The cycle path into Cambridge leads past the University Library. I've not been in for years, but when I first came to cambridge as a graduate student over 20 years ago I spent a lot of time here, tracking down scientific journals and photocopying reams of articles. I can sometimes almost glimpse my younger self cycling furiously in the other direction, head full of essays and reports and whether I had time to meet my friends in the pub AND make my deadlines... ( now replaced by picking kids up from football, cobbling together something for dinner and whether I have time to meet my friends in the pub AND make my deadlines!).
The pile of books in the foreground is one of 14 bronze bollards. They have only recently been installed and enjoyed a brief flurry of notoriety when Germaine Greer denounced them in The Guardian as "a beacon of naffness." Given that the library building itself is not exactly beautiful (think 1930s prison block) I think they are great!
I think it's a beautiful bollard. Why have a boring upright one when you can have one that symbolises the building? I really like the prespective on this picutre too. :-)
I couldn't disagree with Germaine Greere more in this instance! I was immediately drawn to your composition and this strong & marvelous sculpture, so suited to a college campus! Also, I love books, in any form!
Think you've caught and framed this really well with the soft focus students in the background. And have googled the bollards - they are quite appealing.
