Barbican Library

 

I enjoyed this visit tremendously.  If I am ever able to work in a library like the Barbican I will be the luckiest librarian alive.  It is obvious that Geraldine, Jonathan and Richard enjoy their job.  Such enthusiasm is obvious and refreshing.  I learned so much visiting this library.  I mostly realized that in all honesty, American and British libraries are really not that different.  We all serve the public by providing access to unlimited amounts of information, provide opportunities to experience culture and provide a welcoming area for enriching the mind.  The children’s area is home to treasured books, story times and an encouraging environment to read and dream.  The employees at the Barbican are wonderful people and it is obvious that they enjoy what they do each and every day.  Geraldine and Jonathan were fantastic hosts and guides and showed us the wonders of their library and shared priceless information and advice that will help us all throughout our career.  It is great to gain new insight and perspective into the library world and I feel honoured to have been able to spend an afternoon at such an amazing library; even if the library is built upon plague pits.  Now how awesome and unique is that?!

• The Barbican music library received a reward for excellency.

•  British libraries did not become lending libraries until the 1960s.

• The Barbican was the first in the United Kingdom to utilize RFID technology.  This really attracted my attention because it was something that I was unfamiliar with.  I had heard some things but seeing it actually function within a library environment was truly impressive. 

• As a member, anyone can learn several different languages for free.

• They mainly serve to the younger population of London.

• The busiest time at the library is between 11:45 to 2:00

• There internet use is limited to 1 hour per day with one renewal for a total of 2 hours per day.

•  They charge for one week rentals of non-educational DVDs and music CDs.

• They have an age restriction for DVD rental; 21 years old depending on the rating.

• The oldest book that can be borrowed is from the 1730s.

• They have a special London collection consisting of eight to nine thousand books.

• Anyone can practice the piano for one hour per day.

• The music collection has 16,000 scores

• There is such a thing as a music dictionary and if one knows how to use it can be successful.

•  They have the largest CD collection available for borrowing in the UK; 15,000 CDs.

• There are roughly 200,000 items in the entire collection of the Barbican

I would say the most impressive aspect of our visit overall was the presentation of RFID technology.  The Barbican is a library ahead of its time.  By becoming the first library system in the United Kingdom to utilize RFID technology, they set the standard for other libraries to follow suit.  I witnessed how well the whole system works and immediately thought of my own library at home.   I believe this technology would be a great addition to American libraries.  I think that it would be user-friendly for patrons.  It may be a costly endeavor but it is one that should definitely be kept in mind and possibly even planned for.   

 This library left a lasting impression on me.  Having work for a public library for nearly ten years, it was a wonderful experience getting to see the inner workings of a British public library.  I was easily able to compare and contrast between American and British.  I discovered similarities and also discovered aspects of British Libraries that would make great additions to the running of American Libraries. 

Below is a link to a 2004 Guardian article about the use of RFID technology in various libraries.  It illustrates the importance and the practical application in tracking books.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2004/nov/11/onlinesupplement.insideit

Saint Paul Cathedral Library

  Yep I was in this library.

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What I really appreciated about our tour with Mr. Wisdom was that he shared his knowledge of St. Paul’s Cathedral.  For instance I did not know that the Whispering Gallery was created by accident and I never knew that people used to mount telescopes on staircases.  The whole experience was surreal because I realize that we were embarking on a tour that very few people get to experience.   I never felt like I was out of place during the tour.  St. Paul’s is obviously a sacred place; one in which I am normally not a part of but with Mr. Wisdom as our guide I felt a part of the whole overall experience.  I absolutely loved his humor.  I think that was what really made the tour so friendly and comfortable.   I became really excited when I saw an old large book near where I was standing.  According to the note card it was a German translation of Martin Luther’s version of the Holy Bible.  I do wish he would have gone over the reason for the book being there and how it was acquired.  Overall, this was a very surreal and rewarding visit because I was able to gain a perspective of St. Paul's from someone who lives, works and experiences it every day and who also had a brilliant sense of British humor.  Onwards and upwards as Mr. Wisdom would say!

My first glimpse of St. Paul's while crossing the bridge

·The construction of St. Paul’s Cathedral took 30 years under the one architect Charles Wren; a famous architect in England period.

·   A superb large scale model of the building was made by William Cleere and is held

·  ‘When Americans die they got to Paris.’ Henry James  A little joke and saying shared by Mr. Wisdom

·   Most of the collection was lost in the Great Fire of London

  During the 19th century there was an influx to the overall collection

· In the 1700s they did not see the importance in having duplicate copies of books

· There 23,000 bibliographic items in the collection and 10,000 volumes

· They only have a very limited digital collection

·The library used to only be open to clergy but is now open to those who are in need of its resources

· Most of the collection consists of theology and church history

·The books are shelved according to size; small at the top and large at the bottom.

I was fortunate enough to experience St. Paul's Cathedral in its entirety.  The previous day attended services.  It was so baffling to be sitting there in this gorgeous cathedral and sitting through a sermon and Holy Communion.  I realized that not only was it such a treasured sight to behold but normal everyday people come to St. Paul's to worship.  There is such grandeur and majesty within St. Paul's and it simply takes your breath away.   Below is a picture that I took myself.  Sadly no personal pictures are allowed but no picture would do the beauty inside justice. 

                                 

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The library is just one small part of St. Paul’s Cathedral but no part is small and insignificant.  To get a feel of what the library is and what it is all about visit this link: http://www.stpauls.co.uk/Cathedral-History/The-Collections/The-Library

Of course the entire history of St. Paul’s Cathedral is a treat so I encourage you to visit this link to the website of St. Paul’s Cathedral: http://www.stpauls.co.uk/