The British Museum Reading Room

by Marjorie Caygill

A souvenir guide to the Reading Room of the British Museum which has recently been restored to its original architectural splendour and was opened to the public in December 2000. The guide also presents a concise illustrated history of the library, and its illustrous readers, during the last 150 years.

47 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Marjorie L. Caygill was a curator who joined the British Museum in 1973 as Research Assistant, Secretariat. Assistant to the Director 1978. Retired October 2004 and 2008 Fellow of the Centre for Anthropology.

Reviews

[James Klagge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little book about a vanished institution. While the reading room still exists, it is (now, 2016) closed to the public and only used for special events. Its bibliographical purpose has been taken over by the British Library. When I asked about it at the Gift Shop at the British Museum a clerk showed me where the door is--though it is disguised as a "Home Delivery" advertisement.
The short booklet has a brief history with lots of good pictures and anecdotes about is users of the past. Bibliophiles like myself will miss this.