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The new British Library, a post-modern
red-brick building beside St Pancras Station in the Euston
Road, was commissioned by Margaret Thatcher in 1992.
The huge collection of books
was transferred from its original site at the British
Museum in 1997 and the new British Library was
opened to the public in spring 1999.
The piazza in front of the British
Library is dominated by a huge statue by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi,
his version of William Blake's image of Isaac Newton, measuring
the universe with his compass.
The British Library houses over
12 million books, maps and manuscripts.
The John Ritblat Gallery, one
of the permanent exhibitions, houses the 'Treasures of the
British Library'. This showcases the library's superb
collection of rare and historic works, such as the Lindisfarne
Gospels (AD 700), the Magna Carta (1215) and the Gutenburg
Bible (1455).
Other permanent exhibitions include
the Philatelic Exhibition, thought to be the finest display
of classical stamps in the world, and the Workshop of
Words, Sounds and Images, which traces the history of book
production.
The British Library also holds
temporary exhibitions and holds lectures, discussions and
events.
At the heart of the building
is the King's Library, some 65,000 volumes and 20,000 pamphlets,
as well as over 400 manuscripts collected by George III.
The library was presented to the nation by George IV in 1823.
Housed in a six storey glass-walled tower, the King's Library
has mobile shelving and internal lifts and stairs to enable
staff to retrieve the books. The working library can be seen
by all those using the café and restaurant.
When the British Library was
re-located here the British Museum was transformed with the
creation of its 'Great Court' - London's first glass-covered
public square. The British Library's original domed
Round Reading Room at the centre of the Great Court was painstakingly
restored to its original decoration and opened to the general
public.
A pass must be obtained in advance
for the National Sound Archive or Humanities Reading Room.
Admission free, charge
for Guided Tours
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London
Euston