We visited the National Art Library on the first day...just after our trip to St. Paul's Cathedral. Given that it is an art library, I had suspected that there would be...more art. In my mind, this space would be more like a gallery and less like a library, but I was absolutely incorrect. Just as the name implies, the National Art Library is a research library for those studying a variety of arts. They have many important and unique holdings such as a Shakespearean first folio and a copy of "Bleak House" written in Charles' Dickens own handwriting (library staff had a wonderful spread of these unique artifacts).
While I found the artifacts to be entertaining, I was most surprised by the systems and infrastructure in place in this library. For example, the National Art Library does not allow for browsing (unless done via their online catalog). Scholars must request materials in advance and then use those materials in the reading room areas. While initially surprising, this policy absolutely makes sense. Scholars need access to materials, but the library must protect these items from damage from the outside world. Along with explaining their policies, library staff also explained shelving systems and their systems for managing unique materials. Their use of cushioned boxes as a protective means for damaged bindings or unique layouts seemed so obvious, yet not obvious enough for me to have ever considered the practice.
As beautiful and engaging as the reading space (the library pictured above) was to be in, the back rooms of the library were far less ornate, but far more important. Because browsing is not permitted, most of the materials are found in back storage areas. These areas are managed by sorting systems that allow for oversized books and materials that are less book-like in shape.
Additionally, the link between library reference materials and the larger museum that they are apart of was quite interesting. This space has two staffs: library staff and museum staff, but their work stations are somewhat blended, making the barriers between the two less obvious to an outsider looking in. Obviously day to day tasks differ between the two groups of employees, but the access to library materials by museum personnel seems useful and fruitful, as our library staff member mentioned that museum staff frequently used library materials.
Overall, I was taken by the beauty of the reading space initially, but overwhelmed by the flawlessness of the systems and infrastructure that allow this library to be seamlessly functional.
While I found the artifacts to be entertaining, I was most surprised by the systems and infrastructure in place in this library. For example, the National Art Library does not allow for browsing (unless done via their online catalog). Scholars must request materials in advance and then use those materials in the reading room areas. While initially surprising, this policy absolutely makes sense. Scholars need access to materials, but the library must protect these items from damage from the outside world. Along with explaining their policies, library staff also explained shelving systems and their systems for managing unique materials. Their use of cushioned boxes as a protective means for damaged bindings or unique layouts seemed so obvious, yet not obvious enough for me to have ever considered the practice.
As beautiful and engaging as the reading space (the library pictured above) was to be in, the back rooms of the library were far less ornate, but far more important. Because browsing is not permitted, most of the materials are found in back storage areas. These areas are managed by sorting systems that allow for oversized books and materials that are less book-like in shape.
Additionally, the link between library reference materials and the larger museum that they are apart of was quite interesting. This space has two staffs: library staff and museum staff, but their work stations are somewhat blended, making the barriers between the two less obvious to an outsider looking in. Obviously day to day tasks differ between the two groups of employees, but the access to library materials by museum personnel seems useful and fruitful, as our library staff member mentioned that museum staff frequently used library materials.
Overall, I was taken by the beauty of the reading space initially, but overwhelmed by the flawlessness of the systems and infrastructure that allow this library to be seamlessly functional.