This will be a short, single-subject posting about a great big deal -- While there are 114 individual libraries spanning the 31 colleges at Cambridge, the above University Library is the copyright library, which holds over 8 million books (and sheet music and maps), many of which are available in open shelves. There has been a formal University Library since the 1400's, but this current building that you see above was constructed between 1931 and 1934 by architect Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed Clare Memorial Court in Clare College. In fact, this library is less than a stone's throw from my dorm room -- it takes me less than a minute to get to its front door. As a legal deposit library, it is entitled to claim a copy of all books, journals, printed maps and music published in England and Ireland. Thus, it increases its collection annually by approximately 120,000. I have a library card to this library! This week has been pretty busy for us here, but I will be able to spend time next week exploring the places they will let me in. I heard that it has multiple floors below ground in addition to the floors we can see, as well as a tea room. This will be fun!
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