Although the staff area where I spend much of my day is nothing to write home about, the public areas of WBL are amazing. The new building is airy, spacious, and full of a wonderful buzz of people talking. One of my favorite spots to have a quick tea with friends is in the cafe. The picture to the right cuts off most of the cafe table except the ones at the very edge. The wall-like structure is actually a clear tower filled with bookshelves. Apparently the architects really liked the Beinecke Library at Yale and decided to build a similar structure as the centerpiece for the new British Library. The tower of books goes up 5 or 6 stories and provides an impressive backdrop while one drinks tea or reads a book. It also means that the cafe feels very open and bright.
I pass through this area many times a day and I'm always thrilled to see the motley group of people that the British Library attracts. Old scholars, young academics, families, teen-agers, all speaking different languages and all happily on their way to look at books. Many people have their laptops out or have covered their table in papers. Most carry the clear British Library reader's bags. If one wants to use the library's collections, one puts everything in a locker and puts necessaries in a clear bag to take in-and-out of the reading room. This makes checking bags much easier for the staff, so they can make sure none of the collection is going home with anyone! The above picture gives an idea of how large the cafe really is. (The reflective surface to the right is the wall of books.)
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