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Many thanks for this Bill. At present we want to spread word of what is proposed as far and wide as is possible - I suspect there would be far more of a stink about it if people had any idea it was under discussion. As you say, I fear that plans may already be too far advanced to halt. What worries us is the long-term future of the room and that this may be a 'backdoor' way of closing the room permanently as a functioning library space.
All best
Ed
From: Bill Lehm <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Mailing list for rare books and Special Collections librarians <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: British Museum Round Reading Room
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:03:37 +0100
>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]
>*********************************