Saint Paul's Cathedral Library

Monday, July 4th

Saint Paul's Cathedral's librarian is Joe Wisdom. Today he led us on a tour up into the triforum level of the cathedral where the library is housed. In 1666, London was struck by the Great Fire and the cathedral sustained a bit of damage. Again during WWII, the cathedral was under attack by Hitler's blitzkrieg and survived that assault thanks to the many volunteers that ensured the roof wouldn't catch on fire. During that time the library had been moved to a safer location, a cave in northern Wales. Then the collection was returned after the war.

By 1706 the library's collection was mostly completed. A former bishop had donated his personal library of nearly 2,000 books. In mid-nineteenth century, the librarian by the name of Simpson created a more universal library therefore the library ceased to be an entirely theological library. Now the ascension policy is to have books about religion to be a priority, followed by books about St. Paul's cathedral.

Today's users come to use the library for a variety of reasons. Lately there has been a novelist who is writing a book that spans the time from the mid-seventeenth century to the Blitzkrieg of WWII. Another visitor was a researcher of early music. There has also been a researcher of Donne's sermons. Last but not least, there are those researchers of genealogy who stop by from time to time.

British Libraries & Information Centers Schedule

July 1 Arrive London
July 2 Class Meeting, 9:30 a.m.; Orientation, 11 a.m.; London Alive, 2:30 p.m.
July 3 St. Paul’s (optional) - 10:00 a.m., London Alive
July 4 St. Paul’s Cathedral Library
Welcome Reception, KCL Chapel and Great Hall, 6:00 p.m.
July 5 Barbican Library, Museum of London
July 6 British Museum
July 7 British Library
July 8-10 Non-academic days (optional weekend trips)
July 11 Greenwich Maritime Museum Library
July 12 London Library
July 13 Day Trip to Stratford-upon-Avon
July 14 National Art Library, V&A Museum
July 15 Oxford, Bodleian Library
July 16 Non-academic day
July 17 Depart London for Edinburgh
July 18 Central Library, Edinburgh in a.m.
National Archives of Scotland in p.m.
July 19 Dunfermline Carnegie Library
July 20 Independent Research Day (optional trip to Roslyn Chapel)
July 21-25 Mini-Break
July 26-28 Academic Days (TBA)
July 29 Research Symposium in evening
July 30 FINAL EXAM (MORNING)
July 31 DEPARTURE DAY

Welcome to my academic summer in the UK blog!

It's hard to imagine that in a few days I'll be flying into London and meeting face to face with all the participants in this program. There seems to be so much to do prior to departing. The clock is ticking and I'm packing my bags.