As we turn for home, we look down and watch as the newly formed river meanders itself along the valley floor, and although the sky looks threatening, this day we'll make it back dry.⁠
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Waking to a rather chilly winters morning it was time to see what this building looked like in the daylight, and although the atmosphere is a little played down, it is now possible to take in more of the detail of the building with a lot of intricate detail in the stonework. And I guess the weather was doing its part to give the place a slightly foreboding presence.⁠
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A quick look from outside before heading off to bed, and although this is not the original corrugated iron building that ⁠Gladstone transported those first books to, this imposing gothic-style building that was opened in 1902 makes for a much more suitable home for the library.⁠
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One final look down at the main library floor before we head down the rather narrow and particularly creaky stairs, and I suspect that dark evenings are by far the best time to take in the atmosphere of this place.⁠⁠
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Like something out of Hogwarts, these reading room areas are truly magical, especially at night when the only light is that from the lamps that are dotted around this room.⁠
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More opportunities to take in the magical atmosphere that this place exudes from every book. Even if you're not a book worm the peace and tranquility present here is enough to warm any soul.⁠
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A wander upstairs and we find the real gem of this place, the "reading rooms", which actually refer to the nooks that are located between each set of bookcases 📚️. From up here, you get a great view of the main library itself.⁠
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To say this library has grown since Gladstone made his initial donation is an understatement, and even in this newer building there isn't room for all of the books 📚️. So if you can't find what you're looking for it's worth trying the annex and seeing what they have filed away in there.⁠
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Heading back into the main part of the library and it's literally books 📚️ from floor to ceiling, and because many spend hours, even days in here researching, there are plenty of comfortable seats and little nooks to study in.⁠
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The library consists of a number of collections, starting with the books 📚️ that Gladstone himself donated, many of these focused on theology and religion, history and politics, and literature and literary culture. These are housed across many rooms and reading rooms, with some subjects, for example, the Islamic faith, being provided with their own reading room.⁠
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