Writing Spaces
Over the last few weeks I’ve expanded my living room by looking for other spaces in which to write. This has led me to those apparently unsung heroes: libraries. All the boroughs have a number of libraries, with a couple of larger ones in each of them. You used to have to live or work in the relevant borough to get a membership card, but no more! Now you only need a UK address to join any of them.
I have mentioned earlier the lovely reference libraries and writing spaces at Marylebone, Paddington and Westminster Reference Library (all part of City of Westminster Libraries). Now, I have added City of London Libraries to my list of Spaces. I spent some time at the Guildhall Library, which has a brilliant and extensive specialist collection about the history of London and is a great space in which to write: modernity among so much history. Lovely bookshop too; I bought a postcard of Fleet Street from c1905.
Similarly, the Barbican Library has a splendid London collection and a huge range of books covering hundreds of other subjects. The Barbican itself is intriguing (an iconic 1960s living space and arts centre built on the ruins of the bombed area of Cripplegate). You wander along the Moorgate Highwalk to get to the arts centre and are entering a special concrete space.
The thing that’s struck me about all the different libraries is just how well-used they are. Westminster’s are busy on Sundays with teenagers doing homework and noodling on laptops. The City’s libraries have a broader range of people there at any given time than I had anticipated. So, you might need to wait for that desk or one of the computers. But this is a good thing, right? These are important public spaces that are being well-used by, well, the public. Long live it. It seems the libraries are not such unsung heroes after all.
I plan to investigate the Bishopsgate Institute next. These spaces are important.
Anyway, it’s nearly Easter. The weather is (inevitably) somewhat blustery and rainy. And the libraries are closed for four days now.
[...] of posts about this on his own ‘London Lives’ blog: Research in Westminster and Writing Spaces). There’s also a long-running Writers’ Group which meets fortnightly at Marylebone [...]
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23 September 2010 at 11:01
I really love to be in libraries – and as you, love to see them being well used. Libraries were a really good idea a long time ago, and they’re a gift we shouldn’t take for granted.
(And yes, marvellously inspiring places to write in.)
Jennifer
2 April 2010 at 07:46
You’re absolutely right Jennifer and it’s lovely to have so many of them around. I hope to increase and improve my output in them.
green eyes
2 April 2010 at 08:02
Lorissa – many thanks for your comment. It’s been a while since I’ve tried to write in libraries, but I think it’s good to vary the spaces in which I write. I hope they will be successful spaces. Best wishes
green eyes
2 April 2010 at 00:12
I found your blog randomly, but having tried to write in libraries, I’m, or will be curious about your experience. I never was able to – here in New York. But, living in a tiny one bedroom with a painter husband, perhaps I’ll try again. Thanks for the post.
Lorissa
1 April 2010 at 22:22