British Library

Yesterday morning I went to the British Library; to look around and register for a reader's pass.

Gentle reader, I accomplished both those things! The British Library is immense. They have holdings of somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 million books and some 58 million periodicals. You can't just go look at them. But with some convincing, a reader's pass can be obtained that allows you to have a go at reading those 14 million books and 58 million periodicals. The convincing consists of announcing some sort of research project and coming with sufficient documentation to prove where your permanent place of residence is. I got the pass (despite the ferocious gentleman assigned to my "case"). It has a dreadful picture of me on it.

Then, I relaxed and went and enjoyed the "Treasures of the British Library" exhibit. What treasures, indeed! There was a sampling of most of the categories of rare/unique manuscripts and letters that the BL has - they filled the whole room. There was one of their 2 Gutenberg bibles. There was Jane Austen's original draft of Persuasion - sitting on top of her very own writing desk. There was a copy of Handel's Water Music, the Mozart Horn Concerto. There were sacred texts from every known major food group. There were gorgeous bindings, there were letters, there was an envelope that one the Beetles had scribbled the lyrics to one of their songs on. There was a wall of philatelic pull-out collections on display. I spent so long looking at these, I didn't really have time to go try out my new reading room pass.

So last night I did a little pre-research, and found a handful of books through their online catalogue. Today, down there with my laptop bright and early, and navigated my way through their check-in procedure. Next time, it'll be easy. I held back three of the four works I reserved. I shall go back Saturday and peruse them. I was mistaken when I thought there were few jewellery related books - I just needed to search for them correctly, and use UK spelling... I can also "pre-check" books when I am not there by doing it remotely on line.

And the BL is trying out a pilot free wifi service! For 6 months! Perfect timing. It is a LOT more comfortable using their facilities - they have lunch tables and lounge tables galore where one could use a laptop - that are well within wifi range. As long as readers with laptops don't monopolize the reading rooms, laptops can be used in the library as well. But no cameras - pretty much anywhere in the library. And certainly no cell phones. And laptop sound must be turned OFF.

OK by me!