THE WORLD'S KNOWLEDGE

THE WORLD'S KNOWLEDGE is the humble motto of The British Library.  The 17 librarians and future librarians in my Digital Media Production for Libraries class were practically giddy as we entered the hallowed halls of the formidable institution.

The Rules

The library is much, much, different than what we are accustomed to in the states when we think of public libraries.  For one thing, not just anyone can read the books.  You need to register, via computer, ahead of time for a reader's pass and tell what and why you are researching.  One of our Master's level classmates was denied a temporary card (and therefore access to books) because she didn't have two proper forms of I.D.  Once you present your acceptable identification and your pre-assigned number, you are directed to a computer to complete another online form.  Then you queue to be interviewed, told the reading room rules, and photographed for your British Library card.

The Interview

The rules for the reading room include: having clean hands, no food or drink, no photography, no bags or coats (they must be checked in the lockers located in the basement), and absolutely NO PENS.  The gift shop seems to do a swift business selling pencils to people who want to jot down notes.


After you check your bag and turn off your phone, you go to the prescribed reading room (humanities, social sciences, rare books, etc.).  Passing through security, you present your card to the librarian and receive your items.   Yes, they are pulled from the closed stacks for you, but, you must request them at least 70 minutes prior to when you would like to look at them.  This process, I need to stress, is for all materials, not just special or rare collections.  As part of our class experience at the library, I requested three books on multiculturalism in Britain.  They were right there, available when I asked for them.  After you get your items, it seems like a "normal" library--you can take them to a desk, read and take notes in a setting that is very similar to an academic library.  But nothing is checked out to patrons, items are used exclusively in the library.

The Eye is on you.

I felt like this was a great picture to illustrate the way using the British Library felt.  It is a very controlled process.  Some liken the British Museum to the American Library of Congress.  I was only there as a child, and can't recall much about it, except that we requested, and saw, a book of poetry written by my grandma in the 1930's.  So, I can't speak to the differences in access between the two libraries, only that today was a unique library experience for me, a person dedicated to open access in public libraries.

Conversely, one part of the library, the Treasures of the British Library room was so much more thrilling than I expected.  It is really a museum of remarkable texts and manuscripts.  Today I saw one of the four originals of the Magna Carta, the oldest complete New Testament (in Greek,  from the fourth century), Mozart's marriage contract, John Lennon's scribbled lyrics to "Michelle" on the back of an envelope, and the Diamond Sutra (a Buddhist text printed in China), which is the worlds oldest dated printed book.  I was surrounded by beautiful illuminated texts and invaluable documents of immeasurable historical significance.  Wow.
The best part of the British Library, the Treasures, is free and open to everyone.  It is really what made my time there so memorable!

But, I do also have this really cool souvenir.