Day 7: Edinburgh Part II
National Library of Scotland
Today’s mission: find Scotland yarn and something to do with the Loch Ness monster for my nephew. If time permits, we would learn something about the National library. Today was the first day I felt like I couldn’t understand what people were saying through their accents, and I don’t know if it was the echoes in the room, how fast they were talking, or sleep deprivation on my part. They were really interesting and I liked their goal: give everyone access and promote and preserve everything to do with Scotland.
They gave us a tour of the building: welcome center on the first floor and then research area on the upper levels. The building was old and they have done renovations to make it more welcoming, but it still has an odd flow. The research areas seem very close and the quiet room to use archival materials was barely large enough for the few desks and the six people using it at the time of our visit. They did have one computer terminal for various impairments (visual/audio), but it was on the second floor and tucked away making the location a deterrent for people who have mobility issues.
They also had a machine that would take pictures of documents and either print or convert into PDF files. Some music was housed in the library and those files have not been digitized and they still use a physical card catalog to find materials. Since most of the books had to stay on site, they also had a hold room for people who needed to work with items for an extended period of time. I could have browsed for hours seeing what people had on hold trying to guess what they were studying. Our tour guide mentioned that the library is open to everyone but undergraduates. Their reasoning is that the library should have everything they need and if they had unlimited access the library would be over-run with students. They can receive a special card, but only for a limited time.
They gave us a tour of the building: welcome center on the first floor and then research area on the upper levels. The building was old and they have done renovations to make it more welcoming, but it still has an odd flow. The research areas seem very close and the quiet room to use archival materials was barely large enough for the few desks and the six people using it at the time of our visit. They did have one computer terminal for various impairments (visual/audio), but it was on the second floor and tucked away making the location a deterrent for people who have mobility issues.
They also had a machine that would take pictures of documents and either print or convert into PDF files. Some music was housed in the library and those files have not been digitized and they still use a physical card catalog to find materials. Since most of the books had to stay on site, they also had a hold room for people who needed to work with items for an extended period of time. I could have browsed for hours seeing what people had on hold trying to guess what they were studying. Our tour guide mentioned that the library is open to everyone but undergraduates. Their reasoning is that the library should have everything they need and if they had unlimited access the library would be over-run with students. They can receive a special card, but only for a limited time.
John Murray Archives
This is why I came to Scotland and possibly why I want to be a librarian. They got out documents for us to not only see, but to hold! They didn’t make us (or anyone) use gloves because people know how to be careful with old documents and they don’t want to be insulting. Also with gloves things are more apt to be torn or damaged because you don’t have your sense of touch. Here’s what we go to see:
Over all, this was a great day and a once in a life time opportunity. They have a really neat app and very interactive webpage that I can’t wait to explore in my free time after graduation. This would also be a really great resource for teachers to have students view letters and photographs they have digitized. For library students and librarians it is a great way to see how to interact with different pieces and artifacts and promote events focused around them.
- Letters from Lord Byron to John Murray written in various stages of drunkenness and describing in great detail exactly what he was going to spend his publishing money on-something to do with his bullocks.
- Letters from Caroline Lamb a crazy jilted lover of Lord Byron. She was the original stalker who even forged a letter in Byron’s name to get a portrait of him from Murray. She also wrote a not so subtle story about a Lord and his little dog that he leaves to die of a broken heart. One of her letter starts with this line: “This written from one who suffers.” This would be perfect for middle/high school age girls to read!
- Charles Darwin’s proposal to Murray for Origin of Species in which he describes the chapter on Natural Selection as “important facts and quite obtuse.”
- A journal from the Franklin expedition to Antarctica by Sir John Franklin-it doesn’t end well.
- Pictures and letters from Isabella Bird-awesome lady and world traveler.
- An unpublished autobiography of Washington Irving defending his American heritage.
Over all, this was a great day and a once in a life time opportunity. They have a really neat app and very interactive webpage that I can’t wait to explore in my free time after graduation. This would also be a really great resource for teachers to have students view letters and photographs they have digitized. For library students and librarians it is a great way to see how to interact with different pieces and artifacts and promote events focused around them.
Royal Gardens
After the library we finally found my yarn! We also stayed to visit the Edinburgh Botanical Garden, which was lovely, but a very long walk. We got to take a public bus back, and Valerie got to share a seat with a man and his dog. All I need to do is to take a boat and a taxi and I will have taken just about every mode of transit available. We took the train back to Glasgow and happened to be at the station the same time as some of our other fellow travelers and had a great time visiting on the way home.
Fun Fact: I got coffee at the National Library and got a free biscuit with it. I love this country!
Fun Fact: I got coffee at the National Library and got a free biscuit with it. I love this country!