Uncle Sam Wants YOU to Remember That It’s Independence Day 7/4/13

I wore my Slytherin shirt today, because we took the Tube to King’s Cross Station. It did take us a little to find Platform 9 3/4s, because it’s no longer between Platforms 9 and 10. Apparently, wizards and witches got tired of dealing with muggle security. We did find it eventually, though, and spent more than a half hour taking pictures and exploring the Harry Potter shop. Librarians, amirite?

 

Fangirling done, we made our way to the British Library. They’re putting on a propaganda exhibit, so we were greeted by a giant poster of Uncle Sam. This was a reminder that today was Independence Day, since I’ve lost all track of days by this point.

We got a tour from a lovely man named Kevin, who described himself as an Americanphile. He led us in three cheers for the Fourth of July, before we got started. The British Library is impressive. It’s the national library for the United Kingdom, and they compile a copy of everything published in within it. The library has a total of 200 million items, which make up 1000 miles of shelves, and they are adding about 8 miles of shelves every year. Think about that. Some of that collection is stored in the four subterranean floors of stacks. The reading rooms are fairly standard, but they still emit a sense of scholarly energy.

Unlike pretty much every other library, the British Library is not organized by any kind of Subject-Index system. Instead, the collection is organized by size, which allows the library to maximize its shelf space. Since there’s no logic to the collection, all books must be requested and brought by the library staff. Everything on site can be brought to the desk within 1 hour and 10 minutes .The books are moved along a conveyor belt system, which can compensate for congestion by taking 22 different routes.

Yet, in contrast to the modern systems in use, the library still circulates the collection donated by King George III, with an average of 35 books being read a day. Because of a stipulation in his donation, the books need to be on display, so the architect designed a massive tower in the center of the library, which makes a serious impression.

When the tour ended, I walked around the Treasure Room. On display there are two of the original 1215 Magna Cartas (Magna Carta?), which was an amazing thing to see on the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. There was also a Gutenberg Bible in the room, manuscripts from the Beatles, and the Codex Sinaiticus, the oldest complete New Testment, written in the middle of the fourth century. There was just so much to see in such a small room.

The rest of the day was spent prepping for Paris! Leaving at 11:45 to head there!