Country Life
Outside the street is dull and grey but the library is warm and inviting. I’m sitting in the refreshment area, to my right is a spiral staircase. Turning my attention outside, I see a spider web on the window pane. Christmas lights dangle across the street linking the library to the shops on Commercial Street. By the window, a potted plant in a brightly patterned ceramic planter forms a central feature on hexagonal wooden table. At either side of the table, plush claret armchairs enable members to luxuriate in their reading.
On the surrounding shelves there are folio copies of Country Life magazine dating back to 1899. On top of this collection, sits a burgundy bound copy of the magazine made to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953. This deluxe edition of the magazine has glossy pages featuring photographs of Westminster Abbey and the Queen’s gardens at Windsor Castle. The magazine also features stories about the carvings on royal coaches and royal cyphers are explained. Advertisements for coronation memorabilia such as glassware and coins fill the magazine. An advertisement for ‘efficient economical dredging’ by J.B. Carr Ltd seems out of place in this sumptuous edition. Notably, there is an advertisement for the National Fur company which reminds me of news stories from earlier this week about the Queen no longer wearing real fur.
On top of the library counter an old sweet jar is filled with copper and silver coins, donations from members and visitors. Behind the counter, piles of books with thin white reservation strips await collection. I notice a panel in the pale green window sill, a hidden feature for storing items. Rows of date stamps form a line on the counter along with scissors with blue plastic handles, a red pencil, sellotape holder, computer screen and a shiny brass bell.
It is lunchtime and library members sit in the refreshment area eating sandwiches, biscuits and drinking coffee or soft drinks. There is the occassional rustle of broadsheet newspapers, a murmur of conversation and the occassional electronic beep from the computer on the counter.
On top of the wooden chest which stores refreshments there is a perpetual mahogany calendar from the twentieth century. The calendar doesn’t need a plug, recharging or a wireless connection. Unlike a page-per-day calendar, the perpetual calendar doesn’t create waste as the materials are re-used.
On the surrounding shelves there are folio copies of Country Life magazine dating back to 1899. On top of this collection, sits a burgundy bound copy of the magazine made to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953. This deluxe edition of the magazine has glossy pages featuring photographs of Westminster Abbey and the Queen’s gardens at Windsor Castle. The magazine also features stories about the carvings on royal coaches and royal cyphers are explained. Advertisements for coronation memorabilia such as glassware and coins fill the magazine. An advertisement for ‘efficient economical dredging’ by J.B. Carr Ltd seems out of place in this sumptuous edition. Notably, there is an advertisement for the National Fur company which reminds me of news stories from earlier this week about the Queen no longer wearing real fur.
On top of the library counter an old sweet jar is filled with copper and silver coins, donations from members and visitors. Behind the counter, piles of books with thin white reservation strips await collection. I notice a panel in the pale green window sill, a hidden feature for storing items. Rows of date stamps form a line on the counter along with scissors with blue plastic handles, a red pencil, sellotape holder, computer screen and a shiny brass bell.
It is lunchtime and library members sit in the refreshment area eating sandwiches, biscuits and drinking coffee or soft drinks. There is the occassional rustle of broadsheet newspapers, a murmur of conversation and the occassional electronic beep from the computer on the counter.
On top of the wooden chest which stores refreshments there is a perpetual mahogany calendar from the twentieth century. The calendar doesn’t need a plug, recharging or a wireless connection. Unlike a page-per-day calendar, the perpetual calendar doesn’t create waste as the materials are re-used.
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