Accessibility and Scotland's Libraries: New College Library and Edinburgh Central Library

*Note: I started this post earlier this week, but ran out of steam. Just be aware "today" refers to Tuesday, July 15th. 

Today we took tours of two major libraries in Edinburgh: the New College Library at the University of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Central Library. The first one, obviously, is academic and the second one is a public library. While both libraries were fantastic and the librarians were extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable, I was struck by the difference in disability access between the two libraries. 

Before heading out, I had to take a few pictures of the dorm area, especially because today was so sunny and beautiful.

Catch-up Time 5! Friday, July 11th: Kew Gardens/Royal Botanic Garden Archives and Andrew Wiltshire Lecture

I'm almost all caught up from last week! Later tonight, I'll post pictures and stories from my WeekendExplore trips to Stonehenge/Winchester and Dover/Canterbury. This post, however, is all about our class's day-long visit to Kew Gardens and the Royal Botanic Garden Archives. 

Kew is beautiful! Unfortunately, that Friday was the coldest day we have experienced yet, and it rained all day. Yuck! Talk about spoiling a beautiful day! Despite this, we all did enjoy looking at everything and learning more about Beatrix Potter, who used Kew to research--and that is an interesting story in itself. 

Catch-up Time 4! Thurs., July 10th: British Museum/Archives and Weiner Library

Sorry to bombard you all with posts, but blogger’s gotta blog!

This one recounts the class’s visit to the British Museum and the Wiener Holocaust Library, both of which were rewarding visits.

We arrived at the British Museum early in the morning and were given one hour to peruse their collections before being given a tour of their archives. The British Museum is one of the best places in London, definitely. It is massive, covering several stories and millions of artifacts. They have exhibits from all over the world: China, Japan, Egypt, North America, all over Europe—everywhere! Unfortunately, I only got to view a few displays at the museum—China, Japan, and North American Indians—before going on the tour.

Catch-up Time 3! Wed., July 9th: National Maritime Museum/Caird Archives and Library & Globe Theater Library

Hello, all! Welcome to yet another belated blog post! Today, this one covers last Wednesday, July 9^th, and our visit to the National Maritime Museum and Caird Library. Additionally, I took a trip on my own to the Globe Theater Library to do some Shakespearean research.

We rode the boat to the museum, and I took some pictures. 

Catch-up Time! July 7th: LAARC and...Somewhere Else

Hello, all!

I’m catching up on the blog right now, so brace yourselves! This post is about last Monday, July 7^th. We went to the London Archaeological Archives and Research Center (LAARC), and it was a satisfying trip. Considering that by last Monday I had taken about 1,000 pictures, I had serious picture-taking fatigue, so I don’t really have any pictures from that visit but do have one Dr. Welsh took (see below).

London Playhouse Theatre Production of "1984"

Hello, all! 

I'm sorry for the lack of updates this week. We went to two places each day, which came to about ten visits this week. As you can imagine, I was exhausted each day and did not have the energy to blog. I will catch up on those places, as well as the LondonAway! visits from last weekend. First, though, I would like to tell you about my first trip to the London stage!

One of my goals in coming to London was to see a stage play - preferably Shakespeare, but anything good would do. As some of you know, I read 1984 by George Orwell on the plane and as a nightstand book; I had wanted to read a classic English novel while in London, and 1984 seemed like a good choice. 

Stratford-upon-Avon, Part 2

Welcome back to the blog! I'm going to pick up where I left off in the Stratford adventure, which was the "Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus" tour. 

When we first arrived in Stratford, I asked Dr. Welsh what she recommended doing while in town, and she suggested the Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus. The bus is essentially a tour through the town, stopping at each designated site of Shakespearean importance.

Stratford-upon-Avon, Part 1

Well, everyone, the visit to Stratford-upon-Avon was by far the best day I have had on this trip: best weather, best attractions, best tours, best food—best everything! As you can imagine, I took enough pictures to fill a book; as a result, this post will have to be split in two with Part 1 dealing with Shakespeare’s birthplace, the Stratford public library, and the River Avon.

The ride to Stratford was about two hours, which after the 8-hour plane ride felt like nothing. Half-way through we did make one pit stop at a place called Welcome Break.

