The British library recently hosted a competition to reveal hidden treasures in Britain's regional public libraries. They announced some of the gems that are short-listed, which include an anthology of poetry more than 1,000 years old; medieval manuscripts from Renfrewshire, Exeter, and Hereford; and an album given by the poet Robert Southey to his daughter, which includes poems and drawings by his friends Dorothy and William Wordsworth, Charles Lamb, George Cruikshank and John Constable.In September the British Library will an announce four winners, one each from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, that will be digitized as virtual manuscripts, so readers from all over the world will be able to go to the British Library's website and read the books for themselves (most regional libraries are unable to afford the cost of digitizing items in their collections). I'm rooting for the Southey album - I'm dying to see that! Plus the article says it's too fragile to be put on display, so really, it's the only chance anyone would get to take a look at it.
What hidden treasures may lurk in the shelves of your public library? Stop in and take a look - otherwise, you'll never know!
Hidden treasures?? I love the idea of that at my little 'ole library...wonder what though? Maybe being in Manassas, something from the Confederacy?
ReplyDeleteThat would be pretty cool! The library where I work is not an archival library, but still, sometimes I find wonderful books that are out of print and really hard to find online, used - and way less expensive to get a hold of!
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