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The Cambridge University Library is the centrally-administered library of the University Of Cambridge in England . It comprises five separate libraries:
The Library was housed in the university's "Old Schools" near Senate House until it outgrew the space there and a new library was built. The large site on the western edge of Cambridge city centre is now between Robinson College and Memorial Court, Clare College . The current librarian is Peter Fox. ARCHITECTURE The library was built between 1931 and 1934 under architect Giles Gilbert Scott , who also designed the neighbouring Clare Memorial Court (part of Clare College ). It bears a marked resemblance to Scott's industrial architecture, a famous example of which is Bankside Power Station . Its tower stands 157 Feet (48 Metre s) tall, six feet shorter than the top of St John's College Chapel and ten feet taller than the peak of King's College Chapel . Contemporary reports stated that in opening the building, Chamberlain referred to it as "this magnificent erection", although this phrase is also attributed by tradition to George V . The fictional " Dark Tower " in the novel of that name (attributed to C. S. Lewis ) was a replica of this building. The library has been extended several times. The main building houses the Japanese and Chinese collections in the Aoi pavilion, an extension donated by . LEGAL DEPOSIT LIBRARY As a Legal Deposit Library , it is entitled to claim without charge a copy of all books, journals, printed maps and music published in Britain and Ireland . The library is open to all members of the University of Cambridge (although undergraduates in their first two years and University Assistants cannot borrow any books). As is traditional amongst British university libraries, research postgraduates and academics from other UK universities are allowed reference-only access to the library's collection, and members of the public can apply for access with an academical letter of introduction and on payment of a fee. The library is unique amongst the UK's legal deposit libraries in keeping a large proportion of its books on open access and in allowing some categories of reader (for example Cambridge academics, postgraduates and final-year undergraduates) to borrow from its collection. It has a well-used "Tea Room" in which full meals, snacks and beverages are available. The library regularly puts on exhibitions , usually free to the public, and featuring items from its collections. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS As part of its collection of more than 7,000,000 volumes, the library contains a wealth of printed and manuscript material from down the centuries {Link without Title} . These include:
"FUN" AT THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ]] Most students refer to the University Library colloquially as the "UL." On several occasions, less respectful names have been used, with several students and articles appearing in student newspapers claiming that the main building resembles a Phallus . According to Cyril Bibby , Ramsay McDonald praised it at its opening as "this magnificent erection". EXTERNAL LINKS |
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