computer terminals they could work from, so they would then spend full work days there, so they did not have to rent an actual office space. This, of course, is not what the library intended this space to be used for, so they established a two hour computer use limit per day. Many local libraries near where I live have this rule as well, but if no one else is waiting to use the computer, additional time is granted. This is not the case at the Barbican Library, so it discourages people from misusing the system. I feel that it is a good way to keep patrons in check, and do not feel that it tramples on their rights. The patrons are still able to use the computers, just not overstay their welcome. It is just a way of a library standing up for itself.

My tiny issue with my local library is the receipt I get when I check out books. All of the dues dates are on one slip, which can easily get misplaced. If the slip gets lost, I am left guessing when the different dues dates might be for each book. To solve this problem, the library added an old fashioned rubber date stamp next to the new self check out terminal. This allows patrons to stamp their own books, if they choose, so they never have to try to remember when books are due or hold on to the receipt for weeks. This was small, but clever and useful idea.

Another thing I sometimes worry about is, what if I place a hold on an item, it becomes available to me, is put on the self serve holds shelf, then someone else sees it, and decides to take it. Normally it would not be a large problem, I would just have to wait for them to return it, but what if it were a book for a research paper or other assignment, with a definite due date?The Barbican Library solves this problem with a feature in their computer system. Holds can only be checked out by the person who placed the holds, access to check out an item on hold for someone else would be denied to a person who's name does not match up. This is a simple, and fair way to ensure the information get into the correct hands.

My absolute favorite part of the library is the music section. There is sheet music to cover just about every genre and time period. Two keyboards are available for patrons to play, complete with headphones, so no one else can hear. I searched the Pop section for Radiohead sheet music, and sure enough, they had "In Rainbows." I suspect they had more Radiohead books that were checked out, since there was more room in that section.

The CD collection resembled a music store, and had many current CD's on display. The most current CD's to borrow, however, would be at least three months old. There is a restriction placed on borrowing out newly released CD's, probably record companies in hopes of making more money. The clever librarians found their way around that rule by having a station where patrons can listen to the new CD's while at the library. They have a player and headphones set up to hear the latest music.

The music library makes an effort to carry everything and provide what the community needs. They are willing to go so far as to get 50 copies, for example, of a choral song book if a choral group with 50 members needs it.

The Barbican Library is more than accommodating to all who enter its doors. It is a great example of being a welcoming and friendly library, and also keeping the tradition and not succumbing to certain abuses from the public.

St. Paul's Cathedral Library

The famous St. Paul's Cathedral can be viewed from many places in London. Its awe-inspiring architecture has created a building that has lasted through the years, and continues to remain relevant, even though a majority of Londoners do not attend church.

I had a little under an hour to spare before my tour of the library, so I used this opportunity to rent a self-guided audio tour, which proved to be not nearly enough time. The tour uses newer technology of the iPod touch to allow visitors to navigate at their own pace and order. I chose to start from the bottom, in the crypt, and work my way up. The Order of the British Empire has a chapel on the lower level as well. Members can use this chapel for various religious functions including marriage ceremonies and baptisms. Certain members are also buried here. There were so many people buried in the floors and commemorated on the walls, I only read about a few. Sir Charles Grove served as a chorister of the Cathedral for six years, from 1924-1930. Different fonts were used for different people, the font for Grove was light-hearted and whimsical.

There was a large, more serious grave site for the famous Horatio Nelson. He commanded his ship through the Battle of Trafalgar, and gave orders while he was dying. He crew filled his casket with brandy to preserve his body for the trip back to England. During his funeral, all of the windows at St. Paul's were covered in black. The tiles on the floor around him have dolphins and other sea animals to remember he was a sailor. I am learning more and more about British history than I could have imagined.

From the basement, to the ceiling, the architecture of the dome was fascinating. There are actually two domes, and inner and an outer one. The inner is very high from the ground, but visitors walking through the church are still close enough to see the paintings. The outer dome was built much higher so it could be seen from a greater distance outside.

The most intriguing part was the library, I do not know if it was because it is not open for general public viewing, or just because I have a special interest in libraries, but I figure, it was probably a combination of both. Entering the library was better than I could have imagined, majestic, and more regal than any movie depiction of a historical library. Everything from the classic looking silver keys used to open the tall doors, to the smell of old books seemed unreal. The ceiling were very high, and all four walls lined with books. It really did look like a movie set, so I kept thinking about how these books are real, containing real information. Our guide, the librarian, Joseph Wisdom, helped to remind me that these books are real, by the fact that conservation is a constant in this library. He stated, "books take on a life," which is evidenced by spines being bent and pages being worn. I also found it grounding that he imports the records from OCLC, which I suppose, makes sense since where else would he get the records from?

Of course he gave us some advice, "Rule number one, never, ever discard a catalog...no matter how much room it takes up." After this sound piece of information, we were all able to glance at a 12th century book of Psalms.

The reverence Wisdom showed for these books was impressive. He respects the collection and encourages students to appreciate the history found in these old books.

Always a Surprise

This past Sunday I was able to check off one of the items on my to do list, which was go to a live concert. A few weeks before I came here, I searched the internet for shows that I might like to attend. Devendra Banhart, at the Koko was particularly appealing. I had seen him once before and really enjoy his music. I was not sure if there would be time in our academic schedule to attend this show, so I did not purchase tickets. On Saturday, I toured Camden Town, where Koko is located, with Dr. Rik Seefeldt from the British Studies Program. He explained to us that Koko, was the venue where Bon Scott, the former lead singer of AC/DC had his last drink, one of many that ultimately lead to his death. So Sunday I ventured to Koko, only to be turned away at the door of the sold out show. Since I made the trip out there, I decided to hang out a bit at a pub near the venue. As luck goes, the owner of the pub, along with two locals joined me to chat. The pub owner told me he could get me in to the concert, of course, I was most skeptical. Twenty minutes later I was most thrilled, three of us were in Koko, watching and listening to Devendra Banhart live.

The two people I met were from Chile and Italy, both currently living in London. Throughout this trip, I will try to not forget what "S" said to me, he said "There's always a surprise waiting for you in London, always an event, always something to do. Keep looking for surprises, you'll always find one." So far, this has proven true, and I cannot wait for more adventures.