Middle Temple Law Library

Today we visited the Middle Temple Law Library! At first I was apprehensive, since I don't have a lot of knowledge about law--but I learned a lot and enjoyed the experience!

They have 8 library staff there, which seems gigantic compared to some locations. There was evidence of the library existing before and up to Henry VIII. But around that time, all the books were stolen and the library closed. It was refounded in the 1640s by Robert Ashley.

A portrait of Robert Ashley! He's holding his will in his hand to signify that when he died he left many books behind  in order to refound the library (including rare books such as an old legal textbook from the 12th century). 

These images are in Middle Temple Hall.  It was built in 1560-70s and is where the first reading of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night took place!!

The Middle Temple Law Library is mostly a reference library, but books can be borrowed for one day (they must be returned early the next morning). They have all the legal databases available in the library. Up until last year, they had all their books organized alphabetically by title. Now they have switched to being organized by subject. The Middle Temple Law Library specifically specializes in European Union law and American law.

This is the Declaration of Independence! The red stars mean those were members of the Middle Temple!

Terrestrial Globe. This and the following picture are the only pair of Molyneux Globes that are still together. They are from 1592 and are hilariously outdated nowadays. Australia isn't on there!

Celestial Globe. Fun Fact: The library isn't really sure how they got these globes!

And finally, the coolest alternative title for "Librarian" ever:

And now I'm at another weekend! It's crazy to believe I have been here two weeks already. I have a lot of fun Harry Potter activities planned for the weekend, so stay tuned for some pictures of those adventures!

Thanks for reading!