The British Library

The British Library is aesthetically pleasing and such an experience. The building is absolutely enormous and the library seems larger after walking through the front doors. There is a bag check before you can enter. The library is three stories tall. I have never seen a library so big in my entire life. In fact, escalators ran to the other floors! The ceiling was amazing with glass windows all the way around which let in the sunlight. In the center of the library was a big hollow rectangular box filled with books. The books were all archaic and the glass box went from the floor to the ceiling. This library even had a restaurant in the back and a small café. Some of the rooms are study rooms and can only be entered if you have a member’s pass. There was plenty to see without being a member though.

Four exhibits were multifarious on the ground floor and they were really impressive. They included some of the oldest books of history and original music from famous writers and composers. None of the music or books were extraneous, which made these exhibits an attention grabber. They had Shakespeare’s books where a few were actually his original handwriting. Beethoven had many of his score sheets there and also his toning fork. They even recognized the Beetles and had a few of their albums along with the original writings of songs. Next to the display of the Beetles there were headsets that had some of the Beetle’s hits for example Michelle, Help, and I Want to Hold Your Hand. There was another headset next to the display of all the score sheets of famous composers. I spent most of my time listening to the music. They had books on the other wall from famous writers and another headset next to these that had little parts from some of the books. They had Hamlet, Jane Eyre, and Alice in Wonderland.

Another exhibit was eclectic and had old manuscripts that had been restored. Some were of the Bible and others were of the Witched Bible. The Witched Bible is a Bible that was written normally but in the fourteenth commandment the word “not” was taken out so it read though shall commit adultery. After this book was written it was then given the name Witched Bible or Sinners Bible. Also, tools which people used to restore the manuscripts, sat in display cases next to the documents.

In the back of the library next to the restaurant, two entire walls full of tablets came out of the wall with large prints of old books, poems and articles. They were really cool and much easier to read than the originals that were written so small that you have to squint to read them.

Today was a great day and I am glad I went to the British Library. I definitely recommend going to see this large, magnificent building. Check in tomorrow and write me a post of what you think.