Doorway Design of British Library
Traveling around the world, if circumstances permit, my favorite places to go are university campuses and libraries. The common feature of these two places is that they are open to the public and are “undefended.” Of course, Chinese university campuses are an exception. The former is to feel its youthful and free culture atmosphere, the latter is to appreciate the civilization of a city and respect and worship knowledge.
British Museum Book Reading Room
The years before retirement were spent in the UK. The British Library in London, Birmingham City Library and Liverpool Central Library have all left a deep and beautiful impression on me.
The British Library
The British Library at 96 Euston Road, London, also known as the National Library of England, was developed from the British Museum Library that was first established in 1753. In July 1973, the National Central Library, the National Science and Invention Reference Library, the National Science and Technology Loan Library and the British National Bibliography Company merged to form the British Library today.
British Library open doors
The new ochre-red British Library building on Euston Road was completed in 1996. On the right side is the famous St. Pancras Hotel and St. Pancras Railway Station, which is the departure station of the “Eurostar” train to the European continent; and from St. Pancras, go forward It is Euston Railway Station, the departure station for England to go north to Scotland and Northern Ireland. The overall appearance of the new building of the British Library matches the colors of the neighboring St. Pancras, and the styles complement each other. One is classic Victorian style, the other is modern minimalist style.
Victorian St. Pancras
Main entrance of the British Library
The British Library has 150 million collections. Collected every book, every newspaper, periodical and other publications published in the UK. Even music scores, etc. must have copies. There are both traditional paper publications and the most modern electronic publications. There are both the latest published and manuscript ancient books from two thousand years ago.
Panoramic photo of the British Library
Although the history of the British Library is only more than two hundred years, its collection can be traced back more than 3,000 years ago. The brown glass tower in the lobby of the new building was donated by King George IV of his father George III to the British Library in 1823. The glass tower is six stories high, and all the book ridges are facing outwards for viewing. If necessary, staff can access it for readers through internal passages or movable bookshelves.
From where I live, it takes about forty minutes to walk to the British Library. Try to apply for its library card online, it needs to fill in too much personal information, give up. But this does not prevent me from entering the library without a certificate. One of the reasons I like patronizing this library is that it often holds exhibitions of various collections in the lobby or side compartment on the first floor. The few exhibitions that impressed me were the “Quran Rare Book Exhibition”, the “Georgian Age Architecture Exhibition”, “The Conquest of the Arctic Photo Exhibition” and so on. These exhibitions with different themes give the public a glimpse of these unparalleled authentic works and treasures, which are really rare.
The spiral staircase in the lobby of the Liverpool Central Library
Going to Liverpool to play, originally went to worship the “Beatles” band. But the Liverpool Central Library in the city centre has become the biggest gain besides the Beatles. It was founded in 1860 and is the largest of the 22 public libraries in Liverpool. Its appearance is as old and mottled as the appearance of the British Museum, with a heavy sense of history. But when I entered the door, I couldn’t help taking a deep breath, deeply impressed by its modernity and artistic sense. The spiral staircase decorated with stained glass is magnificent no matter from which angle it is viewed.
Shakespeare Paper Sculpture in Liverpool Library Hall
Shakespeare in Liverpool Central Library
Classic and frugal side entrance of Liverpool Central Library
Part of the outer wall of the Birmingham Library
The Birmingham Library fully embodies the characteristics of Birmingham, which was once an important town of the British Industrial Revolution
On two business trips to Birmingham, I couldn’t help but want to go to the Birmingham Library. This new library built in 1974 on the site of the original Birmingham Central Library has been the largest municipal public library in the UK and even in Europe from the date of its completion until 2013.
Birmingham Library Hall
The Birmingham Library is the masterpiece of the famous “Russian” architect John Madin. Although the cost of materials had to be reduced due to tight funding at the time, its majestic arched reading room, desolate concrete exterior wall and distinct geometric design have become a representative work of British architectural brutalism and are highly favored by the architectural circles. This architectural style is also regarded as a symbol of social progress. The number of visitors from 2011 to 2012 was close to 1.2 million, making it the second most visited library in the UK and the pride of Birmingham.
There is an escalator in the atrium of the Birmingham Library Hall, which is a bit like an escalator in a big shopping mall, which is convenient but does not feel like visiting a market. Standing on the escalator slowly rising, what rises in your heart is the worship of knowledge and civilization and nothing else.
Overlooking downtown Birmingham from the rooftop garden of the Birmingham Library
During the years of working and living in the UK, although I like to visit large and beautiful libraries, in my daily life, the Marylebone Community Library near my home is the only one I must visit every week, which is simple and convenient like my own living room or study room. I wonder if you feel the same as me?
Birmingham Library Corridor
Note: Most of the pictures in this article were taken on my mobile phone during my stay in the UK, and a few were taken from the Internet.
You must log in to post a comment.