Librarians, libraries, and DSpace abroad

The London trip had its librarian moments! First was the trip to Cambridge, riding the train with Bents' friends. Mike and Irene are both librarians. Mike worked in archives and lost his job. He is currently looking. A bleak scene in London really. Irene works in a public library. I was unable to visit her work place however. Once in Cambridge we all met Eleanor, another friend of Bents, who is also a librarian! She too is a public librarian!

During our visit Ian Bent wanted to show us his new study, a room built over the garage across the back garden from their townhouse. He was eager to show us his project about Heinrich Schenker, music theorist, whose works Ian is translating and digitizing. (Ian is retired from the Music Department at Columbia and continuing work on Schenker in retirement at home in England.) As I looked about Ian's study, I notice a large notebook labeled "Dublin Core!" I told him the origin of the name (being an Ohioan!) and then asked why he had it. He said he used it to develop his metadata for the Schenker digital archive! And where should his archive reside but on DSpace!!! The tech people at Cambridge University are helping him with DSpace software so that he can "publish" his work begun at Columbia. So there across the sea, in a retired music professor's home office, I discovered the very thing I had taken the year to study, digital archives. Except he was doing it!!!

And finally we could not leave London without seeing the fabulous new British Library, just a half mile walk from our flat. We caught a glimpse of the exhibits, but ran out of time for the full tour. We learned that the document delivery people are not in London, so I couldn't see the very department we have been dealing with for Engineering Library delivery service.... It is an impressive building, one I hope to revisit for a longer time.

London activities ad nauseam

Byers London Trip
December 23, 2004 to January 2, 2005

Thursday, Dec 23
Cincinnati snowstorm – 12”!!! with ice crust on top.
Flight cancelled. Shovelled driveway. Plow didn’t show.
Eric flew nonstop LA to London

Friday, Dec 24
Flew to London via Chicago
Trip down driveway most harrowing.
Eric arr at flat on Gray’s Inn Road in Bloomsbury. Wandered around London; services at St. Paul’s full.

Saturday, Dec 25, Christmas!
Arr early in London. Saw Buckingham Palace, Harrod's, Trafalgar Square, Green Park, St. James Park, and Regency Park from lost bus.
Everything closed incl subway, except special bus to Paddington, that lost its way in town.
Naps followed by walk in evening over Waterloo bridge and back on Westminster bridge. Saw Royal Festival Hall, St. Martin's in the Field Church. Ate near Picadilly - all else closed.
Stephano’s Cafe

Sunday, Dec 26
London Eye (giant ferris wheel next to Thames with great view of London, 30 min ride) at sunset/moon rise (full moon!). Walked to Westminster Abbey, Parliament buildings, Big Ben.
Boxing Day when gifts are presented to servants, etc who work Christmas Day.
Evening London Walk tour “Jack the Ripper” with Ellen Parkhurst, Harold’s cousin.

Monday, Dec 27
Cambridge via train from King’s Cross to Bent's* (St. Thomas Choir School friends). Walking tour of Cambridge with Ian Bent, who attended St. John’s College. First adequate (festive!) meal! Rode with their friends Irene, Mike and Katie Pollack; friend Eleanor and son Jon were at home. Irene, Mike and Eleanor all librarians! Boys went to Walkabout night club in evening back in London.

Tuesday, Dec 28
British Museum, saw top items of interest and more.
“Mousetrap” by Agatha Christie in evening. Dorothy guessed who-dunnit.
Ate at nearby Thai Garden restaurant before play, at Bella Italia after play.

Wednesday, Dec 29
Richmond. Joel Foreman and Michelle Moncrieffe's wedding festivities; walk in park and along Thames. Met friends of Joel (Harold’s nephew) and his wife.
Ate at Princes Head pub after walk. Jamaican hors d’oeuvres at home of Monica and Winston Moncrieffe.

Thursday, Dec 30
Internet cafe. Quick glimpse of British Library at St. Pancras near King's Cross station. Walked to Sotheby's on New Bond Street and to see (closed) art galleries on Cork Street.
Saw Magna Carta and other old manuscripts.
Marriage celebration at Clapham Junction, followed by dinner and dance.
Took train from Victoria station.

Friday, Dec 31
Leeds Castle and Canterbury with Murray Foreman, Harold’s brother-in-law. Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral where Thomas Beckett was murdered (guest parish choir).
Another excellent London Walk tour trip from Victoria Station.
Dinner in London at Delhi Brasserie.
Boys to New Year’s Eve party at boyfriend of Jon's friend Jessica.

Saturday, Jan 1, New Year’s!
St. Paul’s Church (peeked in only) and Millenium Bridge to Shakespeare’s Globe Museum and Theatre (peeked in only) and Tate Modern Museum.
Tate in old power station. Lunch in café with views.
The only day it rained!
Ministry of Sound night club at Elephant and Castle (sold out tho) and “Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street.” (Mark and DB only)

Sunday, Jan 2
Eric nonstop to LA.
Others to Cincinnati via Dallas. DB sick on flight to Cincinnati.

Monday, Jan 3
Recovery day.
DB still sick. Snow gone, temps 60!

*Ian and Caroline Bent are Mark’s godparents. Jonathan graduated from St. Thomas Choir School the year before Mark.

Purpose of trip: to attend the marriage celebration festivities of Joel Foreman (Harold’s nephew) and his wife Michelle. They live in Bemidji MN right now. Joel is a lawyer, Michelle a journalist.

In general, the boys couldn’t get enough to eat in London. Portions are small and expensive. Many things were closed for the holidays, which made planning difficult. Since Christmas and Boxing Day were on the weekend, many shops took the following days off as well. Everything cost twice what it does in the US, so thank goodness the museums were free.