He needs access to some of their private collections. :) When I started writing, it never occurred to me that he wouldn't be able to just walk in, fill out some papers and get a library card...I live in quite a small town, and we ONLY have a public library. I've never before encountered a private library, so the whole process is rather foreign to me. Thanks for your input!
Speaking as someone who trained as a Librarian a long time ago, I think it highly unlikely that the London Library would ever allow a ten year old into their private collections, even under supervision.
I wouldn't think so, either - their young person vategory starts at 16, and guests aren't allowed in the building, so a child seems to be out.
On the other hand, the Leeds Library does allow under-18s to be family members (though not individual members), and guests are permitted to accompany members. It is less well known than the London library, but it is a private library founded in 1768, if the OP basically needs "private library" rather than one necessarily in London.
Another alternative would be one of the academic libraries - not the BL. As a child at that period, I went in quite a few with my father. Obviously I couldn't borrow anything (except where I had a ticket, and I only got one where he worked), but you might plausibly get him in to a University of London library if he can be passed in by an adult.
It's the Tube, btw, not the metro. We don't produce maps superimposed over a street map - the decision was apparently taken back in the 1930s that such maps were too confusing and - since it mostly all runs underground - what was at street level was irrelevant to a traveller navigating their way around. That's when Harry Beck drew the first version of the iconic London map.
"Tube," got it, thank you! :) For the sake of variation, what are some other common names for it (if any exist)? I dislike using any one word too often in the space of just a few paragraphs...the temptation to also refer to it as "subway," "metro," and "underground" will be hard to suppress! What can I use to mix things up a bit?
Thanks so much for the links--they'll both come in handy, as the story will cover several years. ^..^
'Underground' and 'Tube' - never, ever, 'subway' or 'metro' unless it's a foreigner talking, and that would identify them immediately as such. They might also use the name of the specific line, "The Drain was down again so I took the Northern Line to TCR and came via the Central." (The 'Drain' is local slang for the Waterloo and City line and TCR means Tottenham Court Road.)
Also remember that London has a massive overground railway system, which in South London is a more normal way of travelling and then, of course, there is the bus network.
Just a side comment, unless your Americans are from New York or LA, one common reaction is sheer shock at the diversity of the population and the number of languages spoken on the underground, followed by a second shock at the number of inter-racial couples.
My character is from London, but rather sheltered, so I'll definitely keep it in mind. I'm from a tiny town, but I have family in Chicago. I was around ten the first time I visited them, and I do vaguely recall being surprised by the ethnic diversity. I've lived abroad, and am just generally less surprised by such things, now, so thanks for reminding me of this probable reaction!
Google Maps show tube stations on the street map for London. You can use that to correlate them with the tube lines/stations on the tube map. The tube map is highly schematic - a strength as it makes it easy to read - and bears little relationship to the actual geographical layout.
Useful background about transport in London can be found at the Transport for London website, covering boats, underground, buses etc.
OMG, I can't believe I forgot about Google Maps! I've used it to go find my former host family's apartment door in Taiwan, and to retrace my route to my school....I could, essentially, "walk" my character's route! THANK YOU for pointing this out! *feels ridiculous*
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On the other hand, the Leeds Library does allow under-18s to be family members (though not individual members), and guests are permitted to accompany members. It is less well known than the London library, but it is a private library founded in 1768, if the OP basically needs "private library" rather than one necessarily in London.
Another alternative would be one of the academic libraries - not the BL. As a child at that period, I went in quite a few with my father. Obviously I couldn't borrow anything (except where I had a ticket, and I only got one where he worked), but you might plausibly get him in to a University of London library if he can be passed in by an adult.
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1986 (no DLR marked, no Jubilee extension) - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/clive.billson/1986.html
1995 (Jubilee extension under construction, DLR added) - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/clivebillson/tube/tube.html#1995
It's the Tube, btw, not the metro. We don't produce maps superimposed over a street map - the decision was apparently taken back in the 1930s that such maps were too confusing and - since it mostly all runs underground - what was at street level was irrelevant to a traveller navigating their way around. That's when Harry Beck drew the first version of the iconic London map.
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Thanks so much for the links--they'll both come in handy, as the story will cover several years. ^..^
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Also remember that London has a massive overground railway system, which in South London is a more normal way of travelling and then, of course, there is the bus network.
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Useful background about transport in London can be found at the Transport for London website, covering boats, underground, buses etc.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/1106.aspx
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