Our last stop on our trip was to Edinburgh, Scotland. Scotland felt like no other place we visited in the UK; it is absolutely its own identity. On this leg of our journey, we visited two libraries: Central Library (Edinburgh) and New College Library: Edinburgh University. While these two libraries were in walking distance of each other, the couldn't have been more profoundly different.
As a public library, the Central Library attempts to ensure that its patrons have plenty of opportunity to meet with small groups and gather necessary materials. They see themselves as a community hub for the city. Any person can use their library services, and they have attempted to cover a wide array of materials to meet the needs of their patrons. They are also a Carnegie library, so they are on a national preservation list. This differs greatly from the role of New College Library.
New College Library was roots as a religious library. Its earliest purpose was to store new religious doctrine and the building is a former church. Most of the stores of books are beneath the reading room first floor. The shelving is tight and there are sections of materials that have yet to be sorted or catalogued. While they have made it a point to branch out to cover a wider variety of religious materials, New College is known for its materials regarding theological study.
The most fascinating part about these libraries is their proximity in terms of space, but distance in terms of scope. They do not serve the same patrons, nor do they have the same needs. Central Library had to solve a major problem: Where to store all of the baby carriages during children's programming. New College has never considered such a problem. While both are libraries, their struggles are completely dissimilar. They hold books and from there they depart from one another.
To me, these visits were the perfect way to end the trip. We can study library science for years, but no two libraries will be faced with the same problems or circumstances. The study of library science is about critical thinking and problem solving within the context a librarian finds themselves in. Looking out for the best interest of patrons, materials, and the overall goals of a particular organization.
The most fascinating part about these libraries is their proximity in terms of space, but distance in terms of scope. They do not serve the same patrons, nor do they have the same needs. Central Library had to solve a major problem: Where to store all of the baby carriages during children's programming. New College has never considered such a problem. While both are libraries, their struggles are completely dissimilar. They hold books and from there they depart from one another.
To me, these visits were the perfect way to end the trip. We can study library science for years, but no two libraries will be faced with the same problems or circumstances. The study of library science is about critical thinking and problem solving within the context a librarian finds themselves in. Looking out for the best interest of patrons, materials, and the overall goals of a particular organization.