Wednesday 12th November 2014, 9.35am (day 1,175)
Being 42
Life, one day at a time
Tag Archives: library
The reading room, Manchester Central library
Wednesday 8th October 2014, 12.40pm (day 1,140)
I was also here on Monday but blew my opportunity for a decent photo of it, so today gave me a second chance. Recently re-opened after what seems like years of renovation this is a classic, great, domed library reading room: too big, really, to get a photo of in its entirety, so today I tried a more intimate portrait. It’s great that I have had the chance to work in this excellent space this week, but then again, so has everyone else — for now, it’s open free to the public, you can just walk in. It’s called a public good, Mr. Cameron.
Tango in the library
Friday 26th September 2014, 3.10pm (day 1,128)
Høgskolen i Bergen has spent all week celebrating the opening of its new campus. Today the library was officially opened, with, among other things, talks and seminars (including one by yours truly) and then the rather more interesting spectacle of tango dancers among the bookshelves. The lighting was not really suitable to get one of them in motion (although perhaps I am more apologising for my deficiencies as a photographer) but I like this one of three of them just before they got going. There may well be another picture of the evening tomorrow as I got some decent ones of the band after midnight, but let’s see if the journey home gives rise to any decent candidates, before I decide.
Boxes of microfilm
Monday 17th February 2014, 1.55pm (day 907)
I took my students around the library today, hoping to look at it with active and fresh eyes, at least, that was the plan. I’m trying to do the same with this photograph. Not one of them admitted to having used microfilm before as an information medium — and it’s a good 10 years since I did, and then only once or twice.
Incidentally it’s a year to the day since I arrived in New Zealand.
Library entrance, University of Oslo
Tuesday 3rd September 2013, 8.30am (day 740)
I’m sure you’ll eventually work out what’s going on with this shot…
Keeping it old school
Sunday 14th April 2013, 11.05am (day 598)
In the Gardens Point library, QUT, this Sunday morning. You see, I do still hang around in libraries now and again, as do the students.
In the library foyer
Tuesday 8th January 2013, 11.50am (day 502)
If it wasn’t for that flash of green on the shot (behind the girl’s head) this one would be perfect…
Incidentally if all goes according to plan I am only going to be on the Manchester campus three more days until mid-June – tomorrow, Thursday and next Thursday. Travelling awaits…
‘A Clockwork Orange’ exhibition
Thursday 3rd January 2013, 3.05pm (day 497)
Skipped off work a bit early today and visited this exhibition which has is coming to the end of its run in the Deansgate library. It is the 50th anniversary of the book’s publication and also the 40th of the movie’s release. One of my favourite books and a very good film too. Joe is here a few minutes from discovering the giant white plastic phallus from the movie, the rear end of which is visible in the distance.
Machiavelli, 1550 edition
Wednesday 3rd October 2012, 12.25pm (day 405)
Could have posted more pictures of glorious autumn colours here in Trondheim but I did that yesterday, and this book has personal significance.
I got to know the work of Machiavelli when I studied for my PhD in Politics back in the latter years of the 1990s. As part of my work here I was taken (with several others) round the special collections of the Gunnerus Library at NTNU and here am being shown an edition of Machiavelli’s complete works from 1550 (hence the M D L at the bottom of the page), published while he was still alive and in extraordinarily good condition. The book may well become largely obsolete as an active information medium over the next 20 years but the tactile and visual appeal of them, particularly old ones, will never go away.
Incidentally only those who haven’t actually read him think that M. was a fascist. Actually he was the man who reintroduced Greek ideas of democracy into the Middle Ages and basically founded the whole political wing of the Enlightenment. He said quite clearly that a populace would always, collectively, take better decisions than a prince or tyrant acting alone and driven only by their own mind. He’s right. Someone tell David Cameron (see the comment made exactly one year ago today, which I feel as strongly now as I did then).
The British Library
Friday 18th May 2012, 3.25pm (day 267)
Went to London on a day trip today, for a meeting, which we held here mainly because it’s easy to get to and a nice space. What you see here is the ‘King’s Library’, the King in question being George III: his library now sits as a kind of monumental pedestal n the centre of the building. The new concourse at King’s Cross station is also pretty cool, by the way. With St Pancras between the two this is becoming a decent part of the city.
Being 42 