The Good Library Blog

Personally I think the open access policy is great - I love the enthusiastic hum of all those collective brains working and I'm pleased that this policy opens up the Library to people who found access difficult in the past.

The problem, however, isn't caused by the success of the British Library but by the failures of the public library system, and to some extent weaknesses in academic libraries as well.

Because public libraries have flogged off the contents of their bookstacks it is difficult to obtain older books quickly, and Libraries have no way of informing people of exactly how long it will take to obtain items ordered on inter-library loan. This failing is made worse by the refusal of many Libraries to purchase new books they consider "academic". A further failure is the lack of provision for quiet study space.

The piecemeal provision of libraries by a fragmented library system in London has also meant that London does not have a large central library with pooled resources in the way that Amsterdam, New York or Budapest have - so the British Library, with its helpful and responsive staff, its quick fetching times, online ordering, and positive outreach is effectively filling the gap. Just as it is increasingly filling the gap in provision by County Libraries across the country with its interlending system.

The only real point of criticism that can be directed at the British Library is the decision to flog off the undeveloped part of the site when it could have been used to provide additional reading space.

One immediate solution to the problem of overcrowding in the reading rooms would be to extend the opening times.

I don't doubt that the BL lacks a degree of strategic direction at the moment, but the open access policy is not part of the problem. The very suggestion that anyone should be excluded from our national library is snobbery at its very worst. Quite frankly, anyone who thinks the reading room of the British Library has degenerated into a 'Youth Club' of middle-class nightmares clearly doesn't visit the British library.

Martyn is right to point out that people need recourse to the British Library because the public-library service has been ruined, so many books thrown out.

And that land meant for books and readers was flogged off (so many books are in Boston Spa).

But symptomatic of the rotten "access policy" is that pens are now banned everywhere in the Library after books became highlighted with marker pen. That did not happen before.

What do you mean by 'academic understanding'?

10 years ago when I was an undergrad at UCL my 'academic understanding' was that the BL was some holy sanctum where even to gain access you had to have a letter from your professor. Nowadays - 2 forms of ID lets you in. Yes there are going to be negatives such as marker pens getting into books (have people no respect) but the BL should for example push academics out of their seats if they have had a 3 hour lunch break (which I have been told is a common problem). Anyone who has issue with the 'open access' policy should go join the London Library.

Katie

This small cat uses and loves the BL and would encourage every body in the world (student or not) to know what it contains and use it if they need. I am for open access

But I am saying that the building is not well managed and of the qualities I would seek in a good manager the first one would be someone who understands the intrinsic academy and scholarly nature of the collections. The first duty of the curator of the library is to preserve those values and pass them to their successor.

I also read at the London Library, which is also wonderful, but is a bit expensive.

Perkins, you should join the likes of Antonia Fraser in the minority elite group. Yes, the open access policy may create difficulties at certain times of the year but as a reader who had to sign all sorts of "need" forms to gain access I'm more than happy with the present situation. OK. so three hours for lunch is excessive and people should not leave their belongings on the desk for that length of time when not actually using it but it's only when dissertaion time comes round and dilatory students get in a panic that the crush is really apparent. Unless your need is immediate and urgent, in which case get there at 09:30 or after 18:00 when seats will definitely be available, simply avoid the busy period.

Yes, I agree with Lady Antonia Fraser-- as she is quoted in the New York Times thus

"In a letter to the library, Lady Antonia said that while she did not object to the admission of students per se, she felt that the library had failed to address the “chaos and confusion” that came with the larger numbers. "

It is a management problem, not a problem of policy of access.

I don't know whether your expression "minority elite' is intended to be rude: Antonia Fraser is in a minority of people who write good books, so it could be a compliment, and I would be more than happy to be part of that group, but regret I am not worthy.