In an attempt to add a third to a current list of two libraries that I have joined but never seem to visit today I headed over to the British Library at St Pancras. The British Library is UK’s national library and one of the greatest in the world (we’re talking over 150 million items kids!) Its quite an impressive building and to a tourist would seem more museum than library, for example, as a general visitor I visited The John Ritblat Gallery where I saw many versions of the Qu’ran, the Magna Carta and Codex Sinaiticus, the earliest manuscript of the complete New Testament.

To access actual reading material (that is, the reading rooms) you must apply for a reader’s pass. I thought I had brought all I needed with me – my photo ID and bill with address. Unfortunately I didn’t bring the most important thing – an actual reason for wanting to use the library, that is, a research topic. I didn’t want to make up anything on the spot since that seemed against the spirit of the library so next time I guess!