The British Library and the Big Bus Tour! July 3rd

Hello, constant blog readers! I've dropped the ball on writing for this blog, so you should expect lots of catching up within the next few days. 

Yesterday, we toured the British Library, one of the largest libraries in the entire world. Holding over 200 million pieces, the British Library's collection when lined up covers over 300 miles.

The Stowe School, July 2nd

Good evening, all! As you know, I was in Stratford-upon-Avon earlier this week, and it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life! Since I took an unprecedented number of pictures and have so much to say, I'll write about it this weekend when I have more time. 

On Wednesday, we visited the Stowe School (located in Buckingham, England), an extravagant boarding school in the English countryside, and I must say I am ambivalent about it at best. The main building is massive and massively ornate: built in the 1730s, transformed into a palace in 1822, sold as an estate in 1921, and turned into a boys' boarding school soon after, Stowe is the embodiment of the long-lasting and insidious English class system. It really is one of the most extravagant buildings I have ever seen.  

Here are some pictures of the North entrance to the house, which is where guests enter. 

 

The rooms there are opulent to the point of gaudiness. The library, which is extremely small, has hundreds of rosettes on the ceiling, all of which are made of 23.5 karat gold. We were told the ceiling, which was redone recently, cost 86,000 pounds, 23,000 of which went to the rosettes alone. 

 

 

There are ornate sculptures and wall-length paintings in every room, and the rooms themselves are massive. I would estimate my own home could fit into the cafeteria twice.

 

 

 

 

 

The home itself is on a large estate, as you can see from these shots from behind the house.

 

 

 

 

There are miles and miles of open land, much of which is covered in grazing sheep, which was my favorite part--not that that is should be shocking. After our tour of the library, we were given about two hours to wander the estate. I took a very long walk, going all the way to the arch you can faintly make out in the previous pictures. Here are a few from my stroll, including the sheep. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do not mean to imply the estate was "bad" necessarily--the estate is beautiful--but like a strong perfume, Stowe is too beautiful, too overpoweringly beautiful, and can cause physical symptoms of revulsion. Indeed, I felt enthralled by the beauty of Stowe, but simultaneously sickened by its excess. I could not help thinking about the lower classes and exploitation upon which this school was built. To attend this school, one must pay 33,000 pounds per year--roughly $57,000--which is more than many people pay each year to attend college. For many people that far exceeds a year's salary. The students here are in the highest crust of the aristocracy, and I'm sure many of them were born into histories of wealth. It was truly discomfiting to look at all of that opulence and then think about the estate's history. Much like the house on Downton Abbey, Stowe went through periods in which it lost money, most notoriously in 1848 when the duke spent the estate into bankruptcy. A similar fate occured in 1917 when the heir to the estate died in World War I and the estate ran out of money, leading the heiress to sell it lock, stock, and barrel. This history of bankruptcy and selling, I think, is owing to the fact that these estates don't create or work toward anything--nothing other than sustaining their own wealth and status. The Stowe School is emblematic of this in that it is a wealthy school for wealthy people to ensure they maintain their wealth. 

In spite of these reservations, I did enjoy wandering the estate on my own later. The librarians were also very kind and eager to discuss the sheer joy they experience working there. 

Considering it is the Fourth of July, and after learning more British history, I feel proud to be an American. We have a class system badly in need of reform, for certain; however, we do not have a socially ingrained legacy of titles and monarchy. The older social structure of Britain depended on titles: A duke or earl would own land, and the lower ranks of society would tend to all of the needed jobs; they worked to serve and preserve the aristocracy. Much like slavery and the genocide of American Indians in the United States, it is essential to remember England's legacy of colonialism and class warfare, two principles upon which much of their culture is founded. Visiting Stowe today, more than anything else, really made me think about these issues. The house and estate were beautiful, but I could not help looking askance at the history and purpose of it all. 

With all of this in mind, I am grateful to have had this trip on the eve of the Fourth because it has really impressed upon me the meaning of the American Revolution. In spite of all our problems, America does have a different mind set about class and individualism. In creating the Constitution, we not only did away with the medieval traditions of earls, dukes, and monarchy, but also created a new kind of selfdom, the essence of which is one's birth place is not one's destiny. As the Fourth of July comes upon us and I am in Great Britain, I will continue to ponder these thoughts. 

Love,
Laura