|
|
Article: Defining the library of the 21st century: the British Library.(Lynne Brindley)(Interview)
- Article from:
- Searcher
- Article date:
- February 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Information Today, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
The first time I visited the British Library (BL) at St. Pancras in 1998, I was disappointed. The library was sterile, lifeless, and not an exciting place to be. Prince Charles had been vocal in his criticism of the library's architecture, but librarians' views were mixed. When I visited in October 2006, I had an entirely different and delightful experience. The plaza outside was filled with people enjoying each other and the unusually warm weather. Inside, there were people in the entrance hall, in the balcony above, and in other areas of the building, busy meeting; greeting; using Wi-Fi for their mobile phones, computers, and PDAs; and using the library's rich ...