100 things challenge - 32: Libraries, part 2

[birdienl]

In my 100-things challenge, I did a post about libraries before. But it is a subject I know many of you love and there are just a lot of nice facts to share concerning libraries, so here is Libraries - part 2. In the previous post I talked about the oldest libraries, today I'll give you some facts about the largest libraries in the world!

Currently listed in the Guinness World Records Book as the largest library is the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Located in four buildings (3 in Washington and 1 in Culpeper, Virginia) it houses over 32 million books and over 147 million objects in total (next to books; microfilm reels, maps, sheet music and prints and photographic images). All these items need a whopping total of 1,349 kilometers of shelf space!

The Library was instituted in 1800 and housed in the United States Capitol until 1897, when it was moved to its currently oldest building: the Thomas Jefferson Building. Extra buildings were added to the Library in 1939, 1976 and most recently in 2007. The Library is open to the public, but only employees, MPs, Supreme Court justices and other high-ranking government officials are allowed to check out books. Other users may read the collection inside the library buildings only.

Other very large libraries are the British Library in London, the National Library of China in Beijing and the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg.

Comments

[litlover12.livejournal.com]

That's a beautiful picture!

[richyl88.livejournal.com]

I would love to go to the Library of Congress someday.

[ever-maedhros.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a view! If I ever go to DC, I'm definitely dropping by that place, at least once. :)

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

I can understand that!

[spotsofcolour.livejournal.com]

That library looks beautiful!

I've been to the British Library and it is an amazing place - not quite as grand as that though, because it's a much newer building, but still lovely to be in.

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wouldn't have expected that, I would've thought a British library would be in an older building compared to the American library somehow!

[spotsofcolour.livejournal.com]

I know, it seems strange doesn't it? But it wasn't even established really until 1973 - and I think it was purpose built rather than inhabiting an older building, old English buildings tend to have a lot of strangely shaped rooms, non-sensical staircases and weird layouts, and they're not super disabled-friendly - and they're difficult to maintain, because they get 'listed' status, which means that they're protected by the government because of their design or something, and that means any refurbishments need to get express permission, and it's all paperwork heavy and a bit of a faff.

It's not too bad-looking though, all things considered:



(That beautiful big building you can see behind it with the spires? St Pancras train station and hotel.)

If I recall correctly, the stores are underneath that courtyard - about five floors deep of them. There are vents every so often in the floor to let things out.


The interior's done very nicely though - a lot of marble and dark glass.

This is the view you get as you go up the steps once you're inside:


The main foyer:


You're not really allowed cameras in any of the other rooms, because some of the books are so old they don't want them damaged. You're only allowed to take pencils into the rooms, and you have to take a see-through bag so they can check you're not sneaking anything in or out.

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, thanks for the comment and posting the photographs. Inside it looks nice, but I think the outside of the building clashes with the classic buildings surrounding it.

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

Ah, gorgeous! I love learning about libraries, it's always a good topic!

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

I'll keep that in mind and hopefully add some other library facts to the '100 things challenge' soon!