St. Paul’s Cathedral
This morning we took a trip into the heart of London. We caught the bus to The City, which is the actual one square mile area that is London, and headed to an area called the Barbican. Historically speaking, the area where the Barbican is built now was completely flattened during WWII when the Germans were attempting to bomb St. Paul’s Cathedral. So they decided to rebuild a complete community, including cafes, stores, restaurants, libraries, theatres, and flats, within the space and called it the Barbican! We were very lucky to have individual tours of the Barbican Library, the Children’s Library, and the Music Library, which is award-winning and one of only two in the City.
These tours were excellent, and the librarians were extraordinarily nice, patient, and fun! They even gave us bags at the end with literature about the library and upcoming events, including their contact information if we have more questions. This visit really helped me understand the difficulties that come with working in a lending library in a place like London. Funding, space management, and reaching all demographics are a lot more difficult than I would have ever imagined. But the Barbican librarians still find a way to manage everything professionally and effectively, while (obviously) enjoying their jobs. What I really found fascinating about the Barbican is that they use RFID technology to check out their materials. So, for instance, there is a RFID tag in the book that I want to check out-all I have to do is use one of their self-checkout kiosks, place the book on the specified counter, where a RFID scanner is embedded, and the book is registered under my name. It is very simple for the patrons to use, and though I’ve read about RFID, I’ve never actually had any experience with it.
After finding a small yet delicious Italian restaurant for lunch with some friends, our class met back on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral for our afternoon visit. I volunteered to go with the second half of our group’s tour, so my friends and I headed down to the crypt cafe, where I enjoyed my first afternoon tea and scone! A landmark event, indeed!! I felt the earth shift, the sun rise, and the heavens began to sing! Alright, maybe not all of that, but I will certainly be enjoying many more scones in the near future! When it was our turn for a tour, we breathlessly climbed the multitudes of stares to reach the private level of St. Paul’s, above the crowds of visitors and shock-inducing beauty. We were taken through the small hallways, hidden rooms, and tiny crevices to the cathedral’s private library. What a sight! For as many centuries as it has existed, it was smaller than I expected, but certainly not less amazing! The room was a simple rectangle, yet there were books on every wall, with a second, open and visible level of full shelves above the bottom. After our guide, the library’s caretaker, discussed the library’s role at St. Paul’s with us, he kindly gave us a brief lesson in proper book handling and conservation (bonus treat!). After heading down the spiraling staircase (taking care not to get too dizzy) and making our way through the breathtaking architecture again, my friends Jessica and Stephanie and I visited the oldest pub in London: Ye Old Cheshire Cheese. It was given its current name in 1667, though the first pub built on this site was Horn Tavern, built in 1538. Prior to this it was an inn, during the 13th century, owned by the Carmelite Monastery! Tomorrow we head to Greenwich to visit the National Maritime Museum, and I’m looking forward to the adventure!
The Barbican Library:
The Travelling Bibliophile 