REIMS' LIBRARY

more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

On our way back from the Geneva Lake we stopped in Reims to visit the town.

As we had to wait for the sightseeing bus, we decided to visit the Carnegie Library of Reims which seemed to be a very interesting building especially for Art Deco lovers. It is a public library built with money donated by businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to the city of Reims after World War I.  Until 2003, the Carnegie Library was the main library of Reims.

The Art Deco decor of the Carnegie Library, because of  the harmony of its proportions, the elegance of its architecture included it in the French inventory of Monuments.

This is just to give you an overlook of this library for your general knowledge, if you want to know more, just click on the link. I don't like to copy and paste Wikipedia !



Dominique and Nicole act as proof that we had been there



The luster and the wallpaper when you entered the library were absolutely stunning.



So were the ceilings



As our time was limited we only admired the very old books which were mostly bibles, as in the 12 or 14th century not many people could read and what they read was the bible. I doubt that there were many love, or crime stories around. This bible was decorated with semi precious stones and embossed with gold.



I was so busy to try to read the old scripts, mostly in Greek, Latin and Hebrew, that I forgot to take pictures and tried to compose this collage with pictures I found on Internet. Just to give you an idea what I saw.

Now I also understand that the bible who is the most translated book in the world, could be translated as the translator wished and everybody could add a little extra. Nobody could check ! I know of what I am talking as I did translations myself. One misunderstood word could change the whole meaning of the text. That's why St. Matthew translated that priests can marry and have children, while St. Paul translated that they are not allowed to. Same for the Koran, where women suddenly have to be covered from head to feet. (For example)



The public library was a huge room with lots and lots of books all around on several levels. I whispered if I could take pictures and the lady whispered back a "yes". Besides the old methods people also used computers. Sign of the modern world.



Another room was full from to top to bottom with little drawers. On one side in alphabetical order



on the other side with the theme you were looking for. All information were written on little cards.



Outside was a little park with beautiful flower pots. It was really very interesting.