London Library: serendipity and diversity

Last week I visited the London Library, a subscription library based in central London.

My overall impression, perhaps unexpected for a library founded in 1841, was of an innovative, forward looking library, strongly attuned to members needs in changing times.

A couple of things particularly struck me, firstly – the importance given to serendipitous searching.  Many research libraries keep some of their collections in closed stacks, but here the stacks are able to be browsed by members; our guide spoke about the value of looking at a section and coming across a book there that you didn’t know existed.  This made me think about the possibility of gathering different types of resources together in subject areas in my own library – if a student knows where to go for science books, would they also benefit coming across science journals and targeted promotions for electronic resources...?

Secondly, the importance afforded to giving members the work environment that they wanted to work in; there was a variety of work spaces provided, some in open areas, some tucked away in stacks, some in silent areas where electronic equipment was discouraged (the tap-tap of the keys proving an annoyance for some) and some with the necessary plugs and wi-fi signals for using devices.  From my own experience in reconfiguring a library space, the recognition that people benefit from a diversity of working spaces was something I’ve worked to put into place.