Although I’m on holiday, I still can’t miss the opportunity to try out a library I haven’t been to before, and so I went to Morrab Library in Penzance to enjoy the inspiring surroundings and get a bit of work done. Morrab Library is in the middle of the beautiful sub-tropical Morrab Gardens, and houses a large collection of books and papers which cover an enormous range – from Penwith local information and records to history, biography, religion and Cornish newspapers (though I did find myself a bit confused by the card catalogue, but the friendly and helpful staff would no doubt have helped me out if I had asked).
It’s used as a lending library by the locals, as well as place to visit to get some work done (and we even saw Kate Adie there). As an independent library (the current chairman is A.N. Wilson; the previous incumbent was John le Carre) what appeals to me about it is the enthusiasm with which it is run and the variety of people it caters to, from the reading locals to family history buffs, from researchers and academics to those who attend its courses on art or Shakespeare. Like all the best libraries, what it provides is a restful and inspiring environment to work in, which makes it well worth a visit if you’re in the area.