Edward,
I agree with you about this being the beginning
of the end for the round reading room and that
plans to use it for something other than what it
has always been should be resisted.
But I also think that alternative places should
be suggested to the BM for their exhibition - the
Great Court itself is a huge space and an
exhibition of the size that could be accommodated
in the round reading room could easily be
presented in a part of that. There is also the
existing exhibition space above the round reading
room. And there are other exhibition spaces
within the BM that are not packed with exhibits
and one of those could easily be cleared for the
duration of the China exhibition. Failing that
they could always open up a part of the defunct
Museum of Mankind for it or rent some other space
away from the main building (which I know they are unlikely to do).
I think that the best way this can be resisted is
that the Historic Libraries Forum responds but
also encourages its members to get other
organizations and people to respond too. I
actually believe that the decision has already
been made and that there is not much we can do
about it other than voice our concerns. The most
we can do is make them think twice about doing it again.
Whatever happens it is one exhibition that I'm definitely going to see.
Best wishes,
Bill Lehm
At 11:32 24/07/2006, you wrote:
>Apologies for cross-posting
>
>The Committee of the Historic Libraries Forum
>would like to draw attention to the British
>Museum’s proposed plans for the Round Reading
>Room, as detailed in the national and local
>press.
>http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1819113,00.html
>http://www.scena.org/columns/lebrecht/060712-NL-past.html
>http://www.balppa.org/newsdetails.cfm?codeID=16090
>
>Temporary listed building permission has been
>sought by the Trustees to convert the Reading
>Room into a temporary exhibition space to
>accommodate aspects of the forthcoming China
>exhibition, September 2007 to April 2008. The
>Committee is still considering its response, but
>concern has been raised that this may represent
>the beginning of the end for this historic space.
>
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********************************
Bill Lehm
Assistant Librarian (Rare Books)
Special Collections
UCL Library Services
University College London
Gower Street
WC1E 6BT
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 5197
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7679 5156
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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