It's a remarkable building, completed in the late 1990s with the intention of bringing together the various Government collections of books and manuscripts under one roof. Designed to look like an ocean liner at sea, it holds the record of being the largest public building erected in the United Kingdom during the entire 20th century. The Library has a legal obligation to hold a copy of each book printed in the UK, and also has many books and manuscripts of historical significance on display in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery, including Captain Cook's journal, works by significant literary figures from British history and the Magna Carta itself. There are also extensive reading rooms in the main part of the building which rather strikes me as a having something of a 1970s look about it with its sweeping staircases. Right at the centre of the structure there's a building within a building, the King's Library, which contains four storeys of works collected by King George III. The Museum also hosts a changing series of exhibitions - at the moment its in the closing weeks of its 'Evolving English' exhibition which explores the changing nature of the English language, and which closes on 3 April.
As you might imagine, I wasn't able to take photographs in several parts of the building because there are justifiable concerns that the intense light sources produced by camera flashes could damage some of the more delicate manuscripts over time, but I did take quite a few photographs of the enclosed area outside the building as well as snapping a few items on display in the entrance area...
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| From British Library March 2011 |
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