UL and blah blah

I have an ongoing love-hate relationship with the biggest of the 123 libraries of the university, the UL. Now, it's convenient (just behind the college) and it's got a ton of stuff and books can be borrowed for 8 weeks, BUT it's the craziest of bureaucracies.

I've gone over some of them before, but most recently, I was happily reading my Foucault when I received a stern letter asking me to return my book (due on April 1st) within the next 5 days. Just like that. the uncaring bastards!

It was truly a beautiful (and freezing) day yesterday, but I've learned to re-arrange my weekends such that on Saturdays at least I do some work (the library being closed on Sundays). So I climbed to the top of 'my' habitual corner, the 6th (7th if you're in the US) floor of the South Front, found a seat that allowed me a good view of the top of King's College Chapel, and read up. After a while, I knew I'd have to work my way to a new corner of the UL, the microfilm/microform room (they use both names, just like they use Cam Uni and Uni of Cam).

I set out on my trek - I guess I should mention that there are no elevators and that the UL is like a small block in and of itself -, scouting for signs to the microform reading room. My girl scout skills must still be tuned in because I made it remarkably effortlessly. A quick glance around and I notice three different 'order forms' for requesting items. Ha, not knowing better I pick one at random, feel it out as best I can, hand it in to the frontdesk for inspection. "Sorry, love, you'll have to bear with us for a while, the lady's on a coffee break". Fine, i sit down and keep reading. 45 minutes later the afore mentioned lady comes over, hands me a CD-ROM (?!?) and asks me if I have access to the digital libraries area. the what? You mean the UL has stepped foot in the 20th century already (I'm not expecting them to realize we're in the 21st yet)?? Of course I don't have access, I didn't even know it existed ! Off I pack my stuff in a hurry to follow her to Ali Baba's cave as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunately neither does she have a password. I wonder why we trekked all the way then. She informs me (finally there's a bit of pity in her eyes) that it's not manned on Saturdays. That to get access to the digital resources I need to ask the front desk but the people who do it aren't here on saturdays either.

so much for rearranging my week around my saturdays at the UL! Oh well, at least there was the nice view of the chapel. I'll do better next time. I actually think (am I becoming masochistic?) that I'll bravely attempt to get my hands on a pre-1975 book, because I know that this requires yet another set of byzantinian rooms and request forms and mapping tables. There's nothing like great adversity to build character !