Amazing Libraries

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Eddie Muir
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Eddie Muir »

Wow! That's some library, Stef. :D

I thought the library at the University of Sussex was pretty impressive until I started reading this thread. I remember the Sussex library being officially opened by the Queen on Friday, 13th November 1964. It was a particularly unlucky Friday the 13th for it rained heavily all day!
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Ming »

Tony, your experience at the library sounds wonderful. Do you have any photos, by any chance?

Stef, that is a very nice picture of the Aberdeen Library. I can understand why you were excited! :)

My friend visited Amsterdam over the summer, and she was very sad because she had no idea the library there was so stunning, and that she didn't visit it.

The Long Room certainly is wonderful. Is that where the Harry Potter films were made? I know Christ Church's (Oxford) dining hall and some other places was used for the first two films but later films were done on sets.
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Soenke Rahn
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Soenke Rahn »

I would like to read in the books of this library in Göttingen again. I was there for few hours last year:

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File: ... bau%29.jpg
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by AlexH »

Once I'd found my way in, I enjoyed a quick visit to the National Library in Paris earlier this year. How many libraries have a mini-forest in the middle?! The four buildings that surround the 'forest' were designed to look like open books: https://i.imgur.com/5nZ2SQq.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Paris has some beautiful libraries. Most of all I wanted to visit the Richelieu Library, but it's only open to members. The reading room can be seen towards the bottom of this list: http://hiconsumption.com/2014/05/the-20 ... the-world/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (some which are in the opening post, but the images aren't showing for me)

I also like mobile libraries, which only seem to exist in remote locations of the UK these days? I remember a local one when I was a child.
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Wonderful libraries, Alex. I'm particularly drawn to the Bedales Memorial Library. The dark, curved timbers make it look a little like an upturned ship!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Eddie Muir »

Fantastic photos, Alex. Thank you for the link. :D
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.

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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Courtenay »

Amazing libraries indeed — thanks, Alex! I wouldn't mind visiting some of those myself, if I ever can. Sounds like you had a wonderful visit to Paris, too.
AlexH wrote: I also like mobile libraries, which only seem to exist in remote locations of the UK these days? I remember a local one when I was a child.
I haven't seen any in the UK, but we do have them in Australia, where I come from. Our local library service, West Gippsland Regional Library, runs two mobile libraries (used to be three, but I've just looked up their website and it looks like they've recently cut it down to two). They cover three shires (local council districts) between them — quite a wide area — and serve about 18 smaller towns and villages that don't have a library branch, visiting once a week in most cases. I've always lived in a town big enough to have its own library, so I don't recall ever using a mobile library, but I've seen them on the road — they're huge vehicles!
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Eddie Muir »

I remember there was a mobile library in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire when I was a young child in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It used to visit our area late afternoon every other Friday. My parents were regular borrowers.

I’ve just checked on the internet and discovered that mobile libraries are still in operation in Worcestershire. Here’s one part of the County Council’s service:

https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/direc ... _timetable" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by AlexH »

Considering I started it, you'd think I would have checked already, but the last two posts inspired me to check for mobile libraries in Staffordshire - and two do still operate. One visits my village every 3 weeks! Rather than a 2-minute walk like I remember, it's now a 10-minute walk. But it's useful to know. Not only haven't I seen one around these parts for many years - I haven't seen them advertised in the other local libraries either - the one I use most frequently is closed for 2 weeks while they relocate. You'd think that'd be a good time to advertise the mobile library.
Eddie Muir wrote: I’ve just checked on the internet and discovered that mobile libraries are still in operation in Worcestershire. Here’s one part of the County Council’s service:

https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/direc ... _timetable" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I like how "Lunch" is listed, and it is for my local service too. Sometimes small things amuse me. :D https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisur ... ute15.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Daisy »

That's an interesting link AlexH. My nearest is Route 10 but my village does have a thriving library so the mobile one does not actually need to come any nearer than the 2 miles away which is the nearest place it calls at. It's good to know that mobile libraries are still around!
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

I've just come across this Guardian article which features a number of beautiful libraries:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesig ... n-pictures" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wonderfully inviting!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Courtenay »

Wow! :D
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Boatbuilder »

I like the Brazillian one.

The book has 664 pages and costs £100 on Amazon Prime - but about £12 cheaper from other sellers.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Massimo-Listri ... +libraries" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Having just bought the BBC book that accompanies the Sunday night 'Dynasties' series, I think I'll have to give it a miss, for now. :cry:
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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Crumbs - that's an expensive book! Not that I've got the shelf space for it anyway!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


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Re: Amazing Libraries

Post by Courtenay »

Boatbuilder wrote: The book has 664 pages and costs £100 on Amazon Prime - but about £12 cheaper from other sellers.
And even the £100 is reduced from the RRP of £150. :shock:
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