Friday, 14th November

The weather had considerably improved and I went up to the British Library and met with Richard Chesser , the Head of Music and was shown around by Dr Rupert Ridgewell Curator, Music Collections. Both had been in Sydney for the IAML Conference in 2007 , so were very interested in my project and knew where I was coming from. Although not directly relevant , as this is not a lending library , it was good for me to see their resources and to know what is accessible on line . It was an amazing place http://www.bl.uk/
This department (Music Collections) of about 12 staff has responsibility for manuscript and printed sheet music only. Much of this material is historic, and for research purposes, for reference only, therefore. There is no separate collection of music literature - either monographs or periodicals - which therefore simply forms part of the general literature storage areas. (This makes sense when you realise that virtually none of the collections are available in the reading rooms on open access. Because there's no ability to browse along the shelves there's no need to store similar material together.) The sheet music lending collection is held at Boston Spa, Yorkshire about 200 milesaway.
Music sound recordings form part of the Sound Archive,(25 staff) which is a separate department.
Rupert took me into the depths of the stacks and showed me examples of the collection -original manuscripts and material dating back centuries. I was mind-blown.
Then he took me to the reading room(s) and showed me how the public use the library itself. There is some general reference material on shelves around the wall for browsing however they mostly request items from the stacks which are found by library assistants and sent up on a conveyer belt .This takes about 40 mins , as a rule. There is a collection desk and also an information desk for reference enquiries. The music area has listening posts in small booths.
Then I looked at the exhibition areas which were stunning and showed some really valuable items.
Rupert and I also discussed digitisation and electronic resources which was most useful. I really appreciated the time he and Richard had spent with me.
I ended my afternoon in the BL shop and had to resist the tempation to buy anything other than postcards.
It was dark andwindy when I came out after 4.30, so decided to make my way home , rather than rushing through the London crowds to go to Evensong at St Paul's which had been my original plan. It was only the men singing ,(no boy choristers) so I felt I was not missing much. As it was the crowds for trains and buses were horrendous and while the tubes come every few minutes and the service is good , there are just so many people.
Had a quiet night at home (with a headache)