Visit to Cambridge Central Library

At the end of last year, the Library Graduate Trainees went on a visit to Cambridge Central Library. The purpose of the trip was to give us a behind-the-scenes view of the workings of a public library, and for us to see the Library’s important Cambridgeshire Collection.

After gathering at the front entrance on a cold December morning, we were met by a member of staff, who showed us around the multiple floors of the library. The space was a colourful and welcoming one – with entrance displays, information stands, and staff who were friendly and happy to help. Our guide pointed out the different subject and genre areas across both fiction and non-fiction, and talked us through the classification systems used in various parts of the library (with different systems implemented in the children’s, teenage, fiction and non-fiction sections). There was plenty of desk space for people to work or study, as well as a computer area for users to access the internet.

A colourful guest in the library entrance!

After seeing the ‘front-facing’ side of the library, we were taken around the rooms that are used for sorting through book returns ready for re-shelving, as well as the office used for processing and cataloguing new books.

Hazards in the sorting room!

During the first half of cambridge central library visit, we saw how a public library often acts as more than just a repository for books – it can also be an important community space for local residents. For example, near the entrance to the library, a desk had been set up for library staff to help members of the community without internet access apply for bus passes. Within the children’s section of the library, we also saw a reading session taking place for a baby and toddler group. Our visit demonstrated the role that public libraries play as important components of social infrastructure.

The second half of our visit involved a tour around the Cambridgeshire Collection. Founded in 1855, the collection is a major local studies library, with thousands of historic newspapers, photographs, books, pamphlets, and journals all relating to Cambridge city and the county. We were shown around the visitors’ room first, where some of the maps from the collection were on display, alongside a selection of street plans of towns and villages. Open access to the microfilm readers was available in the search room, where people can read the historic newspapers that have been printed on microfilm. Also accessible in the search room were a number of paper catalogues, some of which had photo negatives attached to them.

One of the microfilm readers
Microfilm of some of the historic newspapers

Downstairs in the basement, we were shown the ‘stacks’, where materials are stored in conditions amenable to their preservation. Seeing the stacks gave us a real flavour of the scope and diversity of the collection – the range of different items was mind-boggling! A personal highlight was the collection’s holding of a miniature set of jam jars which had been made by a Cambridgeshire company for Queen Mary’s dolls’ house in the 1920s.

The miniature jam jars made for Queen Mary’s dolls’ house!

The trip to Cambridge Central Library was a thoroughly enjoyable one, and all of the trainees would like to thank the staff at the library for their generosity.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.