Baltic Library

I've visited the Baltic Mill Art Gallery at Gateshead many times. I very much like the building but sometimes struggle with the exhibitions. The views are brilliant of the Tyne and bridges. I like the fact that it is free admission and I think this is very important - if you want to show modern art and make it accessible to all then it will have to be free. This is particularly relevant in areas like the North East because people have less money but should have the same opportunities to participate in culture. Also because frankly some of it is an acquired taste and I would be disgruntled if not downright indignant if I'd had to pay to see it. ( as T1 has pointed out on a few occasions the best bit about the Baltic is the stairs.....especially when you're going out)
Anyhow Geoff and Kate both like going and I do really but like to wander aimlessly. Last weekend I discovered that there is a small library - how have I not seen this before? Is it new? It was very nice with an extensive collection of art books and some Macs. I'm not sure how you get to use any of the resources as there were no staff present but I'll remember it for next time.



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Edinburgh College of Art

Edinburgh College of Art is on my route home during the week and it's been on my list of places to go into to look round the library. You can see the library from the outside at the back on West Port. It is very modern and appealing. To get in you need your University ID card and it is swipe access. On an evening you have to go on the side entrance which takes you through an outer metal door and then through a metal inner door. After that you are into the corridor and into the library. It is a beautiful library in a bright, modern and minimalist way. There are lots of magazines and I spotted a jewellery one that might be good for ideas. There is a good collection of DVDs and also large books with pictures and illustrations. There are two floors with seating areas and computers and books. I will definitely call in again on my way home and it might be a useful place to do work on an evening. There were quite a few students about but not too many which may be unsurprising as it was a very rainy evening at 7.00pm.



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Moray House Library

Moray House Library is the School of Education library at Edinburgh University. Moray House is based near Holyrood Road and approx a 15 min walk from George Square. Last week one of the Student Information Point assistants and I went there for a liaison meeting with one of the Student Support Officers based there. After the meeting we decided to have a look in the library, along with other buildings to see if there would be a suitable place for us to have a temporary SIP for a day. We are aiming to have a flexible mobile presence at different parts of the university campus.
The library is very nice and modern. It's quite small with about 40 computers I think and stocks books for education and sport and recreation.  They have recently had a flood which caused some disruption but are offering the usual good service ( we saw a library assistant wearing wellies and carrying books but hopefully it wasn't too bad).

Simon Brett books

I've read quite a few murder mysteries by Simon Brett and enjoyed them. They are easy to read, not too gruesome and have some good characters.
I saw 'The Penultimate Chance Saloon' in the library the other day so thought I'd give it a try. I enjoyed it, it was light hearted and funny and had some nice characters who you could laugh at but still like. I'd recommend it as a cheery quick read.



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Book Club - Friday for a change.....

We had our first Book Club meeting for the new academic year - it's not quite as grand or as officious as that - we have a meeting in Sept when all the children are back at school, college or uni.  As a special one off it was decided that it could be held on a Friday night so that I would be back from Edinburgh for the weekend and wouldn't miss it. It was a good turn out actually with most people there. (but we cant have it Friday eve everytime as some people want to spend time with their husbands or family on Friday evening - yes, really :( I would have thought that Book Club was way higher in the priorities....).
The books we were meant to read were The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins (suggested by me) and The Thread by Victoria Hislop. There was general grumbling about The Moonstone as there often is about books I suggest but some people had made the effort and read it and enjoyed it. You do have to sift and scan through some parts of it but I enjoyed it especially at the end when it all comes together and the mystery is revealed. I like who dunnits - I like crime and thrillers but only if they're not scarey - i like the puzzle of finding out the answer from the clues. It has been interesting to discover that lots of books that i like are considered boring or a bit old fashioned by others - luckily we are all friends so can be honest yet kind about it.
I hadn't read The Thread but I think everyone else had. They enjoyed it but didn't say much about it although it did prompt a long discussion about Prince Philip and his mother and a tv programme about them which is supposed to be definitely worth watching.
For next time we are reading The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker.
Also The Hundred Year Old Man who climbed out of the window and disappeared which I have actually started reading a couple of weeks ago and am enjoying so far.