Text 66. The British Museum

The British Museum is one of the greatest and best-known museums in the world, both in the diversity of its collections and in their wide range and high quality. It was founded in 1753 by a decision of the Parliament.

The British Museum occupying a splendid great building, in the neoclassical or Grecian style, was erected between 1823 and 1847.

Of the 11 major departments into which the museum is divided, the most outstanding are the Assyrian and Babylonian, the Egyptian, and the Greek and Roman Antiquities. The last makes a particular contribution to the glory of the museum with its collection of sculptures from the Parthenon.

There are also extremely important ethnological collections, including exhibits from the Pacific islands (such as ancient Polynesian idols), and America (such as the Aztec sculptures). African civilization is also notably well represented.

There is a notable and priceless collection of medieval objects of art from all the countries of Europe.

But the first thing which is associated with the British Museum is its Library.

The Library which is contemporary with the museum consisted initially of the collection of books belonging to Sir Hans Sloane. To this library the other collections of manuscripts and books as well were added as the royal library, which provided the foundations of what was to become one of the largest and most important libraries in the world.

The British Museum Library came into world prominence under its most remarkable librarian – Sir Antonio Panizzi, an Italian by birth, who had to leave his country because of revolutionary activities. Under his direction the library took on its present character. During the thirty-five years of service with the British Museum he formulated the rules and started the general catalogue.

The British Museum Library is a reading-room and a reference library¹, but not a lending library². The famous circular Reading Room of the Museum, planned by Sir Antonio Panizzi, offers unique research facilities to scholars.

The collection of books is being systematically increased. Today there are millions of volumes in the library store-room.

Notes:

1. reference library – библиотека без выдачи книг на дом, читальный зал;

2. lending library – библиотека с выдачей книг на дом, абонемент.

Answer the following questions:

1. When and how was the British Museum founded?

2. When was the building of the Museum erected?

3. How many departments are there in the Museum and what are the most important ones?

4. Is the British Museum Library a lending library?

5. What shape has the Reading Room of the British Museum and who was it designed by?